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Bethany made a sound between a snort and a sob.“You don’t know the half of it.”She picked up her phone and read the message.
Her shaky sigh had Keely’s eyes narrowing.“What did he say?”
“He’s calling in thirty seconds.He wants me to pick up.God.”
“And are you going to?”
Bethany typed “No,” pressed send and held up the phone to Keely.
Her best friend slowly nodded her approval.“You know that’s bought you, like, one minute, of course.But hey, I’m happy to kick his ass for you?”
Bethany attempted a smile.“Thanks, sweetie.I appreciate it.”
The phone rang.They both ignored it.“Okay, let’s talk about your birthday,” Keely said brightly.“We could hit Shades, that new club downtown.I organized a premium tequila taster there last month for some bigwigs from Mexico.The owner was so impressed he put me on the permanent guest list.Or we can do karaoke?You missed a hell of a Fourth of July Karaoke Special at… Oh fuck, what did I say?”The touch of gentleness was fading from her expression to be replaced by exasperation as tears welled up in Bethany’s eyes.
“It’s not you.Zach told me not to make any plans for my birthday… Christ, I’m sorry.This is just a little unbearable.”
“Don’t fucking apologize.If he wanted to make your birthday special, then he shouldn’t have confessed to being a possible murdering psycho.”Her flinch made Keely groan.“Fuck.I’m sorry but I kinda wanna tear his head off right now.In fact…” She snatched the phone off the table and jumped up.
“Keely!What are you doing?”
“Sorry, B, this needs to be done.”She hit dial and put it on speaker.Bethany’s insides turned over as she listened to the loud ringing.
“Bethany.”
Dear Lord.His voice hadn’t changed.Of course it hadn’t.It still dripped sex, danger and dark secrets.And despite every heart-wrenching emotion she’d been through, it still curled effortlessly around her heart and held on with a vice-like grip.
“No such luck, Savage.You’re stuck with the wicked stepmother.”There was a dark delight in Keely’s voice that a tiny part of Bethany was proud of.
“Put her on,” Bethany heard him say.“Now, please.”
“No can do, hotshot.Now, listen up.Remember what I said about coming after you with a blunt instrument if you hurt my girl?”
Deathly silence.
“Well, guess what?You’ve just been upgraded to a hot poker stick up the ass if you don’t stop calling.”
“Let me speak to Bethany.”
“You’re still not getting the message, Savage.Stop.Calling.Or fucking else.”
More silence.Maintained long enough for Keely to purse her lips and raise an eyebrow at the phone.
Then, “How is she?”Even from a distance, the gravity of his voice made Bethany’s breath catch.God, he was so good at that.So good at making her believe he cared.
Except how could he genuinely care about her when he refused to give her the one thing she’d told him time and again would make things right between them?A little access.Was that too much to ask for?
“Tell me how she is.Please.”
Right before her eyes, she saw Keely waver and begin to crumble.Bethany wanted to tell her that she’d graduated to the big leagues.Zach Savage never begged.But she was too busy holding her breath so she could catch every single thing he said.
“She’s fucking peachy.What do you expect?”Keely attempted to snap, but it came out half-hearted.When her gaze met Bethany’s, she rolled her eyes and shrugged in an I’m-not-quite-sure-how-to-handle-this way.Another first from her friend.
Bethany’s eyes widened.
As if realizing just how easily she’d succumbed to Zach Savage’s wizardry, Keely shook her head.“Was that all?Because we have lives to be getting on with and wild birthday parties to be planning.”
“Whose party?”he snapped, the solemnity gone from his voice.Keely’s eyes narrowed.