Page 101 of Heartbreaker
“This is bullshit,” I say when they’re finally gone.
Brooks shrugs, letting it roll off his back, just like he always does. Just like I always did, too, before I left. “Name of the game, Sav. You know that.”
To make it in this business, you have to learn to roll with the punches and take the good with the bad, even when you get the short end of the stick.
“It’s still bullshit.”
“They want to draw out the feud, most likely. And what better way to do that than—”
“Discredit everything you’ve said thus far?” I ask.
He knows I’m right, which is why he doesn’t fight me. Instead, he breathes out and shakes his head, letting the corners of his lips turn up.
“What was he talking about? What’s Monday?” Brooks asks.
“I have to let Amos know if I’m going to sign a full-time contract,” I say, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
“And?”
“And,” I sigh. “I don’t know.”
“That’s in like…three days, Savannah.”
“A lot can happen in three days,” I say, and when I open my eyes, I jump, not realizing just how close he had gotten. He looks like he wants to say something, the words sitting on the tip of his tongue, and when I think he’s about to say it…
“Savannah!” Crew’s voice rings out down the hallway, breaking whatever trance we’re under. What is it with him and having the worst timing when it comes to our conversations?
At first, I don’t look away from Brooks. It’s only when I hear the annoyed huff from my brother that Brooks motions down the hall with his eyes. A smirk tugs on the corner of his lips when I finally turn to answer the call. Crew wears a face of scrutiny as he looks between the two of us, measuring the distance with his eyes before he meets my stare. “Nash and the twins are about to die if we don’t get a move on.”
I roll my eyes, turning back to Brooks, and say, “I’d better go.” He nods. “You want to join us?”
“I can’t, Sweetheart. I’m sorry. I have a few things I have to do before Sunday.”
“Right. This is one of your busiest weeks,” I say, nodding along to the words. “Well, thank you…for making sure they got here.”
“They were coming anyway.”
“But you made sure they got here, and if this is my last Wrestlefest, I want them to be here.”
Brooks smiles. “Well, if you ask me, I don’t think EWE has had its last Heartbreak, yet.”
“So, tell us. How’s it been?” Nash sits across the fire pit outside our hotel. The three of us—Nash, Crew, and I—are the last three standing in the family after Amara decided to go to bed about ten minutes ago. It’s been a long day for everyone. I was finally released from rehearsal about two hours ago, and my older brothers, plus Amara, decided to wait until I got back before going to bed. That somehow turned into an almost two-hour yap session, and now that it’s just the three of us, it seems they’re getting to the hard-hitting questions.
“It’s been great,” I say, letting my shoulders rise and fall to match my breath.
“Even with Brooks?”
“Yeah, what’s going on there?” Crew adds. When I glance at my oldest brother, I anticipate a look of disapproval, but instead, he just looks curious. “You guys looked pretty chummy today.”
“Did you see them in that picture?” Nash points toward our brother.
“Oh, I saw.” Crew smirks, chuckling. “Hard to believe something isn’t going on there. Or what was it, she said? They ‘grew apart.’”
“Hello! Sitting right here,” I say, looking between them.
“Yeah, we know,” Nash says, sipping his beer.
“Are you back together?” Crew asks, and my mouth falls open.
