Thrive (Addicted, #4)(49)

“I think about her all the time.”

Scott’s voice echoes through the ballroom, causing us to break apart and turn to the screens.

Scott wears a longing smile. “She’s a firestorm that I won’t ever smother. I’m the one who inflames her, who riles her to a new confounding degree. She’s my perfect match.”

That sounds like something Connor would say. Right beside Rose, Connor actually pales, his lips parted in shock.

“I hate this guy,” Ryke says softly.

“You want to do something about it?” I hope he’s reached the point I have—ready to fight back, something more than just saying fuck off.

Ryke inhales deeply. “What can we do? We signed a fucking contract.”

“Plenty,” I retort.

“Don’t go down that road again, Lo. You need to bury those demons.”

I thought I’d never attack a guy after I apologized to Aaron Wells and shut the door on that feud. But isn’t this different?

Scott is waiting for us to explode. For ratings. He won’t stop until the show does. And Lily and I care too much about Rose to do that to her company. So Princesses of Philly has to continue.

Ending it isn’t an option.

“I’m still in love with her,” Scott says. “And I can’t help what I feel, but it’s there. I love Rose the way she deserves to be loved. I just…I just don’t see Connor being the best thing for her. He’s too self-absorbed to care for that girl the way I do. And I hope, over the course of living with her again, she’ll realize that we’re meant to be.”

My blood boils at each word. I shake my head and look to my brother. “The things we bury,” I say under my breath, “have a way of coming back to haunt us.”

Ryke can try to bury his problems.

I’m going to face mine.

Connor sits in the study room for an interview.

“What do you think of Scott?” Savannah asks.

“I find him comparable to a little teenager jimmying the lock of my house. He’s nothing more than a petty thief, trying to take what’s mine. Is that honest enough for you?”

“And what about Rose?”

“What about Rose?”

I frown. He said her name like she means nothing to him.

“Do you love her?” Savannah asks.

“Love is irrelative to some.”

“And is it to you?”

His fingers rest on his jaw in mock contemplation, and he smiles self-confidently. For the first time, his smile really rubs me wrong. “Yes,” he says. “Love holds no meaning in my life.”

What…the fuck.

The screens fade to black. That was it.

So many thoughts toss around my head while everyone claps. People start talking and heading to the bar for more drinks.

Ryke and I face Connor. I never thought production would’ve turned the seemingly nicest guy into the evilest. But they definitely did.

Rose plucks another champagne glass from a server’s tray and relaxes her back against Connor’s chest. He holds her in place since she’s buzzed. I can’t believe she’s okay with everything he just said in the show.

“So was that the real Connor Cobalt?” I ask, sliding my arm around Lily’s shoulders. Some of the scenes could’ve been fabricated by editing, but how much?

I hear my brother’s warning, about Connor not being open enough with me. I never thought he had a similar relationship with Rose, but she puts herself out there and he’s not even willing to admit that he loves her.

“I spoke honestly,” he says. “And that wasn’t the first time I’ve done so.”

“So you’ve never loved anyone?” I question. “Not another girlfriend, your mom, your dad or a friend?” I don’t want our relationship to be a game. I knew, in the beginning, that he was just collecting me like he did everyone else. He was upfront about it, which was why I liked him. I had money and connections, so that’s why he befriended me. But I thought we’d grown beyond that. Hadn’t we?

“No,” he says. “I’ve never loved anyone, Lo. I’m sorry.”

Rose points at me, her glass of champagne in hand. “Let it go, Loren. I have.”

“Why?” I snap. “Because you’re both cold androids?”

Her glare is softened by the booze. “It’s just how he is. If you even understood half of Connor Cobalt’s beliefs, your head would spin.”

“Rose,” Connor says, as though telling her to drop it.

I’ve never seen her give so much of herself to one person, and I fear, badly, that she’s being manipulated by him. Maybe, all this time, I have been too.

Rose still defends her boyfriend. “No, Connor has done nothing wrong.”

“He doesn’t love you,” I sneer. “He’s been with you for over a year, Rose.” He’s going to hurt her. A girl who never lets anyone get that far is letting the wrong person in. Why am I the only one who sees this?

“Lo,” Lily warns.

“No,” I say, “she needs to fucking hear this.” I point at Connor but speak to Rose. “What the hell kind of guy stays with a girl for that amount of time without anything in return? If he doesn’t love you, then he’s just waiting to fuck you.”