Senior’s wordswere going in one ear and out of the other. I knew he was going to be on bullshit when he summoned me after my meeting. Initially, I thought I wouldn’t have to hear his mouth too much because Isaac was here, but he was so deep in whatever he was looking at on his phone that he wasn’t paying our conversation any attention.
“I just don’t understand you, L,” Senior continued, fist wrapped tightly around his fork. “You have an opportunity most people would kill for, and you’re just throwing it away.”
“I’m not throwing it away,” I countered softly, head hung. “I didn’t know someone would be recording us. I didn’t know I was going to walk into my home and catch my boyfriend and best friend having sex. The fact that I’m being blamed for this when they’re the ones that did me wrong is insane.”
“No one is saying they weren’t wrong, but you’re the one with a career to lose. Sponsorships. Shows. Millions of followers. Hell, millions of dollars.” He scoffed. “I was a fool for believingin you. I should have known you’d let your emotions ruin this for us.”
“You still on that shit, Senior?” Isaac set his phone face down on the table. “Baby love reacted like any person would. The only reason people are talking shit is because she’s famous. If she wasn’t, people would be rooting her on and talking shit about Natasha and Justin.”
“I don’t want to hear that. She has too much to lose to be out here acting so recklessly. It’s hard enough keeping you in line and making sure you don’t fuck up our legacy. Now, I gotta worry about her too.”
The doorbell rang, and I already knew who it was. Falcon had asked to talk to both me and my brother. When I met with Justine and she suggested a fake relationship between us, I immediately said no. After Justin cheated, with my best friend no less, I didn’t even want to fake like I liked men right now. They disgusted me. Two people I loved and trusted betrayed me, and she thought the solution to fixing my image was a fake relationship?
Justine was patient with me and allowed me to express my feelings and concerns before further explaining her plan. As much as I hated it, it sounded like a good idea. The relationship would not only make me look like the lover girl my brand was built on, but it would help Falcon as well, which was a win within itself.
I’d heard the rumors about him like everyone else but didn’t really pay them any mind. He was always sweet and kind toward me, and that’s what mattered. Plus, I knew of his family background and childhood issues, so if he did have a detached way of handling women, it made sense.
Isaac shared with me that Falcon’s true love was football and that he didn’t have time or the desire for a real relationship. He didn’t really have a good example of a healthy relationship withhis parents. His father died from a drug overdose when he was eight, and because he literally looked just like him, his mother could barely look at him, let alone take care of him. For about two years after his father’s death, Falcon stayed with his mother and was neglected. When their family started to realize what was going on and questioned her about it, she asked her brother and his wife to let the ten-year-old move from Chicago to Memphis with them.
Regardless of how much his aunt and uncle tried to be there for Falcon, the damage had been done. He wasn’t close to his mother at all, and though he took care of his aunt and uncle financially, as thanks for taking him in, he didn’t seem to be close to them either. The only person I knew of who he had a close bond with was my brother. Falcon may have had other friends, but he held others at a distance, which was also why I knew nothing would ever happen between us.
If this fake relationship was the only chance I’d have to see what dating him would be like, that made it a bonus. Since I wanted to use anything I could as an excuse to get from within earshot of Senior’s scolding, I went to open the door.
As soon as I opened it, a genuine smile lifted the corners of my mouth at the sight of Falcon.
“Hi—oof.”
He pulled me into his embrace, mushing my face against his wide, large frame. The man was tall and built like a god. With that true football player physique, I felt so tiny against him.
“How are you?” he asked, cupping my cheeks and looking my face over intently.
I wanted to tell him I felt much better now that he was here. Now that he’d hugged me. Now that his warm hands were on my face. Now that I was around someone who cared about how I was feeling more than they cared about telling me what I’d donewrong. Instead of saying any of those things, I settled on, “I’m making it. How are you?”
His smile was soft and warm as he said, “Same.” Falcon took my hand into his and led me away from the door. “Let’s talk.”
As we walked around the side of the house toward the backyard, I refused to believe this was the man they were calling all those horrible names online. He may not have been a romantic man who loved commitment, but he’d never given me fuckboy vibes. Falcon was always careful and gentle with me. I didn’t see that kind of man being narcissistic or a womanizer. Sure, he may have been blunt about what he wanted from women and what they could expect from him, but when did that become a bad thing? Did they expect him to lie and lead them on instead? Then, they would have wanted to crucify him for that.
We got comfortable on the swing on the patio. It was one of the few things I’d asked my father for that he granted. I wanted a tree house—always had since I was a kid. I wanted it to be my escape from reality, where I could go and read my books with no distractions. Senior said I was too old for it and refused to build or buy it for me. It was still something I planned to do when I got my own home.
“Sooo . . . fake relationship, huh?” was how Falcon started, looking straight and avoiding my eyes. “How do you feel about that? Honestly?”
I didn’t respond right away, though I knew what my answer was going to be.
“I get to help you and fix something I technically didn’t break. I’d call that a win.”
Falcon chuckled. “From the looks of it, you broke ya girl’s nose.”
“Ugh. Don’t tease me. I feel bad. I didn’t feel bad then, because she deserved that shit, and he deserves to get his ass beat, too, but truthfully, it didn’t really make me feel better.Hurting them physically didn’t do anything to lessen the hurt in my heart.”
He took my hand into his and brushed it with his thumb. I couldn’t recall a time he’d ever been this affectionate—hugging me, touching my face, and holding my hand in the same day? Was he trying to get used to touching me? Regardless of the why, my body wasdefinitelyreacting. My nipples hardened and heart palpitated from his touch.
“I hope you know that shit wasn’t your fault. You did nothing to deserve that, and you’re not the one who should be getting dragged on social media. They are. You trusted them both. Your partner cheating on you is bad enough, but doing it with your best friend?” His head shook as he whistled quietly. “It’s a wonder you didn’t do more damage on ol’ girl.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, nostrils flaring as I fought to not release more tears. “I keep telling myself it isn’t my fault, but I feel so stupid. I should have known he was up to no good. I shouldn’t have trusted him. I shouldn’t have settled for less than I deserved. If I would have demanded more of a priority in his day, his life, I wouldn’t have made it so easy for him to cheat on me.”
“It doesn’t matter what you do, Eli. A selfish man without discipline and control over his lust is going to cheat. Whether you give him freedom or be firm. Whether you trust him or question him. A cheater is going to cheat, and it has absolutely nothing to do with you. You deserve a better man and a better best friend.”
“Did you come over here to make me cry?” I asked with a smile, wiping a tear away.
