Page 113 of False Promises

A beat passed.

“Should I worry?”

“Nah, I’ll be fine. I’ve missed you guys so much—”

“We’ve missed you too. I’m so proud of you right now.”

“Dah, I got manipulated. How did this happen? How did I let my guard down? How could I have been so blind to her manipulative schemes?”

“Carter, stop. Abuse is everywhere, and there are people whose specialty is to lie and fool others. They don’t discriminate by sex or age or profession. They play mind games, and they are the best at them. Savannah Prince is a sociopath. She saw an opportunity, smelled your weaknesses, and attacked. It’s not about you. It is, but she would have got another prey if you hadn’t taken the bait. What you went through is called psychological violence. And it can happen to anyone. People realize this once they’re both feet in. And it takes courage to leave. Because these manipulators, they see no wrong in their doing, and they are pretty convincing at making you believe you are the problem and that they are the victims. It’s not personal. It’s not your fault. Don’t ever blame yourself for others’ insecurities and fraud. You are strong. Otherwise, you would still be there.”

“And yet, I lost two years of my life. For a moment, I became someone I barely recognized. My team had to get involved to help me sever the ties linking me to Savannah once and for all. I made a fool of myself.”

“See this as an experience. You learn from it. You grow up. And next time, you won’t trust people too easily, but at the same time, you can’t spend your life thinking everyone is fake. There are good souls in this world. And your person is out there too. I believe it. Now that you recognize the signs, you’ll just be more careful. But don’t lose faith in people. In women. Not everyone is Savannah Prince. You just got unlucky.” She paused. “But you know what? Luck turns. Like the wind. Are you gonna reach out to that therapist?”

“Yeah. As soon as I’m home. We talked on the phone thrice. The day has been exhausting. This morning, I felt confident. Now that the adrenaline is waning, I’m crashing. I think I’ll get a hotel room and sleep it off. Even though it’s just”—I looked at the time on the dashboard—“mid-afternoon where I am. Can we talk later?”

“Sure. Call or text me when you get back on the road, okay?”

“I will. Thanks, Dah. For listening to me. And having my back. Always.”

“Cart, I’m sorry I didn’t pull you out of there myself.” Her voice cracked. “You had to do this on your own. It had to be your decision. I’m just glad you came back to your senses. I’m relieved this chapter of your life is over. Are you driving to Green Mountain, or are you staying at your penthouse in Nashville?”

I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck.

“I’ll be in Nashville for now. I need to fix my life. Get it back on track. Figure out my next move. Shit, I don’t know. I need to talk to Riley and June. And get rid of anything linking me to Savannah Prince forever. I am craving a moment on my own. To just be. And regain my strength. And focus on the good in my life. Record some music if I can get my mojo back. I never realized how isolated I’d become until Riley mentioned it. I went to visit Stud, and he pointed it out too. It’s like I’ve been brainwashed…hard to explain. Anyway, gimme some time to get back on my feet.”

“It’s okay. Let us know when you’re ready. If you need anything in the meantime, we’re here for you. All of us.”

“I know. Thanks for being in my corner.”

“Always.”

“Dah, I’ll come to you soon. Never again will I stay away from you guys. It broke my heart when Taylor advised me to keep my distance. You’re my family. And where my heart belongs.”

“Quick reminder. If you want me to go to LA and kick Miss Evil’s ass myself, just say the word. It will be my pleasure. She has no idea how we Southern girls can defend ourselves and those we love.”

A chuckle left my mouth. It felt good to laugh again.

“I’d pay good money to see you teach her a lesson the Tennessee way. Tell Jack I love him, okay? I’ll try to video chat with him tomorrow.”

“I will. Be careful, Cart. We’ll wait for you. Heal. Take as long as you need.”

We hung up, and my heart floated in my chest, lighter than it’d been in a long time.

Now I could breathe. Like really breathe.

Savannah Prince was a bad decision. A bump on my road. Yeah, I wouldn’t waste my life thinking about her. She didn’t deserve a single moment of it.

I exited the interstate, in search of a hotel to nap for a few hours.

When I got off my truck, I stretched my arms over my head and inhaled the floral scent that permeated the air. A small smile peeked out. Being alone had never felt so good.

Yeah, I could be happy again. I’d make it happen. Love. One day. I wouldn’t lose hope.

Perhaps being on my own wouldn’t be so scary this time. The days where I belonged to someone who didn’t deserve me were over. For good.

I breathed in the essence of my newfound freedom, enjoying every tingle lining my spine.