Page 62 of Savage for You

“I’m not doing this right now; this is exactly why I didn’t want you to know. I’ll call you later.”

“Monti, wait, I’m sor—” I hang up the phone, dropping to my knees and the dam breaks, I start crying.

I feel some arms wrap around me, and Autumn’s there holding me while I cry.

“I didn’t want it to come out like this. Why would she do this to me?”

“Shhh, I don't know. I'm sorry this happened. You should call Rocky. He’s been blowing up my phone.”

“I don't want him to hate me,” I whisper looking up into her blue eyes.

“He won't hate you. Rocky is so obsessed with you, and if I’m correct—and I feel like I am—he’s in love with you.”

“No, you’re wrong. He's going to leave me now. He’s going to want nothing to do with me.” I get up and run to the bathroom and lock myself in there. This is what I get for keeping secrets. I knew this could happen, and I'm usually strong, but now strength is the last thing I feel. All I can think about is how my feelings are bickering with each other, like in the Disney movie Inside Out.

I hear her knocking on the bathroom door, but I don't want to answer. I just want to cry and be by myself.

She stops knocking after a while, and when I walk out of my solitary confinement, she’s not in my room anymore. Well, there we go, I’ve lost yet another person, so I wander into my room towards my bed to hide under my covers and cry myself to sleep.

There is a knock on my door, and it opens. I see Talon and he comes and lays in the bed with me. I didn’t realize it's been hours since I fell back asleep, and the sun is setting.

“Monti.”

“No, please don’t say anything about the video. But can you tell me one thing?”

“What?”

“Does he hate me?” He pulls me into a hug, and I cry on his shoulder.

“No, he doesn’t hate you. He’s upset, but so worried about you.” He kisses my forehead.

I sniff and look into his eyes and see that he is telling me the truth. I just don't know what else to do other than cry. I know this is my fault. I should have told him, but I wanted to stay in our little bubble for a bit longer. I didn’t want it to come out like this, but damn.

“Why would Holly do this to me? I haven't even talked to her since I left. I don’t understand. I didn't do anything to her! Why does she keep trying to ruin my life?”

“I can take a wild guess as to who and why, but I have no proof,” he says as he holds me. There isn’t much he can say to make me feel better. I know I need to talk to Rocky, but I don't want to look into his eyes and see anything other than the way he always has.

“Please, just talk to him. He is going crazy not knowing how you’re doing.”

“I just wasn’t ready to burst our bubble. I wanted us to stay in it for a while longer. I was going to tell him, I swear it.”

“I know, Monti. I know your reasons, but he deserves to know them too.”

“I know. If he is going to dump me over this, I want it to be in person.”

“Montana Karissa, you are the biggest drama mama like our moms.” He laughs at me.

“Karissa?” Rocky’s voice shocks me.

Talon and I turn our heads and see Rocky and Autumn standing at the door looking very confused.

“Yeah, that’s my middle name. I’m named after my mom's best friend.”

“Well, I guess we have more to talk about today than I thought.”

“Talon, Autumn, can you give us some time to talk?” Rocky asks, not leaving any room for discussion.

“Sure,” Talon replies as he kisses my forehead and walks out of the room, pulling Autumn with him and closing the door.

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