Page 105 of Places I've Never Been

“I haven’t lied to you.”

She so clearly didn’t believe him that a growl of frustration rumbled in his throat.

“Did you take the time to read the post that went along with the photo, or were you too busy staring at me naked?”

“I barely glanced at it.” He glared at her. “Then I ran to find you because I knew what it meant. I knew how devastated you’d be. I wanted to—”

“They congratulate you on finally landing the woman you’ve had a crush on for years.Years. It must have been exciting to finally screw your high school crush. Was it everything you fantasized about? I really hope it was worth it. It’d be a shame if all this went to waste.”

He stilled as the venom in her words struck him. “Yes, I liked you in high school. So did a lot of guys. What’s wrong with that?”

“You used me.” Her voice was low and dangerous. “You tricked me into coming here. You found the thing I wanted most and you dangled it in front of me like bait, and like a sucker I took it.” She shook her head. “No wonder you never wanted to work. The songs were just an excuse to get me in the sack and make a few headlines.”

“I didnottrick you.” Her words were gasoline on the angry fire building inside him. “I’mnotDevon Morales!”

“You sent the photographer away so I’d let my guard down.”

“That’s not why I—”

“You took me to that beach. You…we…” A tear rolled down her cheek, and she brushed it angrily away. “How hard was it to set up that money shot? The angle of it only works if we’re under the waterfall, and the backlighting didn’t hurt. It really shows our faces. I’ve been thinking about it for hours. It’s a fantastic shot. A hint of boob and leg, just enough to be sexy but not quite sleazy. I have to admit it would make a great album cover. Devon will be jealous.”

“You think I’m the kind of man who would treat you like that? That’s really messed up.”

“Would you even have thought of working with me if you hadn’t fantasized about me in high school?”

“You’re the best lyricist in the business, of course I would have.” He glared at her. “What about you? Would you have worked with me if I hadn’t offered a free vacation?”

“Yes! We would have worked in the damn studio or that stupid karaoke bar you usually go to, or some other neutral place like I always do. I would have gone home at the end of the day. I never would have been here, and there sure as hell wouldn’t be any naked photos of me on the internet.” She flashed him a look that ripped a hole right through his chest. “You know, I thought you were different. I really thought I could trust you.”

She turned away.

“Yes, I had a crush on you,” he shouted at her back.

She stopped but didn’t turn around.

“From the second I saw you on stage. From the first note I heard you sing. And yes, when life threw the chance to meet you my way I seized it because I was never going to get another one.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “So you admit it.”

“I admit that I’ve wanted to get to know you for most of my life. And since you asked the question, yes, it was worth it.”

Mattie sucked in a breath, but he went on before she could interrupt.

“Even if we did get screwed by that photographer. That makes me so angry I can’t even process it. I want to find that guy and shove his camera right up his ass. I want to beat him senseless with it. I want to make sure he never,evergets to do that to you or anyone else ever again.”

She made a choked sound and turned away.

“I had nothing to do with that shot.” He lowered his voice. “I’m sorry it happened, but I’m not sorry I met you. I’m notsorry I got the chance to work with you. I’m not sorry I got to know you, and I’m sure as fuck not sorry I got the chance to love you.”

Her shoulders shook. “That makes one of us.”

“Mattie…”

“Go away, Adam. Whatever we had…whatever it might have been…it’s over.”

She climbed into the helicopter. The pilot shut the door.

Abayomi took Adam’s arm. “We must back away, Mr. Adam. We can’t stay here. It’s not safe.”

---