Page 115 of Press Play

“When people notice me in public, you’re never ashamed or try and distance yourself. You didn’t have to tell your dad about us, but you did. I know he doesn’t know what I do for a living, but that doesn’t make me less horrid. I’m an awful person.”

“You’re not an awful person,” I tell him while reaching for his hand, but he pulls away, and my heart drops into my stomach.

“You wouldn’t say that if you knew.” His tone drops.

“Knew what?” I whisper.

“What I’m considering.” His gaze turns to ice, every inch of his body stiffens, and the emotion in his voice is gone. He fixes his gaze on the wall., “Amanda has the video of us.”

I freeze. The blood pumping through my veins halts, and I become cold within seconds. “How?” I croak.

“I forgot she has access to my drive.”

“Why did she have it to begin with?”

“I’m an idiot, Wren. I trusted her years ago and didn’t remember until it was too late.”

I suck in a shaky breath. “You’re not an idiot?—”

“She wants me to fuck her.” Theo looks at me, his expression sharp and unyielding. “And if I don’t, she’ll post our video. You’ll be front and center for the world to see.”

My entire body has shut down, leaving my brain numb. Too much has happened today. I can’t process a damn thing.

“And I’m considering it.”

That’s what flips my switch. One neuron at a time, my brain fires on, and words spill from my mouth. “She’s blackmailing you, and you’ll give her what she wants?”

“I can’t let her post that video.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks, thawing my frozen expression. “Why not? AmIembarrassing? Does being with me disgust you? I mean, you’re used to being with women like Amanda. I have curves and cellulite. For all I know, you’ll sleep with her to avoid ruining your reputation.”

“What?” And that’s what sends him over the ledge. My nostrils flare as his jaw clicks.

Theo has only been mad with me a handful of times, and this is the face he makes. His cheeks are red and splotchy. The smile I love melts away into a frown, and his posture tenses.

He’s angry, but I’m well past that.

Theo has to know that if he does this, it’ll be the end of us. I wouldn’t be able to continue with our relationship if he sleptwith her, even if it’s to protect me. I refuse to put myself through the emotional rollercoaster that will send me on.

“I’m not likeher,” I hiss. “I’ll never be someone like Amanda.”

“You think I want this? Do you honestly think I want someone like her? I want you! Someone who knows who she is. Someone who is loyal, fierce, loving, and a goddamn pain in my ass when she wants to be. I want someone who will love me for me until my dying day. Someone who will adore me regardless of my flaws. You’re the woman I want!” His words strain his throat like passionate fire.

Tears sting my eyes before they slip down my cheeks. “Then why are you doing this?”

“To protect you.”

“Even if you lose me in the process?” My crying turns into a sob, and I choke on my saliva.

“Yes.”

What term can I use to describe how my heart falls into my stomach? It’s not heartbreak; this is severe, a burning, gaping hole in the pit of my core.

Grasping my middle, I inhale and exhale rapidly. If he loved me as much as he says he does, he wouldn’t give Amanda’s proposition the time of day.

“This is illegal. She can’t do this,” I choke out.

“She can, and she will.”

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