Chapter 32: Jealousy at peak

Milie's POV

Sammy introduced everyone to Alan and the driver, and soon the car filled with loud pop music.

Sammy and Tessa slipped into their own world—laughing, whispering, brushing shoulders like they'd been waiting for this moment.

Alan leaned back in his seat, relaxed, eyes half-closed, as if none of this concerned him.

Meanwhile, Emma had claimed her space right next to him, sitting a little too close, clicking selfies as if she were already documenting the trip.

Daxton stayed quiet. And I took advantage of that silence.

Slowly, carefully, I pulled out Sammy's phone and opened the chat again, scrolling through the messages I hadn't finished reading.

Alan: Today, she'll be so happy.

Sammy: Yeah, she is. Stuffing her mouth with a burger.

Alan: I can imagine. Cheeks all puffed up, trying to eat something bigger than her mouth.

Sammy: Exactly. And talking while chewing.

Alan: She's something else-a whole different species.

My lips twitched.

Sammy: Why don't you just run into her "accidentally"? You'll get to talk. She'd love it.

Alan: No. I don't want to pressure her.

Sammy: Dude, this is the 21st century. Fix your approach.

"Oh my God," I whispered under my breath, making a small face.

I tilted my head slightly, trying to look past Emma at Alan.

"I was literally waiting for you, you idiot."

"I kept going to the balcony. Took random walks. Timed my day around you like a complete fool."

I pressed my lips together.

"Idiot… absolute idiot," I muttered, a little louder than I meant to.

"Problem?" Emma asked, raising her brows at me.

I blinked, snapping out of it. "No, nothing."

Alan glanced in our direction.

I forced a small, awkward smile and dropped my head back against the seat.

Wow. Look at you, Milie. Finally, being honest with yourself.

A small smile crept onto my lips. Then I immediately shook my head.

"Nope. I didn't do any of that," I told myself. "Not even once."

I leaned back further, my eyes wide. "Denial mode was actually amazing," I said, a bit louder.

"Denial mode?" Emma turned to me, curious.

Sammy suddenly popped up between the seats, resting his chin right between us.

"Denial mode?" he repeated. "What did she say?"

Daxton twisted around from the front. "Milie… denial mode? Since when are you inventing concepts?"

Great. Now everyone was looking at me, except Alan. He didn't even open his eyes.

My heartbeat picked up. I stared at the seat blankly.

"Honesty is dangerous," I mumbled. "Maybe not for others… but definitely for me."

I glanced at each of them, searching for a way out. Then I found one.

"Sammy," I said quickly, tossing his phone at him, "don't you want this?"

He caught it mid-air—conversation over, and crisis avoided.

I leaned back again, exhaling quietly.

Yeah, I hadn't finished reading. But that was still better than answering everyone.

Though the trip had started with tension, it slowly settled into something easier, lighter.

Sammy dragged everyone into a game of hot seat, splitting us into teams like it was the most serious competition of the century.

Alan, Emma, and Sammy on one side.

Daxton, me, and Tessa on the other.

Dax shifted closer to me, squeezing all four of us into the middle row. I turned sideways, facing Alan and Emma.

Emma mirrored me, except she leaned back—her shoulder brushing Alan's chest as if she belonged there in his arms.

"Are you comfortable?" Alan asked, leaning closer to her.

Emma smiled up at him. "Yeah. You?"

"Yeah," he said softly. "I'm good."

My eyes flicked between them. Something sharp twisted in my chest.

When Alan's gaze accidentally met mine, I forced a smile. He looked away.

That hurt more than it should have.

I stared at Emma again, irritation building for no logical reason.

Who wears something like that on a road trip? A backless top? A skirt that short?

An hour ago, I hadn't cared. Now, everything about her annoyed me.

I leaned forward, grabbing her wrist lightly. "I think you guys need more space," I said, pulling her just a little away from him.

"I'm fine," Alan cut in immediately. "Relax."

His hand brushed her arm—casual, easy. Something inside me snapped tighter.

"Milie, I'm good too," Dax said, gently pulling me back into place.

I turned forward, stiff.

"What happened?" he asked, concerned.

"Nothing," I muttered, even though I couldn't explain the storm building inside me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Emma lean in again, whispering something into Alan's ear. He bent closer to hear her.

That was it. The game continued, but my mood crashed.

Tessa was asking questions, Sammy was being loud as usual, Emma kept laughing, touching Alan's arm, his shoulder.

And every second of it felt louder inside my head than anything else in that car.

Before I could stop myself, I clutched my stomach and let out a dramatic groan.

"Ah… my stomach…" Everything stopped, and everyone turned to me.

Dax immediately pulled me toward him. "Milie? What's wrong? Should we stop?"

"No—no, it's fine," I said quickly. "It comes and goes."

Alan chuckled. I snapped my head toward him. "What's funny?"

"Your pain," he said, shaking his head. "It's as dramatic as you are."

Everyone laughed, except me.

I stared out the window, blinking away tears forming in my eyes.

I expect him to worry. I expect him to care. Dax pulled me closer, his arm warm around me, grounding me.

Sammy ruffled my hair. "You're probably just hungry. Dave, pull over at the next place."

"Got it," the driver said.

Dax tilted my chin. "Still hurting?"

I shook my head slightly, eyes lowered. And then, realization hit me.

What right did I even have to feel like this? I was the one who pushed him away, the one who asked for distance.

The one who made him feel like he didn't belong.

And now I was upset because he was acting like he didn't belong to me?

My chest tightened. I glanced at him. And just like that, everything softened.

He had his aviators on now, leaning back, sunlight catching his face. Effortlessly calm. Effortlessly him.

How had I never noticed him like this before? Or maybe I had. Maybe I just never allowed myself to.

A few minutes later, we stopped at a roadside diner.

Dax and I stepped out from one side, while Alan and Emma got out from the other.

They walked ahead together. Didn't wait. Didn't look back.

Something in my chest sank again.

Emma headed toward the restroom. Alan moved inside, and that's it.

Without thinking twice, I walked straight in. He was already seated when I reached the table.

I slid into the seat across him. "How long are you planning to ignore me?" I asked, pouting.