Page 49 of Knot Just for Show

“He and the rich boy are totally in this. They both want to find their pack, their girl—settle down and crank out babies and dothe whole family thing,” he groans, pulling the pack of cigarettes from the nearby table—lighting the next with the ember of the still-burning butt between his lips.

“And?” I prompt, not liking where this is going—even without the watchful eye of the cameras.

Anton’s features screw up as he fails to contain an incredulous, scornful laugh.

“And…you fucking reek of unserious, my guy.” He gestures to me, stuffing his spent butt into the empty beer bottle he’s been using as an ashtray.

“Oh yeah?” I raise a brow.

“You practically have fuckboy tattooed on your chest.” he nods toward my liberally unbuttoned shirt and I can’t help but feel a little called out.

“Look who’s talking,” I growl back, jutting my chin toward the creeping of black ink at his neckline, his heavy gold chain, Anton’s smug smile only a further endorsement of my claims.

“Guilty as charged, brother—as they say, it takes one to know one,” he barks a laugh, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

Some of the tension goes out of me with that small gesture. I can’t be too angry with him, can I? He is right, after all. Wouldn’t it be nice to have at least one person in this entire experience who I can actually be on the level with? It seems like Anton might actuallyget it.

Still unwilling to completely give up the ghost, I allow him to take the lead once more after some gentle prompting, “So, what are you in for?” I raise a brow at him, preparing to collect my collateral—just in case he thinks he’s going to blackmail me and play hero about it later.

“Me? I’m here for a little fun, to get more word out about my gym—but mostly to pump up all my socials and to get my brand front and center before I launch a bunch of workoutsupplements this coming fall,” he answers plainly, taking another drag of his cigarette.

“Coffin nails for the guy who markets his body as a temple,” I let loose a gallows laugh. He’s gotta be for real…but I can’t believe he’s just out and out with it like this.

“No one in the gym or on the internet sees this shit—don’t sweat it. It’s about optics, dude,” he assures me, tapping my knee with a level of familiarity we do not yet possess.

“So, what are you doing here—and don’t tell me it’s to find your true love or I’m gonna laugh in your face,” Anton presses.

I don’t want to give up my position, let alone give him the satisfaction of having cornered me—but I can tell that this asshole is like a dog with a bone. Better to give him what he wants and to move on in hopes that he’ll go after something else to hold his attention.

“Same as you,” I shrug him off—desperately wishing that I could just get up and walk away from this vulture without making shit uncomfortably awkward.

“That’s what I thought.” He grins, his eyes glittering; mean and hungry. “Hook up with a babe—show off the goods.” He nods to the bulge of my biceps beneath the cuffed fabric of my button down. “Make a shit load in ad revenue after you go home, do a land office business in pussy after every baddie with Nestflix streams your shredded bod once our season premieres.”

I hate the way his words make me feel. I’ve had more or less the same thoughts, but hearing Anton recite his plans like some kind of oily, sneering villain—makes me want to climb out of my own skin.

“I have some things I need to take care of on the outside, things that need certain amounts of financial commitment,” I explain coolly, doing my best to justify what sets me apart from Anton. In part for him…but just as much for myself, if I’m being honest.

“Of course, of course—noble and steadfast.” Anton nods sagely. “Just so happens that you’ll enjoy a lot of soft and hard bennies as a result of your sacrifice.” He kicks back—putting his second cigarette out and folding his hands behind his head like a pillow.

I don’t want to spend a second longer around this douche, so I’m thrilled when I see the camera crew moving back toward us with purpose as soon as they see that Anton’s snuffed out his final cigarette.

Without a word, I slip from the pool lounger and get to my feet—making moves for the exit.

“Hey, Teddy—where you goin’?” Anton calls after me, an incredulous laugh swinging upward with the intonation of his question.

“I still got one more spot to hit tonight,” I call nonchalantly, doing my best to keep up the mantle of easygoing and fun for the cameras while putting distance between us as quickly as possible.

Anton and I are different.

We are not the same.

I’mnotlike that.

I do my best to assure myself as I make my way out of Roxy’s lounge and into the hallway, where Timmy waits to ferry me to my final destination.

Chapter Seventeen

Ash

---