Page 74 of Big Girl Panties

I sucked in a deep breath as I moved through the kitchen and opened the fridge, pulling out a beer. "I'm heartbroken, but I'm okay." I huffed out a humorless laugh. "Guess Chris was right."

Davina shook her head as I twisted off the bottle cap. "Brooke," she sighed, pausing for a brief moment like she wasn't sure she should say whatever she was going to say. "Look, I don't know if what Dallas said was true or whatever, but I know that you can't fake the chemistry between you two."

"Davina…"

"Brooke, I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I think you should talk to him. Hear him out."

"Davina, I love you, but right now I need you to hate him with me. I need you to be angry with me."

She shrugged. "I just don't believe it."

I stared at her for a long moment. "I do," I whispered. It was the only thing that made sense.

Davina nodded, her shoulders sinking as if she were defeated. "Maybe you're right. Maybe there was a bet, but was the bet for him to date you for almost a year? Was the bet for him to fall in love with you?" I shook my head. He obviously wasn't in love with me. "Was the bet for him to invite you to Ireland with him. Think about it, Brooke. Really think about it."

I ignored her logic. "I've been going to his matches for months now." I took a long sip of my beer. "Everyone knew I was a bet."

"Maybe or maybe not. Maybe Dallas was the only one who knew anything. Or maybe Dallas misspoke. We don't know anything because you haven't spoken to Matt."

I nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted. "Right now, I want to go to sleep and I'll figure the rest out tomorrow."

"Okay," Davina sighed, grabbing her keys from the counter. "I'm going to go, but before I do, I want to say this. Don't let yourself sit and stew on this. The sooner you talk to him, the better you will feel one way or the other."

I knew she was right. I knew I needed to talk to him, but I was spiraling at the moment, and I couldn't stop myself. I'd already made my mind up, and I wasn't sure I could hear him out right now.

"Good night, Davina," I forced a smile. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Good night," she said before leaving.

The apartment felt impossibly quiet after she left. I finished my beer and headed to the bathroom, hoping a hot shower would wash away the humiliation and hurt. But as I stood under the spray, all I could think about was Matt's hands in my hair, his voice whispering my name, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the room.

Stop it, I told myself. It was all fake.

I wrapped myself in my fluffiest robe and padded to the bedroom, where Karen was sprawled across my pillow like she owned the place. Her green eyes fixed on me with what could only be described as disdain.

"Don't look at me like that," I muttered, gently moving her aside so I could collapse onto the bed.

Karen repositioned herself on my chest, her purr a low rumble as she kneaded my robe. For a moment, I thought she was being comforting. Then she opened her mouth and let out the most accusatory meow I'd ever heard.

"What?" I asked, scratching behind her ears.

Another meow, this one somehow more pointed.

"You think I should talk to him too, don't you?"

Karen's tail flicked dismissively, and she turned her back to me, curling up in a tight ball. Even my cat thought I was being ridiculous.

I stared at the ceiling, tears finally spilling over. "Well, Karen, at least you've never lied to me about your feelings. You've always made it clear you barely tolerate me."

A soft purr was her only response, and despite everything, I found myself smiling. Tomorrow I'd have to face the mess I'd made of my life. But tonight, I had my judgmental cat and a broken heart, and maybe that was enough.

Chapter 31

Radio Silence

I practically launched myself out of my truck like some kind of action hero, except instead of saving the world, I was trying to figure out how I'd managed to spectacularly bomb what should have been the perfect night. The wrestling match felt like a lifetime ago. Brooke had vanished before I was even out of the ring, and the hollow ache in my chest told me everything I needed to know about why.

I'd sent dozens of texts. Called until my phone died. Nothing. The silence was deafening, suffocating, like being trapped underwater while everyone else breathed normally above the surface.