Breaking Away Read online

  She couldn’t speak, couldn’t even think, as she stayed locked in his gaze. She felt like a fish out of water, gasping for air, trying to figure out what to do next.

  “You look amazing, Reese, so beautiful. You haven’t changed at all,” he said, his voice soft and smooth, making her skin break out in gooseflesh.

  Her heart hammered against her chest. She couldn’t catch her breath, and she couldn’t trust herself to speak.

  He scoffed as he reached out, trying to cup her face, but she backed away some, causing him to smile. “Say something, ReeRee. You’re freaking me out.”

  She took in a deep breath and couldn’t believe he had brought out his old nickname for her. Her eyes moved into slits as she took a step towards him, and he smiled. In that very moment, she hated him. How dare he act like he hadn’t ruined her life! Act as if taking his love away from her wasn’t like taking her next breath. How dare he! Her body shook with anger, her heart jackhammering, as her fists clenched and her fingernails bit into her palms. This was the man that ruined her, and she always dreamed of what she would say when she saw him again. She imagined herself kicking him in the gut and telling him to fuck off, that she was better without him, but that wasn’t the case. She didn’t expect to feel like he had pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the chest. She didn’t expect to feel the way she had when she watched him walk away. She hated the way he made her feel, and rage ran through her veins. She wanted to slap him, beat him even, but then she remembered where she was. There were eyes everywhere. People knew her, knew him, and this could not happen. No matter how much she wished for it, she couldn’t risk it. He had chased her from her dreams before, but she would not allow him to ruin her career.

  So very quietly, she took another step towards him and whispered, “Fuck you.”

  Claire was grinning and coming out of a tight hug from Brian when she turned to look at him. Pride was pouring out of Phillip’s skin as he wrapped her up tightly in his arm, hugging the crap out of her. He had never seen anything so beautiful. Her solo was a masterpiece, but there was something about watching her move with a partner that made her even better. Phillip may not like the kid, but he made Claire a superstar. Kissing her temple, he pulled back and smiled down into her gorgeous, but wearing too much makeup, face. She reminded him so much of his sister that his eyes started to sting. He hoped that in Heaven his mother and sister were watching this moment, the moment when Claire fucking shined, but at the same time, he was mad. They should be here, all of them should be, but because they couldn’t, Phillip was going to make sure this girl knew she was amazing.

  “I’m so proud of you.”

  She smiled, her cheeks darkening with color as she said, “Thank you.”

  “So proud,” he whispered, emotion choking him as he wrapped her back up in a tight hug. He missed his sister and mom so much, but he was thankful to still have Claire within reach. They would always have each other. “I love you so much.”

  He felt her freeze in his arms, and then she whispered, “I love you too.”

  He closed his eyes tight, hugging her the way she needed to be hugged as he took in a deep breath. His heart was exploding with love, and he didn’t know how to handle his emotion. In one hand, he wanted to cry like a little baby but, since he knew that it might get back to the guys, he went with the other hand, which was to just hold her and bask in this moment. He had been waiting since the first moment she came back into his life for her to accept his love, and he couldn’t believe that this was finally happening.

  Could life get any better?

  Claire parted from him, and he smiled as she moved out of his arms. “It was great, huh?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, it was beautiful and even though you don’t have a shirt on, you did good, guy,” he said, directing it to Brian.

  Brian smiled as he cocked his head towards Claire. “It’s all her. She’s spectacular.”

  Claire beamed up at him as Phillip glared, but still he said, “Yes, she is.”

  “Are you sure we did good?” Claire said, a worried expression on her face as she looked past him.

  “Ugh yeah, mind blowing, why?” He laughed as Brian looked towards the direction Claire was.

  “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 fucking 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 fuck 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 fucking 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 fucking 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 fucks at all where this guy was concerned. All he cared about was