Page 31 of The Temptation of Truth

I roll my eyes at the bite in Sav’s question. She doesn’t like Kat. She hasn’t since the first time we broke up, and Sav’s not great at pretending. I put my phone back into my pocket and give Sav a fake smile.

“Yes.”

“She still coming for Auckland?”

“Yes.”

“Hm.”

I arch a brow, waiting for Sav to drop whatever snarky comment that’s brewing in her head, but when she stays quiet, I sigh.

“What, Savannah?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You don’t have to. It’s all over your face.”

She looks at me finally, lips pursed and eyes scanning mine before the tense set to her shoulders relaxes, and her expression softens from annoyed to concerned.

“You deserve better than what she gives you.”

I huff out a laugh and twirl my ring around my middle finger. ]

“I’m serious, Mabes. You’ve wasted way too much time and energy on her as it is. What’s it been, four years?”

“Three.”Ish.

“Well, that’s two and a half too many. The first time you broke up should have been the last time.”

I tilt my head to the ceiling and close my eyes. This conversation isn’t new. I don’t want to have it again, but Sav can be so fucking stubborn. She won’t stop until she thinks I’ve reallyheardit.

“Kat and I love each oth?—”

She snorts, cutting me off, and my brows slant angrily.

“Don’t be a bitch, Sav.”

“Mabel, if Kat loves you, then her way of showing it fucking sucks. I know you think you’re in love?—”

“Don’t be patronizing.”

She swings her guitar off and sets it in its stand, then faces me with her hands on her hips, so I mirror her stance. With my platforms, we’re the same height, so I’m thankfully not having to look up at her when she’s on her soapbox.

“You’re letting her walk all over you. You’ve sacrificed everything I know you want in a relationship to be with someone who gives you the bare minimum, and it’s bullshit.”

I shake my head and try hard not to dwell on the nagging truth in her words. Have I sacrificed everything? Does Kat give me the bare minimum? I shove the questions down and stand up straighter.

“Relationships in this business are hard,” I say, working to keep my voice level and firm. “It’s complicated.”

“It’s not that complicated.”

Sav brings her hands in front of us and starts ticking off her fingers, her giant engagement ring sparkling in the stage lights as she does it. It just makes me angrier.

“She’s always bailing on you. She won’t go out in fucking public with you. You’ve had to spend your whole relationship underground, and you hate it. You’re always bending over backward for her and making concessions and compromising what you want, and for what? A top secret rendezvous and a clandestine fuck once a month?”

I flinch and grit my teeth.

“Lower your voice,” I hiss. She scoffs, but I push forward. “Our relationship could ruin her career.”