Page 81 of False Promises

Savannah smirked. “Like I said, you agreed to it already. Get your head screwed on straight. You’re wasting my precious time by acting like a man-child. Grow up. You’re not fifteen anymore. For the record, I’m citing you. Dah is married, and she lives in Green Mountain. Enough with the unrequited love, Carter. It’s about time you forget about her and realize your place isn’t beside her. This pathetic puppy act of following her around is over. Can’t you see that’s what I’m trying to give you? Love. A future. Why are you so reluctant to let go?”

We glared at each other for a long moment.

“I’m here with you. Paying for all your extravaganza and watching you rub yourself on another man all night and you think I’m the one who’s not serious about us? Whoa. I never saw this one coming.”

“Well, you better get used to it because if you don’t wanna share me, then you’ll avoid putting yourself in situations that will lead me to think you’re not being faithful.”

Savannah’s anger dissipated, and she moved closer. Her voice turned gentle. Almost protective. “Carter, you can’t be mad at me for wanting to protect what’s ours. I know you love Dahlia. It’s written all over your face every time she calls or walks into a room. But perhaps if you give me a chance, you could love me just as much. Think about it.”

She rose to her tiptoes, kissed my cheek, and left me there, in the entryway, to ponder everything she threw at me.

22

CARTER

In the hallway, not brave enough to enter the hell waiting for me inside my apartment after another punishing workout, I dropped my bag on the carpeted floor and fisted my hands, then unclenched them. I stared at the front door, unable to convince myself to get in.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

After last night’s fiasco, I had barely slept, replaying the terrible episode in my head.

Right now, the idea of walking away from Los Angeles and Savannah Prince and never returning sent a rush of adrenaline through my veins.

Dahlia and Jack. Music. Those were the only things that mattered. The things that kept me going. And sane. Even through bad days.

And none of them held a pole position in my crazy existence nowadays.

Tears rushed to my eyes, blurring my vision.

A dead weight coiled around my stomach.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

I had no fucking idea what to do.

Did I miss the signs Savannah Prince wasn’t the woman she pretended to be all this time, or was this just a bump on our road?

My life resembled a house of cards. Looking sturdy on the outside and so fragile on the inside.

With my back pressed against the wall, I slid until I landed on the floor and folded my legs before me, hanging my head between my knees.

Air had a hard time traveling to my lungs.

The fucking world was closing in on me.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Damn, I was suffocating. Dying from asphyxiation right there on the over-expensive floor in the hallway of my apartment building.

More hot tears rushed to my eyes.

I grabbed my phone, needing to hear her voice. The only one powerful enough to calm the surge of panic swirling inside me.

With shaky fingers, I scrolled through the contacts in my phone searching for Dave McGinnis, personal trainer, and pressed the call button. My heart hammered in my ribcage as I waited for it to connect.

My entire body quivered.

Breathe in. Breathe out.