Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
S hit. Shit. Shit.
In the locker room after taking his shower, Damon stood with a towel wrapped around his waist, staring at the screen of his phone and the text that had come in from Audra. She couldn’t have been clearer, though she hadn’t typed a word. All she had done was send the link to the People article.
Why had they posted it so soon? The photos weren’t supposed to go to press until next week’s issue. Instead, they had published them online right away.
“Yo, Flash, you coming out with us tonight?” Eddie asked from the doorway.
Damon lifted his attention from the screen. “Nah, I got something I need to take care of.”
“All right, hermano . If you change your mind, you know where we’ll be.”
Damon finished getting dressed and grabbed his bag. On the way to the car, he called Audra, but the phone rang and went to voicemail. He called two more times on the way to the hotel. Each time, no response.
Head throbbing, he entered his room and tossed his bag on the floor. He paced the carpet in frustration, trying to figure out what to do. They had two more games against the Mets, and then they were headed to Ohio to play the Guardians. He wouldn’t be back in Atlanta for another week.
He yelled out a curse and lifted his hand above his head to toss the phone across the room. At the last moment, he thought better of it and lowered his arm.
Maybe she was busy. He’d wait a while before calling her again.
Damon ordered room service and ate dinner while reviewing film to prepare for tomorrow’s game. Every so often, his eyes strayed from the iPad screen to the phone on the table, as if he’d miss a text or call from Audra with the device right next to him.
When he finished eating, he placed his dishes outside the door and called her again. She picked up this time, and the relief that flooded his veins forced him to drop onto the bed.
“Audra, baby, I know what you’re thinking.”
“You don’t know what I’m thinking.”
He was accustomed to her excitement every time he called, so the lifeless, dull sound of her voice gutted him.
“You have to let me explain,” he said.
“What is there to explain? The photos are self-explanatory. You and Nami looked cozy dancing at the party, and you were holding her hand as you left. Probably to go somewhere to screw her brains out, am I right?”
“ No ,” Damon said immediately. “You’re wrong. Listen to me, remember when I told you that sometimes as celebrities we create our own publicity? This is one of those situations. The whole evening was a stunt arranged by Nami’s people.”
“Why would Nami’s people arrange something like that?”
At least she was willing to listen, so Damon gladly continued explaining. “Nami signed with a new designer. They’re small and have a limited budget. We spent ten minutes at the venue and then left, but being seen there was great publicity for them because the dress she was wearing was one of their designs.”
“You mean the slip?” Audra asked.
Damon winced. Admittedly, the dress had been short and showed off the model’s slender frame. “It’s a dress. A one-of-a-kind,” he murmured.
“Good for her for finding a creative way to publicize the outfit, but why did you participate in something like that if you’re in a relationship?” Audra demanded.
“Hardly anyone knows about you and me, Audra, so I didn’t see the harm in helping her out.”
“Oh, is that what you call helping her out? You took her dancing?” she asked with a sarcastic edge to her voice.
Damon temporarily closed his eyes. This was going to be hard as hell. With other women he’d dated before, he could tell them anything—the truth or lies, didn’t matter—and they always understood. They always forgave him. It was clear he would not have such an easy time with Audra.
“You know what I mean,” he said.
“And you don’t get anything out of this arrangement? You did it because you’re a nice guy?” Audra asked.
“I do get something out of it, but not what you think. I’ve been figuring out ways to generate income after baseball. I’ve done a little modeling, but I want the opportunity to do more. My agent and Nami’s manager are old friends. Nami’s manager agreed to help me make those connections in exchange for getting eyes on Nami while she was in New York.”
“You must be really excited to start modeling because you looked like you were having the time of your life. The way you two were smiling at each other—if that was fake, you deserve Academy Awards.”
“Audra, of course I was acting.”
Silence reigned on the other end of the line. He waited her out.
“You should have told me,” she said.
“I didn’t have time. It all happened so fast. My agent tossed me the idea, I said yes, and Nami and I went out after the game. The photos weren’t supposed to be printed until next week, so I thought I’d have time to explain everything to you.”
“Well, you didn’t have time, and maybe the whole world doesn’t know about our relationship, but my family does. Do you have any idea how humiliated I’ll be if any of them see those pictures? And you know what, if you’re such a great actor, how do I know you’re not acting when you’re with me?”
Elbows to knees, Damon buried his face in one hand. “You know me, baby. Come on. I would never hurt you like this. I would never risk us and what we have.” He blew out a breath. “How did you find out about the photos anyway?”
“Kerry called and told me.”
Her ex. Motherfu ? —
“I’m glad he did because I might not have seen them otherwise. To be honest, Damon, I don’t know if I can trust you.”
His head snapped up. “What are you saying? Are you going to let this ruin our relationship? Audra, I don’t want our relationship to end over a damn misunderstanding.”
“It’s more than a misunderstanding! You were with another woman under very suspicious circumstances. I don’t travel with you, so how do I know what you’re doing when you’re at the away games? You’re gone for days at a time.”
“Baby—”
“I have to figure out if what you’re saying is true, and I’m not so sure.” The finality in her voice propelled Damon to his feet.
“Listen to me. I screwed up. I admit it. I take full responsibility. I should have called or texted you right away. That’s my bad, but I’m not willing to give up on us. Tell me what to do.” Damon held his breath as he awaited her reply.
“I’m not sure what you can do. Maybe nothing.” Her voice trembled.
“Don’t say that, sweetheart.” His world was crumbling around him, and there was nothing he could do? This couldn’t be happening!
“I have to go,” Audra said in a thick voice. She sounded on the verge of tears.
“Audra, baby?—”
“Good night, Damon. I need time to think. Don’t call me for a while.”
“Don’t say that. Baby?—”
Click.
The line went dead. The sound was like a kick to the heart.
He remained frozen with the phone to his ear, unable to move. The silence on the line was deafening, each second dragging by in a never-ending loop as realization cut through him like a knife.
I’m going to lose her.
He lowered his hand. Numb.
He should have told her right away. Even if People magazine had printed the photos next week as originally planned, someone at the party could have shared pictures of him and Nami online beforehand, which could have also gotten back to Audra.
He hadn’t been thinking. Over the years, he’d grown accustomed to living his own life and doing his own thing without answering to anyone. Being in a monogamous relationship was… different. Life didn’t center around Damon “The Flash” anymore. Every major move he made affected not only him, but them as a couple.
Mind racing, he ran a hand over his short-cropped hair.
A misunderstanding couldn’t, and wouldn’t, be the end of them. He refused to let their relationship end like this. He had to convince Audra of the truth, that’s all.
He’d reach out to her when he returned to Atlanta and force her to talk to him face to face.