“Then why does Reese look so mad?”

He looked behind him to see Reese marching towards them, her face red and her lips set in a straight line. Behind her was a tall, blond guy, trying to catch up to her while calling her name.

“I don’t know,” Phillip said as Reese came up to them, hugging Claire tightly and then Brian.

“You guys, that was perfect. Way better than y’all have ever done in practice. I’m so proud of you.”

Brian nodded as Claire exclaimed, “Thanks! We feel good about it.”

“You should, we got this,” she said quickly, sending a glare towards the blond dude.

Phillip wanted to come close to her and ask what was wrong, but that was something he would do if it were known he was in love with her and since that wasn’t known, he stayed where he was. He needed to tell Claire as soon as possible because he wanted to kiss Reese with such an urgency that it scared him. He was convinced that everyone in the room knew he wanted her. She was pissed but, even in that state, she was breathtaking. Despite the straight line her glossed-up lips sat in, she looked classic, wearing a pair of black tights and a pair of red shorts with a long, black sweater that came off her shoulder, showing off some of her back tattoo. Her hair was up in a bun, and her makeup dramatic. She was obviously dressed to impress and boy, did she.

“Everything okay?” Claire asked.

It wasn’t, Phillip knew it wasn’t, but Reese said, “Sure.”

“Reese, can we talk?”

Everyone eyes darted to the guy except Reese, she rolled her eyes. “Why don’t y’all go change and get ready for awards? Good job again.”

They didn’t want to leave her, and hesitantly headed towards the backstage. Phillip didn’t know where to go, so he decided to stay right where he was. He didn’t trust the blond guy, and he also wanted to know what was wrong with Reese.

“There isn’t anything to talk about, Kevin.”

Kevin? Kevin, Kevin? Like the guy that ruined her for the male race?

“I think we can find something. It’s obvious you are angry with me still,” he said in a slow way, like he was drunk or high.

Reese laughed out loud as she shook her head. He knew she wanted to scream, he could read it all over her face, but in the calmest voice, she said, “Are you f**king kidding me? Of course I am! You broke my heart.”

Yup, it was him and instantly, Phillip wanted to kick his ass.

“I apologized,” Kevin pointed out as he shrugged his shoulders.

Reese took in a deep breath through her teeth and sneered. “The hell you did! You looked at me, told me you were married, and that you couldn’t see me anymore.”

“And then I said I was sorry.”

She looked down at the ground and took in a deep breath. Phillip noticed people were looking their way. He wanted to tell them all to f**k off, but he knew that would just bring more attention. When Reese looked back up at Kevin, Phillip studied her profile and was breathless at the sight of her. Her cheeks were dark with color, her eyes glassy, and her bottom lip quivered slightly as she looked up at him.

“Is that what you tell yourself to feel better? Because I remember that night like it was yesterday, and you never said that. All you said was my bad, and then walked away from me like I was nothing but trash. So yes, I am very angry with you and no, we have nothing to f**king talk about.”

With that, she turned on her bright red heels and stormed away. Kevin looked back at him and Phillip scoffed. “Don’t look at me, dude. I would love nothing more than to knock your f**king teeth out of your mouth.”

Phillip shook his head as he went towards him, knocking into him before following after Reese. Was it immature? Sure, but he gave no f**ks at all where this guy was concerned. All he cared about was getting to Reese. He wasn’t sure she knew he was following her since she didn’t look back at him, but he continued to trail her as she turned down a hall that appeared to be vacant. When she stopped and covered her face, leaning against the wall as she took in deep breaths, his heart broke for her. Coming beside her, he mimicked her stance and looked over at her, watching as her tears leaked out from under her hands.

“I can’t believe he thinks that we are cool, that I am fine after the way he did me. He ruined me, you know?” she cried, taking in deep breaths. “I gave him all of me.”

“I know. I’m sorry. He’s a douche.”

She nodded. “I loved him so f**king much. I wanted to have kids with him, get married, and just be happy. He was the prince that I was convinced I needed. He made me so f**king happy, but I should have known something was up. We never left my place, and Piper even said he was sleazy. I was oblivious to it all though. I believed I was the only one he loved but damn it, I was so wrong.” She took in a shaky breath as she wiped her hands along her cheeks. “I just don’t get it. I don’t understand how I could have been so stupid and allowed him to ruin me the way he did.”

Reaching over, Phillip grasped her thigh, squeezing it softly. “You were in love. Everything seems perfect when you’re in love,” he said softly, speaking from the heart, hoping to calm her down.

“I just feel so stupid and disgusting. Like I still feel so guilty for what we did behind her back. They are still together, you know,” she said, looking up at him, her makeup smeared from her eyes, her nose pink and her lips puffy from biting on them to keep her sobs in.

He shrugged. “I don’t know what to say about that, Reese, but I do know he didn’t deserve you.”