Page 50 of Big Girl Panties

The consequences of breaking that contract were scary, but the consequences of losing Brooke were absolutely terrifying. She'd been with someone who made her feel like she wasn't enough, and I'd rather give up my entire career than be another person who made her feel anything less than extraordinary.

Even if it meant I'd be eating ramen noodles for the next decade.

Chapter 19

Ice Cream Confessions

The bell above the door chimed as I pushed through the glass door of The Sweet Spot, the small ice cream shop on Bayshore Drive. The evening air carried the scent of saltwater and vanilla, and string lights twinkled overhead like fallen stars.

"You never did tell me how your meeting went today." I dipped my spoon into my cookies-and-cream ice cream as we strolled down the moonlit sidewalk. "In fact, I think you're avoiding the question like it's Brussels sprouts."

Matt's laugh sounded forced, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "Yeah, I guess I did dodge that question."

I narrowed my eyes, studying his face in the soft glow of the streetlights. "Why? Did you get bad news?"

"No… or yes." He shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "I'm honestly not sure."

I gently touched his arm, feeling the tension in his muscles. "Do you not want to talk about it?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze dropping to the sidewalk. "I didn't want to ruin our perfect evening."

My stomach tightened, anxiety coiling like a spring wound too tight. The sweet taste of cookies and cream suddenly turned bitter on my tongue as I searched his face. "Matt, what's going on? And don't you dare say it's nothing, I can practically see the stress radiating off you."

He sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as we paused near a wrought-iron bench overlooking the moonlit bay. Waves crashed gently against the seawall, their rhythm matching my suddenly racing heart.

"You're right. You deserve to know." He took a deep breath, as if steeling himself for battle. "Three years ago, I signed a contract with MLM Modeling."

"Okay?" I drawled, the word stretching between us like taffy.

"They were a newer agency trying to get their models noticed, so they proposed a deal. They wanted wrestlers and other public figures to take their models to high-profile events as dates in exchange for a large sum of money. At the time, I wasn't dating anyone and had no intention of getting serious, so it seemed like a win-win. Built-in date for events, no strings attached."

I blinked, processing. "I'm still not following the problem part."

His shoulders tensed, and he met my eyes with a look of resignation. "I'm still under that contract. And I have two major events coming up."

"Ohhhh." The realization hit me like a wave. "So you have to take one of their models to any events until your contract ends." He nodded miserably. "And when does it end?"

He exhaled slowly, fingers tapping an anxious rhythm against his ice cream cup. "A few months. Maybe. We aren't really sure."

Heat crawled up my neck as humiliation crashed over me. Of course, he needed to take gorgeous models to his events. He was a professional wrestler, and I was just... me. I wasn't even sure how to react. We weren't officially together, so I couldn't be mad, but the thought of sitting home while he was out with some stunning model made my chest ache.

"But…" My gaze snapped up to meet his. "I told them no."

My brows pulled together in confusion.

His jaw set with determination, eyes locked on mine. "If I can't take you, then I'm not going."

My heart skipped several beats. "Are you serious?"

He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending electricity through me. "I like you, and I'm not going to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or insecure. You're worth more than any contract."

My lips curved into a soft smile. "I like you, too. A lot." I started walking again, my mind racing. "But what does this mean for the contract?"

He shrugged. "It's not important."

"Matt." I stopped walking and faced him. "If this is going to work between us, you have to be completely honest with me. What aren't you telling me?"

He nodded, understanding crossing his features. "My team is working to get me out of it, but worst-case scenario, I have to pay back all the money."