Chapter 43

 

 

Shannon made it back to his condo with the new phone and the fixed phone. He’d had the old one for a couple years, so it was time to upgrade, but he still wanted to check the call history from the old one.

Peter was right about one thing. He needed the truth, and he wasn’t sure he’d get it from Ryan. And that killed him. Not to mention, the thought of some obsessed asshole targeting Ryan scared the shit out of him. He wasn’t supposed to care about the cheating bastard. He didn’t want to.

But what if Peter was right, and there was another explanation for that call. There was a spark of hope that it hadn’t been Ryan on that phone. He just couldn’t see how someone could fake that.

He entered the condo, went back to the office and sat down with the old and new phone. Time to listen to the messages and read the texts he was too afraid to open in the store.

Last thing he needed to do was lose his shit over some poor, unsuspecting sales person.

First call from Ryan was at three past one. Then there was an unknown number ten minutes later. Then several more from Ryan’s, and a slew of texts.

 

Ryan – Max stole my phone. I didn’t do what he tried to make you believe. Please talk to me.

Ryan – Look, I know what you must think. I didn’t fucking touch him. He stole my phone, got off with someone else, and called my name.

Ryan – I should have known. I should have never touched him again after I dumped his ass. Fuck, I’m an idiot.

Ryan – Call me. Yell at me. Just text me. I don’t give a shit, but I need to know you’re there.

Ryan – This can’t end because that asshole is a jealous fucking bastard.

 

Shannon wiped at his eyes and brought up the voicemail.

He called from the car, on the way to get his phone on Luke’s. He’d pleaded with Shannon to call him. He was falling apart. Ryan didn’t sound like the guilty party. No, he sounded hurt, desperate, and pissed because some asswipe wanted to stand between them. Which Ryan had warned him about previously.

But Ryan was an actor. He needed the video proof before calling. Because he wanted to believe his heart wasn’t going to be crushed. He wanted to believe there was a good man who loved him.

Shit, maybe he should have told Ryan to come out. But he stood by the decision to protect his career. He didn’t want to be the reason anything fell apart for Ryan.

He dialed Peter and held his breath.

“You aren’t bailing on the job, are you?”

“No, I’m going. In fact, I’m about to change the flight to today.”

“Actually, I knew you would come around. Your flight is in four hours. You better pack. Take a few days of clothes for this leg of the journey, and I’ll send the rest to Tuscany with the other guys.”

“And what if I hadn’t come around?”

“Well, then I don’t know. But I don’t have to worry about that. I can’t imagine him really fucking around behind your back, though. Give him a chance.”

“I can’t promise anything. I need to call my sister and let her know I could be out of the country for a few months. Mom too.”

“Good luck, Shannon.”

“Yeah, thanks.” He hung up and made his phone calls before packing his things.

 

* * * *

 

Lunchtime came, and Ryan couldn’t eat. He pushed his vegetables around the plate. Raven sat with him but didn’t say a word. For the best, he had nothing to say.

Alexa dropped into a seat and tipped her head as she watched him. “What’s wrong, Ryan?”

He met her gaze before looking away. “My heart has been ripped out.”

She didn’t say a word for a long moment. “What are you talking about?”

“Shannon thinks I fucked someone else.”

Her eyes widened. “Shannon who?”

Ryan shook his head.

Luke kept his eyes straight ahead, and so did Raven.

“Wait…no, that Shannon—really?”

He didn’t say a word.

“What?” Keenan asked.

“Shannon O’Neil?” she asked. “That’s why he turned me down? Because he’s with you?”

“Fuck,” Ryan muttered. Alexa knowing could be bad. But really, he didn’t care in that moment.

“Wow, I would’ve never imagined you with a guy. Any guy. You’re always so straight.”

He glared at her. “I’m sorry, but what the fuck is that supposed to mean anyway?”

“You exude sexy all over the damned place.”

Ryan shook his head.

Keenan glanced at Alexa and back at Ryan.

“Got something to say?” Ryan demanded, expecting something shitty out of his mouth.

“I was not expecting that, but okay.”

“Okay?” Ryan snapped.

He nodded, then shrugged. “Don’t see how it matters. Though I’ll admit you and O’Neil comes as a surprise.”

Ryan sighed. “Yeah, well unless I can figure out how to get through to him, it’s over. He thinks I was fucking around with Max Snyder. And he knows we had history.”

Alexa held up a hand, a perplexed look on her face. “After last night, Max being gay is no surprise. But why would Shannon think you were with Max? You refused to go back stage with us. You didn’t even want to go to the club.” The last words flowed out of her mouth as she blinked. “Oh my God! Someone said they saw you go backstage after Raven got pissed off and left. That was like forty minutes later. Sometime after that, Max came back without the guy he’d been making out with and his face was bloody.” Alexa picked up his wrist and Ryan jerked away. “You hit him!”

“Yeah, I fucking did. He tried to sabotage my relationship.” Ryan flexed his hands and winced. “Fucker stole my phone and put on a show for Shannon.”

Alexa lit up. “Didn’t Raven say his company is coming out to protect her?”

“Yeah, to protect her from her stalker. Which is exactly what she needs. I doubt he’s going to give me a chance to explain.”

“Maybe not, but I will make it a point to show him the pictures.” She pulled out her phone, showing him a shot of Max and Alex on the couch, Max’s hand in Alex’s pants.

Ryan turned back to her. “You realize you can’t tell anyone, right?”

“I won’t say a word about you, or Shannon.” Her smile turned cruel. “But if Max wants to be an asshole, maybe I should leak that picture online?”

Ryan gently pushed the phone away. “Tempting as that is, don’t. You’d only get backlash from his fans. And as much as I hate the fucker, that should be his secret to share when he’s ready.”

“But it’s okay for him to fuck with your man? Make him think you did something you didn’t?” Alexa shrugged. “Besides, if I send it to SASS News anonymously, no one will know I did it. And you weren’t back there, so you won’t catch the blame.”

“And what if he outs everyone he’s been with?” Ryan countered. “Show it to Shannon, fine. But don’t show the world. That’s a dick move no matter how much of a bastard he is.”

Luke turned with a grin. “Actually, it’s a good idea. Let them roll with it. And finally, SASS News might do some good for once.”

It was one of their camera guys who filmed Tara Punce trying to rape Luke in a club bathroom, then promptly posted it everywhere, only cut to put him in the worst possible light.

Ryan rubbed at his face. Still, as tempting as that was, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be the one who outed the bastard. But really, it wouldn’t make much difference. If Max outed him, he wouldn’t have to worry about Shannon being the reason his secret came out. No downside, as far as he was concerned.

He leaned forward. “I can’t tell you what to do, but if you want my opinion, as the one screwed over—don’t do it. It’s not right.”

She nodded, a smirk on her lips. “I make no promises. And it’s too bad I don’t have any dirt on Rocco. Turns out he was a douchebag too. Bitching about how Raven was becoming such a drama queen where her stalker was concerned.”

And suddenly, he really liked Alexa. He’d never really trusted her before, but in that moment, she was an avenging angel.

Keenan shook his head. “I wasn’t impressed with either of them. Anything I can do, I’ll do it, including telling O’Neil what I saw back there.”

Ryan nodded slowly. “Thank you.”

“Hey, your secret will never leave these lips.” Alexa crossed her heart.

Keenan nodded. “Never a word.”

“Thanks.”