Page 98 of Heartbreaker
My heart stops. I knew this was coming sooner or later; I just hoped it would be much later.
Brooksscrubs a hand over his face before his tongue pokes out to wet his lips. He takes a deep breath and glances around the crowd, which has started to chant, “Holy shit.” That’s the bombshell they’ve been waiting for since my return.
“You know something, Spencer?You’re right, Savvy did leave me.But you want to know something else?She still answered my call.She still showed up.She’s been in this ring every damn day since she walked back through that door, and that’s more than I can say for either one of you.”
That receives a “Savvy Skye” chant, but I’m too focused on the drama unfolding on-screen to care when every eye in gorilla turns on me. Because for the first time in a long time, I don’t know where this will lead.
“You’ve created this delusion in your heads where everyone is against you, everyone is out to get you.That’s not real, and Spencer, it’s time to act like a man, stand up and—”
“Do you ever shut up?”Vivianayells, catchingBrooksoff guard. MaybeSpencera little, too. “I know you like to hear yourself talk, but haven’t we heard enough?”
Brookschuckles, scratching his chin, and what happens next isnotpart of the script. In fact, most of this wasn’t scripted. They were allowed to go out and trash-talk each other freely, because a little improv never hurt anyone, but I know for certain this wasn’t planned.
Viviana’s palm collides withBrooks’s cheek when he starts to speak again, and the world around me comes to a halt.
Did she just…
This isn’t a fucking segment anymore. I could see the switch happen, slowly turning from banter back and forth to something more real. Personal. Blurring the lines between the role we’re meant to play in the ring and reality. I didn’t think it would turn into this; otherwise, I would’ve insisted on being out there. Viviana can say whatever she wants about me—hell, she can talk trash about him—but she is not going to get away with putting her hands on him.
Before I know it, I’m standing up from my chair and walking out of the curtain that will lead to the ramp. I can vaguely hear one of the producers yelling my name into the headset, trying to get the sound techs to play my music before I make it out there. They want it to seem like this was planned, but they can take their program and shove it up their ass.
When I get back to gorilla, I’m probably going to get my ass chewed because I’m not supposed to be anywhere near this segment. I don’t care.
Just before I step out, I hear him chuckle over the speakers—like heknowswhat’s coming. Knows I’m about to walk out there.
“You just made the biggest mistake of your life,” Brooks says, and I’m already on stage before he can finish.
The crowd cheers as I run toward the ring, sliding under the bottom rope. I pop up to my feet in a fluid motion, but Spencer has already pulled Viviana out of the ring. He drags her by the hand toward the ramp.
I snatch the microphone from Brooks’s hands and climb the rope, glaring down at them. “You fuck with him? I’m coming after you, bitch,” I say, and the crowd explodes. “I’ll see you on Sunday!”
I throw the microphone to the ground, and Brooks takes my hand when I jump down from the ropes. He lifts our hands into the air, but my gaze remains locked on Viviana. Her husband continues to pull her up the ramp, and only when they disappear backstage do I turn my attention to the crowd. I finally let myself smile.
Brooks motions to the corners, and we climb up the turnbuckles, soaking in the reaction from the crowd. I can feel his gaze on me, warming my skin, and when I turn to meet his stare, he wears a wide, toothy grin that makes mine grow wider.
When we finally make it backstage, almost five minutes later, all eyes are on us. I freeze, but Brooks places a firm hand on my back, urging me forward.
“Brooks!Skye!” Amos’s voice rings out before he pops up from his chair. We pause in the middle of the room, meeting the wide grin of the man in charge. “That was good shit.”
Brooks nods at him, and his fingers gently tap my lower back.Keep moving, they say. I half expect him to pull away when I move forward, but he doesn’t. He continues to guide me through the small sea of people who’ve gathered in gorilla, each one offering us some acknowledgement for the show we just put on.
When we finally make it through the curtain backstage, Brooks clears his throat, about to say something, but he’s interrupted by a loud whistle to our right. Spencer and Viviana are posted along the wall. Were they seriously waiting for us? Don’t they have anything better to do?
“Put on quite the show out there, Sav,” Spencer says, lips quirked to the side.
“Trust me, Austin, it wasn’t a show,” I say.
Viviana chuckles, drawing my attention to her as she clings to his arm. Her smug smile only adds fuel to the fire rebuilding inside my chest.
“And you. If you ever put your hands on him again, you’ll have more than one knee to rehab.”
She gasps, and there’s a small chuckle behind me.
Spencer’s eyes widen with rage. “Come near my wife—”
“And you’ll do what?” My glare turns on him. “If your wife would keep her hands to herself, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.”
I feel a tug against my waist, pulling me back a step that I hadn’t even realized I’d taken. Somewhere in the exchange of words, Brooks had slipped a finger through my belt loop, making sure I would keep a healthy distance from the two cowards on the other side of the hall.
