I glanced at my brothers as I reached for Lulu’s hand. I knew they’d be watching. I guided her toward the back corner, away from the dance floor and the watching crowd. He wasn’t being followed in here like he was probably used to because the people here had grown fond of Lulu, and his music sure as hell wasn’t the kind of music that played in this bar.
We sat down at a table, Lulu sitting close beside me and Beckett across from us.
“Do you think I should have to hear about your relationship with this fucking guy in the media?” His hands were fisted on the table, and he was seething. I glanced behind him and noticed the security guy closest to him looked irritated as hell, and I got the feeling that he’d watched this guy have a meltdown one too many times.
“We broke up over a year ago. I’ve dated plenty. I don’t owe you an explanation every time I meet someone. And let’s just be honest, for once in your life—” She let out a breath. “You like my name. You like the attention it gets you when you drag me into your mess. My family puts out a statement, and everyone is invested. Yet there is no you and me. There hasn’t been in a verylong time. We don’t even speak. I’ve blocked your number. Why would I possibly reach out to let you know I’m dating someone?”
“It’s a respect thing,” he said, like the entitled prick that he was.
“A respect thing?” She barked out a laugh. “You cheated on me multiple times during the last year of our relationship. And I don’t even care because we weren’t even really together. I hardly saw you, and I wanted out of this. It’s toxic and miserable, and you are the one who turned this into a living nightmare.”
“Because I still love you.” He shrugged, and for one split second, I felt bad for the bastard. Because having a girl like Lulu Sonnet was like catching the sun—and losing her, I knew it must suck for him. But it was by design. It was his doing. He had her, and he treated her like shit, so she walked away.
Shit happens, asshole.
“You don’t even know what love is. You just want what you can’t have because you’re an entitled narcissist, and you can’t handle that I don’t care about your fame or your money. You can’t bully me into talking to you, Beckett. It’s over. It’s been over for a long time, and we both know it. So let’s call this done once and for all, and let’s move on.”
“Do you know how many women I fuck a week?” he said, leaning into the table now, and I placed an arm around Lulu’s shoulders protectively.
Don’t even think about it, asshole.
I wanted to jump in. Tell him to shut his fucking mouth. But she needed to handle this, and I respected that. Unless he crossed the line and forced my hand.
“Probably a lot, and good for you. I want you to be happy. I wish you well. But the truth is, I don’t care. I don’t care who you date or who you fuck or what you do.” She took a sip of her wine, acting completely unfazed.
Lulu Sonnet was a badass in every way. And I was getting a front-row seat.
“Anastasia is pregnant,” he said, and I had no idea who that was.
I glanced at Lulu, wanting to see if there was any sort of reaction to his words. It was what he was hoping for.
“I really hope, for Anastasia’s sake and your child’s sake, that you pull your shit together, Beckett. You have a woman you’ve been sleeping with on and off for a very long time. She’s been on tour with you from the very beginning, and she deserves better. You should be there with your pregnant girlfriend instead of chasing after your ex-girlfriend who wants nothing to do with you.”
“Fuck you. I should lock you in a closet again,” he hissed, and my shoulders stiffened at his words.
What the fuck did he just say?
I was about to push to my feet when Lulu’s hand found mine beneath the table, and she squeezed it.
I’ve got this.
“Let me give you a little advice because we do have a history, and because of that, I’ll give you this.” She set her wine glass down and looked him in the eyes. “That day you’re referencing, that’s the day that I made a conscious decision to cut you off in every possible way. So thank you for that little lesson where I realized there wasn’t even the possibility of a friendship left for us. It’s also the day that I decided to start taking self-defense classes. So I promise you this, if you ever put your hands on me again, you won’t walk away on two feet. I will snap your little fucking neck because you’re a bully and a sad excuse for a man.” And then she looked up, over his shoulder. “And the people that work for you, that allow you to behave like an animal, should be ashamed of themselves for looking the other way. You’re lucky I didn’t go public with what you did, and that wasn’t to protectyou. That was to save my family any more embarrassment than you’d already caused.”
My blood was boiling, and I didn’t even know what exactly had happened, but I knew it was bad.
I tugged Lulu closer, and my gaze locked with his. His eyes were bloodshot, pupils dilated, making it clear he was on something. “Did you get your fucking closure? Because this is the last time you bother her. Don’t even look in her direction again. Am I being clear? Get your guys together, and get the fuck out of my town. No one wants you here.”
He glanced around. No one was paying him any attention, aside from my brothers, who were watching us from a few feet away.
“I just wanted you to know that I’m having a child.” He shrugged.
“How about you start focusing on that child? Don’t mention my name in the press. Just move the fuck on, Beckett.”
He ran a hand down his face. “I fucked up, Lu. That’s the truth. I know I’ll never find anyone like you, and I know you’re never coming back.”
“You’re right about that.” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against me. “Goodbye, Beckett.”
His gaze moved from me to Lulu, and then he pushed to his feet. “Let’s get the fuck out of this shitty little hell hole.”
