Page 68 of Heartbreaker
John’s fingers froze, and finally, he looked up with a furrowed brow. “A storyline with Drake?” I nodded. “As in a love storyline?” Another nod. “You’re fucking kidding me. Savannah, you can’t—”
“John, I know you don’t like him, but I don’t have a choice.”
“Don’t have a choice? You always have a choice. Why in the hell would they put you in a storyline withhim, of all people?”
“He just came back, they want to give him a push, and—”
“There are plenty of other women they can throw at him. Plenty who’d be more than willing to throw themselves at him. They can get one of them to do it, because I’ll be damned if my girlfriend is going to be on the arm ofDamian-fucking-Drake.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s just a story. You know it doesn’t mean anything.”
“Savannah, this isn’t up for debate. You’re not doing the story.” John planted his hands on his hips, face pulled into a thin line, and his jaw clenched so tightly that I swore he was going to chip a tooth.
Who in the hell was he to tell me what I could and couldn’t do?
“In case you’ve forgotten, I already have a father, I don’t need another one,” I said, pushing off the wall. “You don’t get to tell me what I can and cannot do. This is my job, and if anyone should understand that, it’s you,Brooks.”
His jaw clenched even tighter.
“I have to go meet Rae. She wants to try out some new stuff before Sunday.” I wanted him to say something—anything—that would prove he was going to let it go, that he wasn’t going to hold onto this, but he didn’t. With a slight scoff, I shook my head. “I didn’t come here to ask for your permission, John. I just wanted you to hear it from me, before Drake tried to start shit with you,” I said, and walked out the door.
I don’t know why his reaction irked me so much, because I knew it was coming. The problem wasn’t that they wanted to put me in a “romantic” storyline with someone else; the problem waswhothe story was with. It’s no secret that he and Drake dislike each other—and that’s a nice way to put it. Sure, they can do what they have to for work, but you’ll never catch them pretending to get along, even for the sake of a match. They’d rather call everything in the ring. Maybe they’ll set up a few spots ahead of time, but for the most part, they ignore each other until they have no choice. And I’ve always believed that’s why they have some of the best matches of any duo on the roster.
We haven’t talked much since I left the gym that afternoon—John having multiple media days in a row didn’t help, either—but this morning he walked into the kitchen with a new lease on life and a thousand-watt smile. John wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed a long kiss to my temple. “I’m sorry for being an ass,” he whispered. “I know I have a lot of making up to do. Let me take you to dinner tonight and then bring you home so I canshowyou how sorry I am. Please?”
It wasn’t the apology I wanted, but it was enough. And I got at least two more as the day progressed. This wasn’t normal. We didn’t fight like this, and I was ready to put it behind us until I saw Noah Callahan’s name appear on my phone twenty minutes before my boyfriend was supposed to be home from his workout with Brody.
Now, the garage door opens from the other end of the house, and I take a deep breath, trying to steady the growing fire rising in my veins.Don’t freak out.Just talk to him about it…Maybe it wasn’t even him.Maybe it wastheiridea to change it.
“Hi, there.” His voice is warm as he walks into the kitchen. “Did you decide where—”
“John, I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me,” I interrupt, looking up from my fingers on the marbled countertop. He approaches with more hesitation than he had moments ago, but nods anyway. “Did you call and ask them to change my storyline?”
He doesn’t even flinch. Doesn’t say anything or look away; he just stands there.
“Did you—”
“I don’t trust him, Savannah.”
Words escape me when he admits to it. He doesn’t even try to deny it—no excuse, nothing. Everything I just thought in the minutes before he walked through the door turns to ash in the fire that consumes me. How could he do this? How could he get involved in my job, in my business? He could have gotten me fired for something so unprofessional. My mouth opens and closes too many times to count as I search for the words to respond, but nothing seems appropriate.
“Sweetheart, I-I know it was wrong, but I couldn’t sit back and watch you—”
“I cannot believe you! Whatever issues you two have shouldn’t impact my career, John,” I say, taking a step back when he moves closer. “You don't trust him? Fine. Trust me. Have faith inme. But obviously you lack both.”
“That’s not true.”
“We have always kept things separate.Always.” I shake my head, still in disbelief. I wanted to believe he didn’t do this, but deep down, I knew there was no other explanation. “You had no right to get involved. No right to stick your nose in my story. What if I had done the same to you?” He rips his gaze from my own. “You would be livid, and you know it.”
“I apologize for making you feel this way, but I’m not sorry for doing it. You don’t know him, Savannah. He is not a good person. This has nothing to do with my feelings about Miles Drake. This is about keeping you safe.”
“Safe from what, John?”
“Just because you’re secure in our relationship doesn’t mean he won’t try something, and the second he tries something with you, I’m going to jail.” John takes another step closer, and this time, I let him. He leaves a small gap to give me the choice of what to do next. I want to be mad, and I am, but I want to be madder. Against my wishes, the blaze inside my chest begins to fade.
“I’m still upset with you,” I say, because, despite my disappointment, I don’t want to fight anymore, not after the last few weeks.
“I know.” His hands flex at his sides, like he wants to reach out, but restrains himself. “And I promise that I won’t ever do it again, unless it comes to him.”
