“There are plenty of women around who would love to fuck a superstar.”
“Don’t make it cheap, Simon. It’s not like that. I get that you’re mad, but it’s not like that at all.” My frustration flared, shifting from embarrassment and guilt to somethingcloser to anger.
“So how is it? Why don’t you tell me? Because I know you, Owen.”
“It’s different with her,” I repeated. Other words formed in my mouth, in my heart, but Simon couldn’t be the first I’d tell them to.
Simon’s face didn’t change. “What does that even mean, Owen? Giving her a good time and some attention isn’t enough. Rio is not a Bambi, or a Gwen, or a Tabitha, or a Chiara, Ornella, Pilar, or Irma.”
I almost laughed. He’d just rattled off more names of my past flings than I could remember myself. But if I so much as cracked a smile right now, he’d probably break my jaw. I couldn’t charm my way out ofthis.
“You’re right,” I said. “She’s different because none of those women ever meant anything to me. She always has.”
I wanted to say that now, she meant everything. But I didn’t think he’d believe me.
And his next question proved why.
“Okay, good. So, are you planning on staying here?”
“I’m thinking about it. It’s not like they renewed my contract.”
Simon’s face hardened. “You see? That. Right there. If they had renewed your contract, you would’ve been out of here yesterday.”
I bit the inside of my lip. “I don’t think so. I would’ve still ...”
“Still what? You can’t even say it.”
“You’re blindsiding me with this, Simon. Rio and I haven’t even discussed any of this.”
Simon let out a long breath, and the way his expression tightened made it painfully clear that every syllable ofRio and mein the same sentence sat like a bad taste in his mouth. I couldn’t imagine his reaction if he found out about that night years ago.
“She came out of a relationship I wasn’t too crazy about,” he said. “And I know she wants something solid. Good. Lasting. You’re not it.”
He gave me a look that saidyou get that?—two brows raised, a quick forward nod.
Rage burned through me. He killed it before I even had the chance to fight for it.
“First of all, you don’t get to tell her what to do,” I said, my voice rough. “Second, I’m thinking about a way where I can still play and be with her.”
“You’rethinking about a way?” His voice dripped with disbelief. “Going back to England and keeping her on a backburner here, yeah? Do you hear yourself, mate?” He paused for a second. “She doesn’t want a half life.” He let out a sharp breath. “Owen, I love you like a brother. And as such, I’m telling you—don’t practice relationships on my sister. She doesn’t deserve that.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“You know what? I believe you.” His voice quieted. “Because you have no fucking ideawhatyou’re doing. You just rolled with whatever felt right at the moment. But moments change—faster than you think.”
He speared me with his gaze. “And if this goes wrong inanyway, we’re done.” And with that, he turned and left me there.
I realized then that even staying here, staying with Rio, meant that if thingseverwent wrong, I wouldn’t just lose her—I’d lose them both.
A second later, I heard his voice shift to something cheery as he rejoined the others for dessert.
Rio’s voice rang out as she came outside with Nicole.
“Where’s Owen?” she asked.
It was a simple question. Innocent.
But standing here, my chest still tight from Simon’s words, it felt like something else. Like she’d just unknowingly proved his point.
