Page 85 of Puck Love

“This is exactlywhy Itold you to steer clear of athletes,” Lana says as she enters the kitchen. Her face is smug.I don’t like smug. I’m certainly not a fan of smug while I just let the only man I care about walk away from me because it’s better for mycareer.

I set my glass on the counter and pour another, guzzling itdown.

“Woah, hold up there, Stella. You have that interview first thing withGood MorningSunrise.”

I open my mouth to say I don’t want to do another interview, or another TV spot or whatever else she has planned for Stella’s big comeback, but all that tumbles out is, “You can leavenow.”

Lana makes a face. “What?”

“I want to bealone.”

“But we weren’t done going over the questions fortomorrow.”

“Oh, my god, get out!” I throw the wine glass at the wall nearest me. My breath comes in hard pants, and when I glance at Lana, her eyes are round with shock. “I just let the only man I’ve ever really cared about walk away from me thinking that he wasn’t good enough. I think I’m done with your coaching for onenight.”

“Stella—”

“Please, Lana. Just go. I want to celebrate the idea of a long life alone because no one is ever good enough for me to date.” I swallow down another huge gulp of wine, this time from her glass, and I point as I remember that that’s not exactly true. “Except for Logan. He was good enough,right?”

“Okay. Well, when you’re done being irrational and want to talk to me like an adult, I’ll be at home. I’ll see you in the morning at six. Try to look presentable. We can’t have you reeking like a wino the second day of yourcomeback.”

“Lock up when you leave,” I say, as I snag the bottle off the counter and head to my bedroom. I climb under the covers, swig straight from the lip and fight like hell not to cry. It doesn’t work. The tears come thick and fast until I’m choking on them, struggling for breath. All I want to do is call him, and I have to remind myself why that’s a bad idea. The truth is, apart from Lana and my label telling me Van Ross is no good for my image, I can’t think of a single reason why he’s not. And even now, after all the interviews today, the damage control, the smack on the wrist from my label, and my career in the toilet, I can’t think of a single reason why I should have listened to anyone but myheart.