‘They did what?’ I bellowed, barely keeping the rage bottled. My knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. I took a turn too fast and nearly hit the curb but I couldn’t think straight. I’d run straight out the door, barely remembering to evict Cole with a mumbled apology, when Rosie had told me where Fallon had gone.
Rosie’s voice came over the bluetooth speaker in my car. ‘She got fired yesterday. Belinda-fucking-Montgomery called and told her they were letting her go from the project.’
White hot pain flashed across my temple. Fallon—myFallon—was hurt and in pain. ‘How did she react?’ I almost didn’t want to know.
‘How do you think?’ Rosie snapped. ‘After being called a liar by you and told she was a mistake, she then realised she had been betrayed by her sister and now she’s been fired from a job she’s worked her bloody arse off for. I don’t know what world you live in, Mr big shot footballer, but for most people, that would add up to a very bad week.’
I pinched my eyes closed.God.I’m not sure I’d ever felt this much fear rush through my body. Even right before biggames. I was secure in my ability. I knew I could find the gaps in the defence to get the goals, and we were a good fucking team, so my confidence was always at an all-time high on game day. Ever sincesheentered my life, I’ve felt more anxiety and uncertainty than ever before.
‘What about the video?’ I said, desperately grasping at straws.
Rosie sighed. ‘She wasn’t doing that for herself. She was doing it foryou.’
Every word twisted the knife further into my gut. ‘Why is she going to her parents?’
Rosie’s silence conveyed every malicious thought she held about Fallon’s family. Her tone was cutting. ‘They’ve summoned her.’
‘What the fuck?’ My brow furrowed. I took another turn, following the route on my car's navigation system. ‘Summoned for what?’
‘No doubt to make sure that she knows exactly how disappointed they are in her and how she’s an utter waste of space, blah blah blah.’
Black spots danced in my vision. ‘Why did she even fucking go?’ I hissed.
‘Because after everything that has happened, she believes it! Her family have this toxic hold on her. She’s a puppet on a string; always dancing to their tune. It’s fucked up, but I can’t stop her. She thinks she deserves the recrimination she’ll get.’ Rosie snapped.
‘She doesn’t,’ I growled.
‘Iknow that you giant knob. Butshedoesn’t.’
How could she not see it? How could this sparkling ball of a human being notknow the effect she has on people? The effect she’s had onme.
‘I’m gonna fix it.’ I vowed.
‘You better, because-’
‘If this is another creepily crafted threat, you can save it. I got the message with the dog with explosive diarrhoea.’
Rosie sniffed. ‘As long as it sunk in.’
I hung up a few seconds later, finally turning down a street lined with fancy, red-brick houses that went up multiple stories. I double-checked the address Rosie gave me and pulled into the house on the corner. Three cars were parked on the driveway. I’d never seen Fallon’s car, so I didn’t know what kind she had. Why didn’t I know something as simple as that? It’s an odd feeling when you’re so utterly in love with someone that you want to know everything about them. No detail is too small. I made a mental note to write a list of all the things I wanted to know about her—and over time, I could ask her everything.
If she forgives me.
I batted that thought away because there was no way in hell that I was walking away from her. Not now. Not ever. If she didn’t forgive me right away, that’s fine. I was a patient man. All the years of discipline would come in handy for winning her back, and believe me; there was no universe where Ididn’twin her back.
I stormed up the driveway, not hesitating for a second before I pounded on the front door.
I kept it up until I heard a deadbolt shift, and the door opened to reveal an older woman who, despite all the heavy makeup and gaudy jewellery, I recognised as Fallon’s mother.
‘What in the world-’ She stopped short, one hand on the door, the other flew to her pearl-covered neck.
‘Is Fallon here?’ My words came out in short pants. I didn’t give a damn about pleasantries right now. I arched my brow at her mum who continued to stare at me in disbelief.
‘You’re-‘
‘Fallon. Is she here?’ I snapped.
‘Mum, what’s going on?’ A high-pitched voice called fromround the corner. My eyes locked on a tall, slender woman in a tight dress. From Rosie’s colourful description of Charlotte, I knew instantly that this was Fallon’s sister.
