Page 47 of False Promises

She flashed me a large grin.

“What?” I rose to sit up and cocked my head, staring through the window, the brick wall of the building next door blocking all the sunlight, and swallowed my annoyance.

“Come on, Carter. Don’t get mad. I’ll make it up to you. I always do.”

Everyone would be coming to my label’s anniversary party with a date. Guess I’d be fine on my own. I always had in the past. It just seemed weird that my own girlfriend wouldn’t join me. And I couldn’t ask any other woman to accompany me without the press making up stories about my having an affair or whatever shit they could come up with. And infuriate Savannah in the process.

I sighed, forcing my ire down, not in the mood to fight.

I really needed to work on this dating thing. In my life, I’d never been in a serious relationship before. And I felt there was a place for improvement. I wasn’t in love with Savannah Prince, not yet at least, but I hoped one day I would feel this way about her. Without questioning anything.

Nick was at the opening night of Dahlia’s store, even though they’d just met and weren’t even dating.

Belinda had cheered Stud every night on tour, and they weren’t even together back then.

Was I doing it all wrong, or did I have unrealistic expectations?

Savannah moved to her feet, her grin brightening up her entire face, and grabbed my hand to pull me out of the bed.

“Let’s go out. To celebrate us.”

I pushed my irritability away and forced an almost-smile to my lips.

“You know that new restaurant downtown? The one you told me you would take me to?”

I nodded.

“Well, I got us a reservation. For tonight. I’m super happy you’re taking me. I love it when you indulge in our happiness.”

Giving me the best view of her backside, Savannah changed into a number that left no place to the imagination. A skimpy red dress, barely long enough to cover her ass, and a pair of black stilettos. All of which, I had to admit, made her look divine.

She adjusted her boobs and fluffed her hair.

In front of the full-length mirror set in one corner of the room, she examined each angle of her outfit, touching up her makeup. “See, people will envy you tonight. I look like a million bucks in this.”

I offered her a small curve of my lips, still feeling uneasy about her not coming home with me. Not wanting to meet the people I worked with or my friends and family and to learn where I came from.

Was I selfish to ask for it? To expect it?

Savannah always threw me out of my game. Big time.

She colored her lips in a thick coat of red lipstick, put on the pair of diamond earrings I got her for her birthday, and looped her arms through mine once I got dressed in slacks and a dark shirt.

“Let’s go, pretty boy. Show me the way.”

In the most upscale eatery in town, waiting for our main courses, I watched Savannah in the dim light. High cheekbones, straight nose, full lips. Her phone went off, and she picked it up, breaking my admiration.

Her face blanched as she replied with “Yesses” and “Nos,” nodding and twisting her lips.

“You can’t be serious?” she asked, her tone half-glacial, half-fearful. “And how am I supposed to relocate on such short notice?” Her lips quivered, and her eyes filled with tears. She listened to the person on the other end of the line, the fingers of her free hand fidgeting with the fork on the table. “Can I refuse? Do I have a say in the matter?”

I covered her hand with mine and raised a brow as if to ask her what was going on.

She shook her head, chewing on her lower lip, a look of defeat on her now tense visage.

“Thanks for letting me know. But no thanks for being such an asshole and ruining my night. You’ll hear from my lawyers.” She hung up and slammed the device on the table face down.

“Hey, tell me what it’s about?”