through the slit in her dress. “Ryker, your priorities haven’t been straight since you met her. You’re off in la-la land or disappearing and I’m having to pick up the pieces.”
I nod, not being able to argue with that. She’s right.
“And… she’s not good for your image.”
The fuck?
She ignores my gaping mouth and continues. “You’ve dated international models and celebrities. It’s always gotten you a lot of press. Kept you in the spotlight. It’s helped you have constant exposure, which helps get you endorsements. She’s a nobody.”
I can’t help but laugh at how wrong she is. Running my hand across my stubbled jawline, I notice Pete in the front seat, shaking his head. I hear you, brother.
Now, I’m at an impasse. I was ready to tell her about Aspen and who she really is, but Bree’s just made a hard stance and I don’t know if I can trust her to be on my side anymore.
We pull up to Bree’s condo and she glances at me with a questioning expression. “Bree, it’s best if we part ways. It seems we have different outlooks for my future.”
“Ryker—”
I hold my hand up, stopping her. “I’ll make sure this doesn’t reflect badly on you with your company.” I glance at Pete and he gets out of the car. When he opens her door, I keep my attention forward ignoring her pleading glances. It’s too late for that.
Once Pete gets in the car, he twists his body to peer back at me. “If it’s any consolation, you did the right thing. Aspen’s good for you, even I can see that.”
I flash a tight smile. “Bree knows it too, but she’s too worried about her cash cow. I’m done being the puppet.”
“I don’t know you anymore,” jokes Donnie.
I flip him off, not in a joking mood. I lift the cold beer bottle to my mouth and I swallow down the entire contents in one gulp. I don’t have to wait long for the waitress to arrive with another. I watch her as she walks away, ignoring many requests from other patrons asking for another drink. The place is wall to wall people, yet I can snap my fingers and I’d grab the attention of a waitress, just like that.
This is what fame brings me. People notice me. And I didn’t get that shit because of who I was dating.
“Can you believe she said I got to where I am today because of who I was with? What the hell?” My muscles clench, still pissed she insinuated that. I wash the sour taste off my lips with another ice-cold brew.
“Fuck her. She’s the type of woman who thinks behind every strong man is a stronger woman.”
I bob my head. “Well, I can kinda understand that,” I say, my thoughts trailing to Aspen and how much of a strong personality she has. “But I didn’t get here today because of a woman.”
He drinks to that. “So, have you talked to Mo, lately?”
I shake my head, leaving out that I haven’t talked to her in almost a week. I keep telling myself to be patient. But I was stupid to not get her phone number. I figured she would have texted me by now. As far as Don knows though, she went home after visiting.
He sits forward on his elbows, putting all his weight on the table. It creaks and my eyes widen, waiting for it to give. But it doesn’t faze him at all. It wouldn’t be the first table that he has broken.
“Let me get this straight. You and your PR chic got in a fight about a woman you’re not even talking to? And you fired her?”
There’s no way to explain it that he'll understand. “That's a minor piece of the picture, Don. I don’t want to get into it.” Donnie and I were both drafted the same year, so we’re close. When you rely on a man to keep you from getting wrecked, it forms a bond. So, when he respects me enough not to push, I’m grateful as hell.
“Did you hear Jasper might go to Tampa?” he asks, changing the subject.
Now, that just brightened my day.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Aspen
I stare at my reflection in the full-length mirror. Will I be what they imagined? Running the brush through my hair again, I can’t help but feel it’s not perfect. I’m not perfect. I’ll disappoint them somehow.
Since we got back from the island, I’ve researched my parents, readying myself for the meeting. I look like Beatrice, my