Chapter 22 #2
Did you know Addison Investments is one of The Baller’s investors?
I can only imagine that’s another reason Troy got away with so much, because Barry didn’t want to piss off the magazine’s biggest supporter.
I didn’t care about the inner workings of the Addison family or why Troy felt the need to cover up his desire to write.
He was the one person who could help me get what I needed for the EWE story, and I wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip through my fingers.
I’m still going to tell Ben the truth about the article… but not yet.
“You expect me to believe you and Savannah hide things from each other?” I ask, trying to reroute the subject back to the real problem at hand.
Brooks chuckles. “Savannah and I understand the business. It hasn’t always been easy, and just like everyone else, we had to find our way.
What you see when you look at me and Savannah is ten-plus years of knowing each other—loving each other—but it hasn’t been without its difficulties.
But to answer your question: No, we don’t keep things from each other anymore. ”
Anymore. Which means they did at one point. This isn’t normal. None of what he’s just said is normal. Keeping things from the person you love isn’t normal…
But isn’t that what I’ve been doing? Keeping things from Ben for the sake of my own job.
No, this is not the same. Ben lying about his injury is for the sake of spectacle and profit.
My story is about uncovering the truth and exposing the ignorance pushed upon the people sitting in those seats.
At the end of the day, how do they feel about being lied to? Because I’m not very fond of it.
“He should’ve told me, Brooks,” I say.
“Yeah, he probably should have. But I’m going to tell you something, and you’re probably not going to like it,” he says, waiting for me to meet his gaze before he continues.
“It’s just business. Wolf would never mean to hurt you or worry you.
That’s not who he is, and I think you know that. You’re hurt—”
“I’m allowed to be upset.”
“Of course, you are. But if you’re going to be part of this world—part of his life—you have to accept that sometimes…
” Brooks sighs, and it carries the weight of someone who has been here before.
Someone who wasn’t on the inside. That can’t be true.
He’s the face of the company, and surely Savannah would tell him when plans were supposed to go awry.
“Sometimes, things are going to happen, and you may not know about it beforehand. Plans can change on a dime around here. For all you know, Amos or Noah or Tim could’ve decided to do this ten minutes before he went out there. ”
“Did they?” I ask, but this time, he doesn’t have an answer. I doubt they planned this ten minutes before the match. This is probably what Noah wanted to talk to him about back at headquarters, while I was distracted by Amos. “Ben knew this was happening. He’s known, and he should’ve told me.”
“And maybe he meant to, but you have to realize something, Sloane. Wolf has been on his own for a long time, even when he was with Harper. She didn’t want to know these things…
I don’t know how much he’s told you, and it’s not really my business, but Harper didn’t care about his work or his feelings or him, for that matter.
She refused over and over again to get married, and when she finally said ‘okay,’ he found her in bed with another man two months later.
” Brooks sighs again. “My point is, as much as you’re adjusting to this life, so is he.
Wolf has to get used to letting someone in—someone who isn’t his parents or Lexi or even one of us—because that’s something he’s never had before. ”
The door swings open before I knock. A bandaged Wolf Bennett stands surrounded by the few hand-selected members of the EWE team: Doc, Noah, Amos, and one other member of the medical staff.
“Oh, I’m glad you’re here. Wolf was about to leave,” Doc says, stepping forward.
“He needs to stay on the crutches when out and about, got it?” I nod, listening to his instructions while Ben attempts to maneuver out of the room.
He hasn’t quite adjusted to his new way of walking for the next…
four weeks. Four weeks? Did he really think this through?
“He’ll need to be evaluated by his doctor in Tampa, just a routine follow-up,” he whispers the second part.
“We’ll call tomorrow to—”
“It’s already been taken care of,” Doc cuts me off.
Of course, it has.
“Well, I guess, you’ve thought of everything, then,” I say.
“It’s going to be fine, Sloane. This…This doesn’t happen often.
” This meaning an injury or a fake injury?
I can’t tell how much of what he’s saying is real and how much is for show, in case someone happens to overhear.
“Take the opportunity to enjoy yourselves. Truth be told, he probably needs it anyway. The man pushed to come back quicker than he probably should have when he ruptured it last time.”
“Then why did you let him?”
“Because my personal opinion and professional opinion aren’t the same thing. From a medical standpoint, he was fine. There was no reason he couldn’t go out there. But personally, I think he should’ve waited another month or two.”
“Your personal opinion also matters, Doc.”
The older man shakes his head with a smile. “I know you’d like to believe that, but there was nothing I could do. Everyone agreed he was fine, and for the most part, he has been—”
“It’s been bothering him for weeks! You made him take two weeks off the road because of it. I wouldn’t call that fine.”
“Sloane.” Noah’s voice interrupts our conversation before either of us can say more. “Wolf is almost to the bus. You should probably go. He’ll want to rest after tonight’s events.”
Glaring up at him, I bite my tongue and force a smile. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll make sure he gets to the doctor tomorrow and ask them to give you a full report.”
Noah offers me his own tight smile, but he doesn’t say anything. He waits for me to walk out the door that he holds open, letting it slam shut.
Winston stands outside the bus with a smile that is the opposite of Noah’s. He ushers me inside, where the shades have already been drawn, and the door closes quickly behind me. I wonder if he knows. He has to, right? It’s too risky not to tell him. Too likely he’d find out anyway.
Walking into the back of the bus, Ben has already discarded the crutches and wrap from his leg, moving around the kitchen as if nothing happened…
and that’s because it didn’t. He pulls out a bottle of water, a bagel, peanut butter, and honey.
“Win grabbed you a po’boy on his way back,” he says, motioning to the bag on the small dining table, but still won’t look at me.
“Ben,” I say, placing my hand on his to halt his movements. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t—”
“I’m not sorry for being upset with you.
I have every right to be upset with you and anyone else who knew what was going on and didn’t tell me.
” With a hard swallow, I roll my lips between my teeth and take a deep breath.
“But…I am sorry for calling your job stupid. That wasn’t fair.
I think the situation is stupid, but what you do is not stupid. It’s not completely honest, but—”
“I’m sorry.” Ben exhales, scrubbing a hand down his face. “I’m sorry, Honey. I should’ve told you, and it wasn’t fair of me to think you’d be okay—”
“I’m not her, Ben,” I say, and wait for some reaction, but his face doesn’t change.
His eyes tell a different story, though.
They soften, a visible break in the mental barrier he’s held in place for who knows how long.
And when he tries to look away, I pull his gaze back to mine.
“I care about you, and I’m not saying she didn’t in her own way, but I am not Harper.
I want to know these things. I have to know them.
Otherwise, I’ll go insane anytime you get ‘hurt,’ because I’ll never be able to know if it’s real or if you’re selling or if it’s a work!
” A smirk tugs on his mouth. “What are you smiling about? This is serious.”
Ben wraps his arms around my waist to pull me close. “It’s cute when you speak in wrestling lingo.”
I shove him away playfully. “Ben, I’m serious!”
“I know.” He pulls me close again, a tender smile on his lips. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you beforehand. I should have, and there’s no excuse. Not a good enough one, anyway.”
“Just promise you’ll warn me next time, and I promise to put on a good show,” I say, and the words taste sour on my tongue.
“I love you,” he whispers, tilting my chin up to kiss me. Our embrace is cut short when his phone rings on the counter next to us. Ben sighs, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips. “That’s probably Mom.”
“You didn’t tell her either?” I gasp. “Bennett James.”
“At least you weren’t alone.”