Page 28 of Heartbreaker
My steps falter, and I pull away to look her straight in the eye. I don’t know what kind of guys she’s been around in her past, but that’s not me. It’s never been me. “I have no expectations of you, Sweetheart. I did that because I wanted to, not because I want something in return.”
Savannah gnaws on her bottom lip, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, and I think she’s going to say something further, but her attention gets pulled to the back corner. Raelynn’s laughter echoes in the mostly empty café, I’m sure in response to whatever face Brody just made after trying the drink he ordered on a dare from her. From the sound of it, when he was reading it off the chalkboard menu, it wasn’t something I’d ever expect him to order, but he wasn’t someone to turn down a challenge.
I watch Savannah as she watches them, taking measure of everything about her: the tension in her back, the clench of her jaw, the tight smile on her lips when Raelynn looks our way, and the way her shoulders rise and fall with a heavy sigh before she turns back to me.
“Brooks, I, uh…”Brooks? I thought we were past the Brooks thing. “Look, I don’t want things to be weird.” They’re alreadyweird; she just called me Brooks. “And you have to admit—”
“Why would they be weird?” I ask, and she gives me a knowing look. “Sweetheart, it doesn’t have to be weird. And if I’ve come across that way to you, I’m sorry. Yes, we slept together, but that was before all of…this. Even if it wasn’t, that doesn’t mean we have to make it weird. There’s no reason we can’t be friends.”
Savannah wets her lips, taking a breath. “Does anyone know?”
“Brody.”
“What about the others that were there?” She chews on her thumbnail. The lights above us turn her eyes a lighter shade of brown as she stares up at me from underneath long lashes.
I don’t mean to, but I feel my gaze narrow.What about the others? That hurts a little. Or maybe this is what they would call a bruised ego. Let’s be real, everyone (or at least everyone thinks everyone) sleeps together. That’s the nature of backstage…I think this might be the first time someone didn’t want to yell from the rooftops that they had been with me.
Shaking my head, both in disbelief and answer to her question, I ask, “Raelynn?” She hesitates, but shakes her head. That’s a lie.
My gaze narrows, and I notice a slight blush in her cheeks—she’s been caught. I don’t understand why she would lie; she’s allowed to confide in her friend.
I clear my throat, folding my arms over my chest. “Well, my lips are sealed. You don’t have to worry about me outing your secret.”
“I didn’t…Brooks, it’s not like that.” Savannah stumbles over her words, reaching out for my hand without hesitation. “I just…I don’t know. Maybe we should keep our distance. I don’t want people to think I got this job because of you. Or that I did this for you. Harper is already suspicious. I’m sure you being here has only made her more so.”
I’m sure Wolf has his own suspicions, and I highly doubt he’s kept those thoughts to himself. Or maybe they are only rooted in whatever Harper has said to him, because he’s never outright asked me. He and Savannah are close, though. It surprises me that she would tell Raelynn, but not him.
“You know as well as I do that if people find out the truth, it’s the first thing they’ll say.”
“And?” I laugh. “Let them, Savannah. Fuck them and their opinion. As long as you know it’s not true, why does it matter what they think?”
“It’s do—” Her rebuttal is cut short when another patron taps her on the shoulder. We both look over her shoulder to meet the gaze of another man, whose smile only widens when he realizes itisher.
“Holy shit, it is you! I thought it was, but—”
“Jaxon?”
Jaxon? So, she knows him.
The intruder looks down at her, his arms open at his sides like he’s waiting for an embrace. One that doesn’t come. Savannah remains in place, arms folded over her chest, and it might just be my imagination, but I swear she takes a step back toward me.
“It’s good to see you! How long are you in town for?” he asks, letting his arms fall.
“Only a few more days,” Savannah says.
The young kid behind the counter sets her coffee and an iced water on the counter. She thanks him, and he reminds her to come back before she leaves town, to which she enthusiastically agrees. He gives me a small smile before glaring at Jaxon, and I chuckle when he turns on his heel to get back to work. Glad to know I’m not the only one who gets a bad vibe from this guy.
“I think this is for you.” She hands me the water, and the action draws the eyes of our guest to me. This is the first time he’s acknowledged my presence since he interrupted us. His narrowed gaze moves over me, but locks onto the space where our hands meet on the plastic cup. Dropping her hand, Savannah takes another subtle step closer to me, her side now leaning into my own, but surprisingly, she doesn’t pull away when my hand lands on her waist. The whole thing reminds me of that night at the bar in Crimson Valley, and I give her waist a gentle squeeze. “I have some friends visiting before we head to Philadelphia on Monday.”
“Oh, right, you’re doing that wrestling thing. I heard you were dabbling in that.”
Dabbling? Is he serious?
“Well, if you find yourself with some free time in the next few days, we should hang out.”
Savannah’s hand comes to cover mine when my grip tightens, her fingers delicately weaving between my own. This is the complete opposite of what we are supposed to be doing. Not even two minutes ago, she said we should keep our distance, and now…Her fingers grasp mine when I try to remove my hand from hers, her grip almost as tight as the smile she offers the man before us. “Jax, I’m not going to have a lot of time.”
The barista sets another coffee down without a second glance, not even a curt nod to his customer. Jax takes a sip of the coffee, his mouth turning up in disgust. He glares over his shoulder at the young kid, but surprisingly, doesn’t say anything. Clearing his throat, he musters up his best smile. “Oh, c’mon. For old times’ sake.”
