Bobby raised her hand, stopping me from protesting. “And before you tell me it was nothing, it was something. And even if it was nothing, I used to know about the nothings. I used to know everything.”
She pierced me with her knowing stare. “But Chasin Murray isn’t nothing. I didn’t see your reaction to him, I felt it. Not only didn’t you tell me, you lied to me. Ever since I got here, you’ve been near tears when you think I’m not watching. I asked you what was wrong and you told me you were stressed out about your stalker. But that song…shit, Viv, it oozes heartbreak.
“And”—Bobby surged to her feet—“that new tattoo? But it’s not me. The refrain in the song—you tattooed that on your arm? You’ve never tattooed lyrics on your body, and, babe, you’ve written some kickass songs. But those words you inked on your skin, so I know they mean something. But I don’t know what the hell they mean and that fucking kills. So I quit. I don’t want to be your assistant. I want to be your friend.”
When Bobby was done delivering her perfectly aimed death shot to my heart, I turned and ran down the stairs like a chicken. I couldn’t face her and the truth she told. I made it to the bottom of the stairs and hit a brick wall of muscle.
With an oomph, I collided with Chasin.
Much to my discomfort, his arms went around me in an effort to keep me from bouncing off of him. Not that I wasn’t happy to keep my feet, but that meant I was in his arms—again. For the second time in one day, I was reminded of how good it felt to be surrounded by all things Chasin.
A reminder I didn’t need, because I hadn’t forgotten. But it was one I couldn’t afford.
Not now.
Not when my defenses were down.
If Bobby’s words pried open my emotional padlocks, Chasin’s soft “baby” blew the gates wide open. My body bucked, his arms tightened, his head lowered. His face now in my hair, he muttered, “Baby, what the fuck?”
It was the second “baby” that did it.
I wrenched myself free and stepped away.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Genevieve—”
“Just don’t. Please.”
Chasin glanced over my shoulder, his face turned to granite and his eyes narrowed. I used that to my advantage and took off down the hall while his attention was diverted.
Yes, it was the coward’s way out.
But I didn’t care.
Bobby was leaving me.
Chasin had been nothing more than a figment of my over-active imagination. A man I’d invented because I was stupid and desperate. But even being both of those things, I couldn’t believe I’d been so wrong.
I slammed my bedroom door, locked it because I was out of emotional glue so I needed the physical barrier. My back hit the wall and I slid down, landing on my ass. With my chin resting on my knees, staring at nothing, I allowed myself this one last breakdown. I’d let Bobby’s deflection settle, Chasin’s unwanted presence harden my heart. Then I’d get up, pull myself together, and move the fuck on.
Me, myself, and I.
That was all I needed.
7
Chasin didn’t take his eyes off the woman standing in front of him. She was elevated three steps from the bottom tread and he was still taller than her. But he wasn’t contemplating the height difference. Instead, he was reeling in his temper before he asked Bobby what the hell she’d said to Genevieve that made her white as a ghost and on the verge of tears.
“I know what you must think of me,” Bobby said.
“You have no idea what I think,” Chasin answered honestly, not yet having a hold on his temper.
“One thing I’ve learned in the years I’ve worked with Viv is how to read people. In this business, you either learn quick or you’re taken for a ride that’s both expensive and emotionally draining. So I learned. You don’t like me much, you think I was wrong for withholding information from Viv. You think I’m one of those assholes who looks at Vivi and sees money, opportunity, and is willing to step on her to get their foot up on the next rung. You’re incorrect, I am not one of those people. But since you think I am, you’re trying to figure out what I did to upset Viv. Just so you don’t have to waste anymore headspace, and you can focus on what’s important, which is protecting her, I’ll tell you. I quit. Beyond that, it’s not any of your business.”
Chasin stopped staring at Bobby and started examining the woman.
“So, what? Times are hard, she’s got a stalker and you’re afraid that will bleed into your life so you’re gonna bail?” Bobby jerked back like Chasin had landed a physical blow, but she didn’t answer so he moved on. “Why’d you withhold the information?”
Bobby woodenly walked down the final steps, stopped, tipped her head back, and looked up at him. He had to give it to her—the woman was a tiny little thing, but damn if she didn’t have one hell of a death glare.
“Because I care about her.”
“Seems to me if you cared about her, you would’ve armed her with all the information.”
“You’d think that because you don’t know her.” Chasin felt the knife that Genevieve had already plunged into his chest twist, but Bobby wasn’t done. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but I do know there’s no one like Genevieve Ellison, which means you fucked up huge when you hurt her.”
The knife twisted some more.
“Why do you think I’m the one that fucked up?”
Bobby stopped scowling and a sad, unsympathetic smile that said he was an idiot tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Because unlike you, I do know Viv. And her being her means she doesn’t invite men into her life. I can’t remember the last time that happened.”
Bobby’s smile tightened. “Let me explain something to you in case you missed it. Viv is beautiful, men have always fallen over themselves to get to her. Add the fame, the money, she could have any man she wanted with the snap of her fingers. Yet she keeps herself to herself and lets no one in.”
Bobby paused and studied Chasin, she did this thoroughly from top to toe, then back up, before meeting his gaze. Chasin wasn’t paying attention to her scrutiny. He was stuck on something that Bobby had said—she keeps herself to herself. Genevieve kept herself removed. This didn’t jibe with the woman he’d spent the night with. At no time had he felt like Genevieve was closed off and cold. She’d been the opposite with him. But before he could think more about it, Bobby continued.
“So I know my girl would’ve never allowed you into this house, let alone into her bed, if she didn’t see something special in you. Which means you did or said something that proved she was wrong, and Viv doesn’t give second chances. You fucked up so huge, you can’t begin to understand. But you will, and when that shit sinks in, you’ll realize whatever you did was the stupidest mistake of your life.”
Chasin wasn’t big on women throwing attitude, liked it even less when they were tossing it at him, but he had to admit he liked Bobby’s bold protectiveness of Genevieve. Which made it all the more confusing why she was abandoning her.
“I heard her talking to you and I jumped to conclusions,” I admitted.