She flinched when I said 'people like you'. Should I feel like crap for being harsh? Maybe, but I was furious. More than that, I felt…
I felt betrayed.
She had taken something incredibly personal and painful and made it for public consumption. She might as well have described our sex life. Hell, she might as well have sold tickets.
Shit, had she recorded us to put online later? I suspected not, that would embarrass her, not just me. Although, she'd make a name for herself. A reality TV show would likely follow. She might be the next Bachelorette.
I shook my head to try to clear it. "What happened with my mother is…" I could barely string two words together. "Is not something I'm ready to talk about. Someday, I might be, but not now." I sucked in a breath. "I would have come to you, told you everything." I let out the breath through pursed lips.
Becca stood. I hardly registered the figure hugging jeans and tank top she wore. She looked incredible in that shade of red. Right now all I really saw was a woman I thought knew. Clearly, I didn't have a clue either.
"Hawk, I'm sorry," she said quickly. "My boss told me if I didn't run the story, he'd give it to someone else. I thought if I did it, it might be?—"
"It isn't." I didn't know what she was going to say, but whatever it was, was wrong. "You willnotgive him that story.Furthermore—" I hit the top of the table so hard it sent a jolt of pain up my arm.
Ouch, dumbass.
I ignored my inner critic.
"If he runs any stories about my mother, any agreement with theNational Dailyisdone. I'll give you your exclusives, whatever, but this is off limits." I closed my eyes and let the edge of the fury melt away. "I thought we had something good."
"We did," she said. A tear trickled down her cheek. "We do, I just… I'll delete it."
"Please do," I said coldly. On some level, I realised I was being irrational. Ishouldtalk about my mother and I would, but that would happen on my terms.
Period.
"Hawk—"
I shook my head. "It's done, it's over. I can't trust you not to do something like this again."
"I swear, I never meant to upset you. Vera said…"
"Don't bring her into it," I said sourly. I'd be talking to my cousin about this too. I had no more words, nothing. I was numb inside.
I stomped toward the door, wrenched it open and stalked outside. I slammed the door shut behind me.
"Fuck," I said out loud.
I turned around and knocked on the door. "Becca… I left the rest of my clothes inside."
