DAMN YOU, ZANE!
997 Words
REEVE’S POV
“Mind your f*****g business, Callahan.”
The words cut through the quiet hum of the car engine. Through my chest sharply, and every nerve in my body.
I stared at him. At the sharp line of his jaw, his hands clenched into fists on his thighs. This boy who’d just snapped at me for the crime of asking if he was okay.
Heat flooded in my chest—not embarrassment.
But rage.
”f**k you, Zane.”
His head whipped toward me. I could see how tight his jaw was, and the muscles working in it. “What did you just say to me?”
”I said f**k you.” My voice shook slightly. Not from fear, but so much anger I couldn't contain. From Diana, this situation and his endless dagger like words.
”It’s not a crime to ask if you are okay. It’s just one question and yet you want to tear off my head like I just insulted your entire bloodline.”
He drew in a sharp inhale, controlling himself. “I told you I was fine—“
”You’re clearly not fine.” I leaned forward, hands pressing into the leather seat between us. “But I’m done pretending I don’t notice. I’m done walking on eggshells around you like you’re some fragile thing.”
His jaw clenched harder. “Then don’t. For f***s sake, Callahan. No one is forcing you to care.”
”You’re right.” My nails dug into the leather. “No one is and honestly? After the way you just spoke to me, I don’t.”
He scoffed slightly. “Wow—-I’m so worried.” Turning his face towards the window. “That makes this a hell of a lot easier.”
”What makes what easier?” I shot back. “Being a complete asshole to me for no reason.”
That came out wrong. I knew the reason.
“You’re not here because I like you, Callahan.” Zane snapped his attention back to me. “You’re here because you need the money. So stop acting like we’re friends. Stop pretending this is anything other than what it is.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath caught, and teeth grind so hard. Then the anger flooded even faster.
”At least I’m honest about why I’m here,” I said, voice rising. “What’s your excuse? You needed this show just as much as I did. You needed me to save your reputation after you destroyed your own season.”
His gaze darkened instantly. “Watch your f*****g mouth.”
“Why?” I yelled. Not even caring that the driver could hear every word, or that my voice cracked even more. “You get to insult me but I can’t say the truth? You f****d up your season, Zane. If we’re being realistic.”
”You wrote the goddamn article!” His voice rose higher. “Have you gone nuts?”
”You gave me the story!” My hands trembled. “You think I ruined your career? Am I the one who hit the woman? No. You ruined it yourself by being exactly who you are—a cruel, selfish and—“
”Enough!” He gritted.
“No.” I trembled slightly, anger pouring out of me in waves I couldn't control. “You don’t get to talk to me like I’m nothing. Like I’m your personal punching bag just because you’re having a bad day.”
“I’m not—“
I cut him off. “Yes, You are!” Tears burned behind my eyes but I blinked them back rapidly. “I’m not your enemy, Zane. We’re both stuck here, in this apartment, in this contract and this nightmare of a show. Don’t act like you have the moral high ground when we’re both drowning in the same f*****g water.”
The car suddenly rolled to a stop. I looked up, chest still heaving and the driver staring at us in the rear view mirror. I tore my gaze away from him, uncomfortable wasn’t even enough to explain the look on his face.
Silence settled heavily in between us. Zane and I stole glances at each other across the car, breathing hard and both of us refusing to look away first.
Then Priya’s voice crackled through the car speaker, cold and irritated.
”Are you two done?”
I flinched slightly.
”Because we’re at the venue.” She continued. “And you have exactly one minute to pull yourself together before those doors open and you step out in front of a hundred cameras.”
I turned towards the window. My stomach tied in knots. We were here.
The red carpet stretched out in front of us, impossibly long. Paparazzi packed the barriers on both sides. Cameras with lenses as long as my arm and flashes were already going off even though we were still in the car.
Crowds of people pressed against metal barriers with their phones, books and pens, screaming names I couldn’t hear through the glass.
It was a freaking war zone. And we were supposed to walk through the middle of it.
“I don’t care what just happened in the car.” Priya continued. “I couldn’t care even less if you hate each other. If you want to kill each other, f**k—I know a guy. But the second those doors open, you are in love, and happy and sexy.”
My hands were trembling in my lap. I pressed them flat against the silk of my dress, trying to still them.
”You’re going to smile and look at him like he hung the goddamn moon.” Her voice dropped lower. “And you do not—under any circumstances—f**k this up.”
The speaker crackled with static.
”Do you understand me?” She asked.
- Writer
