Page 48 of The Only Thing That's Real

“I know you’re here to do a job. And I’m sure this is all one-sided, but you deserve to know why I’ve been pushing you away.”

What the...

“Are you saying you were pulling my pigtails on the playground?”

He manages another small smile in reply and my goodness are his smiles magnificent.

“I’ve been extremely rude to you,” I admit.

“Not only did I deserve it, but I loved every second.”

I must be hallucinating, because this is not the conversation I expected.

“Ry, you don’t care who I am.”

Shit. I like him calling meRyway too much.

“You’ve met one rock god, you’ve met them all.” I wink.

“So you’ve said.” He smiles back.

“So... we’re friends then?”

He nods. “As long as you don’t stop telling me the truth.”

“I can do that.”

“Friends it is.” He reaches out to shake my hand. Of course, I take it. His huge hand engulfs mine, and my body immediately screams,sorry bitch, but friends ain’t gonna cut it.

Even if he hadn’t just confessed what I thought of him mattered, his eyes and the fact that he’s still holding my hand suggest he may also want to be more than friends.

The ping of my phone interrupts us. Rob’s name lights up the screen and Knox releases my hand.

I haven’t talked to this man in ages and suddenly he’s like a rash that won’t go away.

“You know Rob Braun?”

Before I answer, I clear my throat. “Yes.”

“How?”

“I’ve met many people in the music industry doing this for a living.”

“I get that. But why is he calling? You two working on something?”

“Nope. We unfortunately know each other socially.”

He gets my meaning and looks disgusted. “So, you’re telling me you’re with a guy like that?”

“What? No! I haven’t seen him in months.”

“But you haveseenhim,” he says with air quotes.

“What does it matter?”

“Oh, it matters, darlin’. Any person who would want to be involved with the likes of that prick...” He runs his hands through his hair. “Of all the men in the world.”

“I’m so confused. Why is this so upsetting to you? He’s probably calling about a project. We aren’t together. I would neverbewith a man like him.”

---