Page 91 of False Promises

“Dahlia called me a while back. Told me she was worried about you. I was like, he’s a big boy, and he’ll tell us if he needs an out. But now I get what you’ve both been saying. With what Taylor has dug up so far, we’re all worried about you. The other morning, when you called me to explain what was happening, you were a shell of yourself. I’m missing the guy with the best one-liners, the one who called me at midnight because he wanted me to hear his new song and couldn’t wait until the morning. You’ve become too quiet. I should have guessed something was wrong. We’re bringing her down, man. You’re not returning to LA. Not under my watch.”

“Dah called you?”

My manager raised his hands. “She asked me to keep an eye on you. Said you weren’t being yourself. After she visited you, she had a bad feeling about Savannah. And feared for your mental health. Said you were kinda keeping her at a distance. And we all know if you’re keeping Dahlia Ellis at a distance, it means you’re either sick or you’re not being yourself.”

I sighed “Savannah and I used to have fun together. At least we were good at that. Until we weren’t. I just can’t figure out what’s her angle. No matter what, don’t worry, I’m over it.”

Riley’s hand clamped on my shoulder. “Glad you’re back to your senses. For what it’s worth Savannah is not Dahlia. And she’s not a second-place prize you have to deal with because you have no other options.”

“I’m over Dah. For good.”

“Great, because she wasn’t the one either. Even I could tell the first time I met you guys. Her heart already belonged to someone else.”

“I keep being reminded of that fact.”

“Carter, you’re losing your spark. Find it back. Don’t ever let people steal it from you.”

“I won’t. I’m done taking shit from people who aren’t worth my time and my dedication anymore.”

“About time—” Riley’s eyes flared as he stared at something over my shoulder, and all the words died in his mouth.

I spun my head to see what caught his attention, and my throat seized.

I blinked.

What the hell.

I discarded my glass on a small table and hurried toward the dance floor where Savannah had stripped out of her burgundy dress—down to a matching lacy bra and panties set—and a man I didn’t recognize, with long, curly blond hair, was fondling her from behind.

I removed my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders as soon as I reached her and pushed the man away with a hand on his chest.

“Back off. Now.”

Savannah gazed at me, her pupils dilated and her cheeks red.

“What did you give her?” I asked the man.

“Nothing,” he said, raising his hands in surrender. “She was already plastered when she came on to me.”

A high-pitched laugh exited Savannah’s mouth.

“Whatever.” I brought my attention to her. “Come with me,” I said in her ear, close enough so no one could hear our conversation. “We need to get you to the hotel. What did you take?”

Savannah smiled. Showing her extra-white teeth. “A blue pill.”

I blinked. For fuck’s sake. “Why?” My insides tightened in a ball, the knots multiplying. The desire to punch anyone or anything standing in my way grew bigger by the second.

Lava simmered in my veins, setting my insides on fire, burning everything in its wake.

My heart thundered in my chest, its thrumming almost deafening.

All my muscles flexed.

I was about to explode.

Savannah raised her voice. “Because, Carter Hills, you’re no fun. You ignore me all the time at home but collect girlfriends everywhere we go. I’m done being an arm candy, a prize in your life, that you show off to look good.”

Bullets of fiery-hot rage fired in my stomach.