Phoenix Rising Issue #3 - S. R. Watson Page 0,21

still care.

The guys look everywhere but at her, but I know they didn’t miss all that she has on display.

I narrow my eyes at her. My familiar Dom voice low enough for only her to hear, I whisper, “I see someone wants to play with fire. So be it, sweetheart. You just claimed your first punishment.”

I watch as she works to suppress the smile forming on her lips. She thinks she’s topping from the bottom—that she’s enlisting me to play in her submissive game, but in reality, she just gave me a legitimate reason to keep her at arm’s length. My own smile forms as she heads back to our room to change.

Harlow folds the paper hurriedly before pushing past us to get outside. Asher looks at me once before kissing Lily on the forehead. I guess he’d rather me break her heart than the two of us be anything to each other. Luckily for him, I agree.

Chapter Seven

Harlow

This morning, I wake up with even less clarity than I had last night, even minus the booze. My head is at war with my heart. The fact Melissa is even here should be enough for me to walk away—so why doesn’t it feel that simple? Everyone has already left for the fish fry about fifty yards from the house. I can see Phoenix and the bane of my existence from my bedroom window. I know Lily will come for me at any minute now because she’s not a fan of either girl. I back away from the window and place an overdue call to Irelyn.

“How’s it going, hooker? I thought you forgot about me,” she answers.

“Never,” I promise. “How’s class?”

“It’s class. The more important question is how are you? How’s Phoenix? I saw the news.”

Just like her to get to the point.

“I guess he’s okay. He has a new sidekick, so I haven’t really had a chance to ask.”

There’s a beat of silence before she blows out a frustrated breath.

“Sidekick as in another bitch?”

I don’t even bother refuting the bitch part.

“Spot on,” I confirm. “I think I may need to ditch this whole novel idea and get as far from this clusterfuck as I can.”

I purge all the crap that has been going on—from the blowup Phoenix had that night resulting in a fight between him and Asher to Asher’s fake make up with me for Lily’s sake, and now Phoenix’s coupling with Melissa. I collapse on the bed, feeling no better for having gotten it all off my chest.

“Oh, Harlow. You say the word, and I’ll drop everything and meet you in Austin. I can’t even imagine what you’re going through.”

“No. That’s not why I called. I just needed to hear your voice. I know I have to put my big girl panties on and make a decision. Should I stay, or should I go?”

I tell her about Mitch’s comment about not getting what I want by standing on the sidelines. I wait for her to tell me that it’s a crock of shit, but there’s silence on the other end.

“I have a different perspective, and it’s fucking shocking even to me. I can’t believe the words getting ready to leave my mouth,” she begins. “What do you think was said in that room between Phoenix and Sevyn?”

“I have no earthly idea. He hasn’t given me the courtesy of a real conversation since that night. He set our bridge on fucking fire that night and didn’t even look back at the enraging flames. I’ve been dead to him since that night.” The last sentence gets caught in my throat. Tears sting behind my eyes.

“Believe me when I say I’m not pro-Phoenix at the moment, not in the slightest, but I can see beyond the bubble you’re in. I felt the love he had for you during my last visit. He paid to have me visit for the sake of your happiness. Those feelings were genuine. No, something significant happened that night, Harlow.”

“Yeah, I know that. But the question is, what.”

“You’re asking the wrong question. What could have happened that was so devastating it changed his entire outlook? With that blowup, he risked losing the band, in addition to you, so what would make him shit on everything he cares about?”

Although I knew he put the record deal in jeopardy and possibly breaking up the band, I never stopped to ask myself why. I couldn’t see past my own hurt feelings and why he would do this to me.

“I guess I