Upon closing the heavy oak door, I was barely a few steps into my room when my phone vibrated again.
Releasing a breath, I pulled my phone out of my purse before flinging it onto the nearest chair. I then uncomfortably sat while my thumb busied unlocking my phone while my other hand freed my feet from the confines of my three-inch espadrilles.
River.
Already worried sick that I hadn't called? I did try to reach him when I landed in Madrid, but it went straight to his voicemail. I supposed that small message clip wasn't enough for my man.
Then guilt washed over me.
No matter how many gorgeous men came my way, I would never betray him. My heart wouldn't let me go down that lurid path. All the other actors in Lombardo films had different circumstances compared to mine. I shouldn't let that cloud my judgment. No, I convinced myself as I dialed his number.
"Hi, babe," I softly greeted him after he took my call on the first ring.
There was a lengthy stretch of silence. However, I knew he was on the other end of the phone. His ragged breathing gave him away.
"River?" What was wrong with him? "Hello?"
"Cara, something happened, but don't freak out, okay? I didn't do anything."
When someone says not to worry, that's my cue to do so.
Whatever River had to say to me, it was going to be bad. How bad was it? Guessing from his wretched tone, pretty fucking bad.
With bated breath, I shut my eyes. Dread began to form in the pit of my stomach. My heart began to pound as my mind tried to reassure me that my boyfriend wasn't going to confess that he cheated on me-not this nightmare again. Goose bumps prickled my skin as I began to shiver, not from cold, but from trepidation.
"Spell it out for me please. I need you to say it loud and clear."
"I was out of my mind drunk after the show … but I still went to this penthouse party, and somehow Hailey was there, too. She approached me out of nowhere. I tried not to be rude after what she had done to me … but she somehow took that as a good sign and when she kissed me out of nowhere, I pushed her off of me. I was furious, and I thought that was all over, but Ari just informed me that there's a video of it, though it didn't show me shoving her away from me. Now everyone's speculating I'm back with her again." He paused, as if to gather his thoughts, as if to gather his bearings. His strength. "I'm really sorry. I know you're out in Spain and will be away from this frenzy. That's the only consolation out of this miserable situation. I beg you, don't lose faith in me. I would never ever fucking hurt you, baby. I hope you believe that I love you, Cara. Losing you was a tough lesson, and I would never dare do something so stupid again."
My palms began to sweat. My heart thudded rapidly against my chest. There was a dull pain in my heart. Like little pinpricks, it heavily throbbed.
Hailey … the image of them kissing killed me a little. I wouldn't dare search for the video because I knew I would lose my fucking mind. And giving in to that negative headspace days before I was set to shoot my first movie was a huge mind fuck. No, I wouldn't dare submit to the demons that circled around my mind. Tempting though it was, I knew what was at stake here-my career and the love of my life.
"Say something … " he begged dejectedly.
What could I say? I had to give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, he was right. He wouldn't lie to me, especially not when it came to Hailey. That woman had caused havoc in his projects. Had it not been for his music, he would probably be busy jumping through hoops to get signed for another film. So yes, I believed my man when he told me that crazy bitch was up to her old antics once again.
Staring at my lap, I took a deep steady breath. "River … " I love you. "I believe you." The tightening on my chest began to dissipate, ebbing away that momentary pain that stabbed through me when doubt began to take hold of me. Thank goodness I saw through reason. River wouldn't betray me, not for a second time. "This will be one of many tests. If I don't trust you, then there'll be no chance for us. So, this is me trusting that you won't lie to me. That you won't hurt me … That you love me enough to appreciate what you and I have."
He groaned before letting out a laugh that showed how reassured he was. "You have no idea how relieved I am. I was thinking of not telling you, but I thought better. Fuck, this has been tying me up like crazy. Thank you, petal. Thank you for believing in me, even if my past makes you doubt me. Thank you for not listening to that, and paying heed to your heart."
My heart. It was his. He knew it, too.
A small smile crossed my face as I loosen my tangled bun. "Me, too," I softly whispered as I imagined how the rumor mill was having a field day of the footage. Good of him to warn me beforehand. That way, I would have every reason not to surf the web for the next couple of weeks. River's words were enough to fuck with my head.