Page 76 of False Promises

“Oh yes, I forgot how boring you could be. You sound like an old man. Where’s the adventurous and fun side of you? Let me tell you this, Carter Hills. You’re self-centered. And narcissist. I shouldn’t be surprised.” She reached the kitchen and poured herself a glass of red, and I followed her, trying to make sense of what she had done. And everything she just said. Me, a narcissist? Did I hear her right? Unable to order my jumbling thoughts, I placed the bouquet on the countertop.

Savannah stared at me with a disgusted bend of her lips.

My thoughts refused to settle in my head. I blinked. Fast.

“Carter, why the hell would you buy yourself flowers? Told you. You were egocentric. See, right here is the proof. Gosh, I can’t believe you bought yourself flowers but didn’t get me anything.”

I sighed. “Savannah, those flowers, they were meant for you. I had an entire night planned for us. Well, a two-day romantic getaway in the city.”

She neared me and tapped my forearm, her red fingernails a contrast to my dark shirt. “Oh, you’re cute. Still, I prefer diamonds or designer accessories. You should be aware by now. You gotta apologize anyway.”

“Apologize? What did I do?”

“You abandoned me. I was all alone. You always leave. I hate loneliness. You should worship me and shower me with gifts right now. Show me how much you missed me.”

“You serious?”

“Flowers die. They’re of no use. Get rid of them,” she said pointing to the forty-eight roses arrangement. “The scent is enough to make my head turn.”

My heart rate shifted to a higher gear. An acidic taste swirled in my mouth. My eyes darted to her. “Since when? You used to love red roses.”

“Told you,” she said with a high-pitched laugh. One that froze the blood in my veins. “I get tired of things quickly. Don’t be stupid and make a big deal about it. Throw them away, and forget all about it. I already did. See. All good here. No hard feelings.” She flicked her wrist. “I forgive you for not buying me anything this time. Oh, and while we’re at it, cancel tonight’s plans. I have a Pilates class scheduled, and no way am I missing it. My ass has been looking bigger lately, and I can’t afford to get fat, or my agent will kill me. You’ll thank me when I fit in clothes a size smaller.”

“Wait. No. Why? How? I don’t care about the size of your ass. What’s going on here?”

Savannah chugged her wine down and kissed my cheek.

Unable to process everything that had just occurred, I blinked. What else could I do? An earthquake could shake the building at the moment, and I wouldn’t notice. Dreadful weights piled in my stomach. A cold wave trashed my lower back. My jaw hung open, begging my brain to react. I blinked again. This time, I side-eyed the woman sharing my life as she gathered her gym bag and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

In which parallel universe did I land?

Realization hit me. Fuck, I should go back to Nashville.

Savannah waved from the entryway. “See you later, Carter.”

Her chirpy voice woke me up from my state of disbelief.

“Savannah, wait.”

I turned to face her, but she didn’t hear me or chose to ignore my plea.

“Men…” was all she said as she slammed the door behind her.

Like a gust of wind, she was gone.

* * *

The next day, I came home after a more-than-welcome workout. I’d gone for a fifteen-mile run and then punched a bag for an hour straight, trying to expend all my built-up anger toward the woman who puzzled me a little more every time I thought I had her figured out. I wondered where the Savannah Prince I met that first night had gone. Even though, over our time together, I realized she was some sort of sex maniac, she possessed a sweet and funny side that appealed to me. In the last twenty-four hours, she had transformed into a tyrant.

This morning, we had gone for breakfast at the little restaurant on the main floor of our building, and when the waitress had asked for my autograph, Savannah accused me of cheating on her every time I flew to Nashville.

“You can’t help yourself, can you, Carter? Everywhere you go, you collect girlfriends. I can’t deal with you right now.”

“What?”

She stood up, disgust written all over her features, and I grabbed her wrist before she could fly away.

“Stop playing dumb,” she said. “It makes me sick to see you in action.”