Breaking Hearts

The Plot Thickens

Savannah waited.

Her question hung between the three of them, swallowed by the cheerful chatter of graduates celebrating around them.

"What... do you two know each other?"

Neither man answered.

Brian stood with one hand tucked casually into the pocket of his jacket, his expression as calm as ever. If Ethan's arrival had surprised him, he didn't show it.

Ethan was the complete opposite.

The bottles of water in his hands tightened under his grip, and the easy smile Savannah had known for years was nowhere to be found.

The silence stretched on.

Savannah frowned.

"Seriously? Am I missing something?"

Brian was the first to move.

His gaze left Ethan and settled gently on Savannah. The hardness that had briefly crossed his face softened almost instantly.

"I didn't come here to spoil your day."

His voice was calm, almost warm.

"Today is about you."

Savannah searched his face, hoping to find some explanation hidden there.

Instead, she found only that same mystery that had surrounded him from the very first night he'd walked into the bar.

"But you know each other."

Brian glanced briefly at Ethan before looking back at her.

"We've met."

The answer only frustrated her more.

"That's it?"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Brian's mouth.

"For now."

Ethan scoffed under his breath.

Brian ignored him.

Instead, he slipped his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket.

Savannah expected him to pull out a business card.

Instead, he held out a small matte-black card.

It was elegant.

Simple.

There was no name.

No company logo.

No address.

Only a single phone number embossed in silver across the center.

She looked at it, confused.

"What's this?"

"My number."

She blinked.

"That's all?"

"That's all you need."

She hesitated before accepting it.

The card felt surprisingly heavy between her fingers.

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to."

His voice remained steady.

"When you're ready..." he nodded toward the card, "call me."

Savannah looked from the card to Brian.

"Ready for what?"

A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.

"I think you already know."

Before she could ask another question, Brian simply waited.

She noticed he hadn't moved. He wasn't leaving. It took her a second to realize why.

He was waiting to see what she would do.

Almost self-consciously, she slipped the black card into her handbag. Only then did Brian's shoulders relax. A genuine smile crossed his face.

"Congratulations again, Savannah."

He inclined his head politely before turning away.

Without another glance at Ethan, he walked through the crowd and disappeared among the celebrating families.

Savannah watched him until she could no longer see him.

Only then did she turn back to Ethan.

"What was that about?"

Ethan let out a slow breath.

"I told you..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'll explain."

"Then explain."

"Not here."

She folded her arms.

"Ethan."

He glanced around them.

Students were hugging their parents. Children were running across the grass. People laughed as cameras flashed in every direction.

"This isn't the place."

Savannah sighed.

"Why not?"

"Because this conversation deserves more than standing in the middle of a crowd."

She studied him.

His frustration hadn't disappeared. If anything, he looked... nervous.

"Come with me."

She frowned.

"Where?"

"Let's get something to eat."

"I'm really not hungry."

"Please."

His voice was quieter now.

"I owe you an explanation."

She hesitated.

"I promised Lily I'd celebrate with everyone."

"It won't take long."

She looked toward the growing crowd of graduates.

Lily was already surrounded by classmates, laughing as someone snapped another picture.

She probably wouldn't even notice Savannah slipping away for an hour.

Ethan stepped closer.

"I know this seems strange."

"It is strange."

"I just..."

He stopped himself before taking another breath.

"I think you deserve to know who Brian Lakewood really is."

Savannah searched his face. There was something almost desperate in his expression.

Not anger.

Not jealousy.

Desperation.

As though he was afraid that if she walked away now, he might lose the chance forever. She felt a pang of sympathy.

Ethan had always been kind to her. He'd driven her home after late shifts more times than she could count.

He'd helped her study before exams. He'd never asked for anything in return. Maybe he really was just trying to protect her.

"Okay," she said quietly.

Relief flooded his face.

"Thank you."

He offered a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"My car's this way."

As they began walking toward the parking lot, Savannah instinctively slipped her hand into her handbag.

Her fingers brushed against the smooth black card.

She frowned.

It was ridiculous.

It was only a phone number.

Nothing more.

So why did it feel like accepting that card had changed something?

She closed her handbag quickly.

She wasn't going to think about Brian anymore.

Not today.

Not while Ethan was going to explain why the two of them couldn't even stand to look at each other. And maybe who Brian really was. Despite the fact that she thought she didn't want to get involved with the too-good-looking man, she actually wanted something from him. She had no clue what but she was feeling something toward him.

Once they reached the parking lot and Ethan opened the door for her, she sighed and went in. Neither of them noticed the black luxury sedan parked beneath a row of trees overlooking the campus exit.

From behind the windshield, Brian watched Savannah drive away with Ethan.

His expression remained unreadable.

But his hand tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

"So..." he murmured to himself. "I guess the game has finally begun."