I walked back to my room with a spring in my step and a stupid grin on my face.
Today was one of the best days I’d had in ages.I actually felt…good. I loved being out in nature and being back on a horse, but it was about more than that.As much as I didn’t like to admit it, I’d enjoyed spending time with Halle.
She wasn’t the hard, cold woman I’d first thought she was.She had a softer side.But for some reason she didn’t like to show it.It was like she had her walls up.There was a hundred-foot-tall fortress surrounding her and she didn’t want to let anyone in.But why?Had someone hurt her?
Halle had mentioned before that she’d stayed in the US because she’d met someone.I wondered what happened.
I didn’t get the chance to try and dissect Halle’s past any more because my cell vibrating in my pocket snapped me out of my thoughts.
It didn’t take a genius to work out who was calling.I’d avoided her all day, but it was time to face the music.
After opening my room door, then closing it again, I pulled my cell out and hit the green accept call button.
‘Wilma,’ I said flatly.
‘Where the fuck have you been?’ she snapped.‘Why haven’t you been answering my calls and why haven’t you posted more photos?’
I rubbed my temples then flopped down onto the bed.
‘I posted this morning.’
‘Yeah.Some shit picture of an empty beach.’
‘It wasn’t shit.It was pretty.’
‘People aren’t following you for pictures of the goddamn beach!They want to see you and your match.Why the hell haven’t you posted any pictures of this chick yet?Is she ugly?’
‘No!’ I said quickly, thinking about how damn beautiful she was.I used to think I didn’t have a type.But now I was worried that Halle wasexactlythe kind of woman I’d like to be with.
What the fuck?
That was clearly my dick talking.I had no interest inbeing withany woman right now.My priority was to get my life in order.
‘She’s… not ugly,’ I said, trying to keep my voice measured.
‘Well, why the hell haven’t you posted any photos of her then?If she’s really pretty then we could get some endorsement deals.I’m thinking couples holiday resorts, jewellery companies… you could become the new Victoria and David Beckham.The possibilities are endless!’ Excitement fizzed in her tone.
‘That’s…’ I was about to say that was never gonna happen, but I needed to keep Wilma on side.‘The reason I haven’t posted any photos of her is because she doesn’t like having her photo taken.’
‘What?’
‘She doesn’t even use social media.’
‘What the actual fuck?’ She gasped like I’d just told her that Halle was born in outer space and looked like a three-headed green alien.‘Whodoesn’tuse social media?’
‘Well, up until a few days ago, me,’ I reminded her.
The handful of posts that I had before were made by my management or someone else on my team, but not by me.I hated that shit.Which was why what Wilma wanted me to do was so freaking painful.
‘This is insane!You must have at least one photo with her!’
‘Nope,’ I lied.
Thanks to the photos Sammie had taken, I now had several.Plus, there were the ones Aidan took of us on the horses today, which I’d forgotten to check, but there was no way I was posting those.
For whatever reason, Halle didn’t like having her photo taken or having a social media presence.I was hoping that wasn’t because she was a criminal mastermind on the run (joking – despite her attempts to act tough, I doubted Halle would hurt a fly).But just because I didn’t know why, it didn’t mean I had the right to put her photo online without her permission.
‘You need to do better, Jakey boy.’ Wilma said and I cringed at the nickname.It was so condescending.
