“You have no idea what you are talking about.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Brielle?I know what I just saw.”
“Nate.”Her eyes flick toward the open doorway behind me.People are near enough to hear.“We both know this hasn’t been working.I don't think we want the same thing anymore.It's like you don't even care anymore.You know how much my image and career mean to me.”
“Yeah, looks like you found a guy whose job description matches yours.Let me guess...he's got a bigger wallet?”
Her eyes shift just the slightest, and my gut sours.“This isn’t about him.”
“Looks like it is.”I grind out.
She exhales, almost tired.“It’s over.You knew this was coming.”
“Fuck that.How did I know it was coming?Was it when we were fucking last night or when you were spending my money this morning?"My voice is raised, and we are drawing attention, but I don't care."Is this because I asked to skip one event?Because I wanted one night that wasn’t for the cameras?I wanted to go home and see my family.”
“It’s my job,” she says evenly.“This life.These people.That’s what I do.You knew it when you met me.”
“Some things are more important than your follower count.”
Her lips part, that perfect gloss gleaming.“You knew that wasn’t true for me, Nate.”
Flash.
The sound of a camera.Another.
I step back instinctively, jaw tight.A sick feeling is taking over.Anger bubbles up within me.“Have you been cheating on me?”
She sighs.Not angry, just done.Like I am a petulant child beneath her.“Goodbye, Nate.”
She moves past me, out into the light.The photographer turns just in time to catch her walking away.I go to follow her becausefuck that shit, what the last four years have been nothing to her?Just a PR strategy that I no longer measure up to."Do not walk away from me, Brielle."
A hand lands on my shoulder.
“Come on, man.”
Two of my teammates are at my side.They try to guide me toward the lobby before I say something I can’t take back.
I start walking, but then I see her withhim.She didn't even fucking wait.
I am already old news to her.She is standing close by his side, peering up at him, like the doting cheating bitch she is.Anders seems to sense my intentions because he tries to grab me again, but I slip past him.He may be strong, but I am fast.And my target is the asshole who's been fucking my girlfriend.
I hear Colby shout something, but I am zeroed in on the dickhead in the Armani suit.
Brielle sees me coming and tries to get his attention, but not before I am on him.My Fist flies before my teammates can grab me.
As I am being dragged back, Brielle is crouched over the guy on the floor, calling for help, playing it up for the cameras and anyone watching.
Flashes blind me, as people shout question after question, not caring that I am a real person.This is gold for them.
Outside, the air is a slap of cold.The sky’s a riot of colour, fireworks exploding over the river, echoing off the glass towers.
“Happy New Year, Captain,” one of them mutters.Half a joke, half pity.
I look up.The colours blur together.My ears ring from the noise, but I can’t hear any of it.I am feeling strange, not exactly sure how to describe it.Angry, Numb...Relieved?
No, that can't be it.I love her...loved her?
But was what we had even real?
