Prince Pucking Charming

She shakes her head, and her hair falls in front of her eyes. I let the phone ring again, not giving a shit about the calls and texts rolling in, one after another. What’s the point? I bet it’s my dad or Kat or even my coach calling to yell at me. That’s all they ever do anymore. I guess I deserve it.

Thankfully, Austin hit me up first. He softened the blow. Much like Lila, Austin has a way of calming me down.

Lila’s cell phone rings next, and the room fills with a familiar ringtone we both recognize.

“Shit,” she mutters. “It’s Max. What am I supposed to tell her?”

I have no idea what to say. What would I tell my child if I were in her position?

Without waiting for my response, she answers the call. “Hey, baby.” She sighs. “Max, I know. You can’t believe everything you read on the Internet.”

Lila wraps a silky robe around her naked body and ties the belt around her waist. She swats a fallen tear from her cheek. I wish I knew the right thing to say to make her feel better.

She turns her back to me, and for the first time since we started dating, she gives me the cold shoulder. Lila walks out of the bedroom, and chills roll down my spine. I slump to the mattress, knowing I have to give her space. I need plenty of it when I’m in rage mode. Everyone knows to let me seethe on my own.

My cell phone rings again, and this time, I pick it up.

“Tom,” I say to the general manager of my team.

“My office,” he yells. “Now! And bring Dr. Devine with you.”

“Don’t take this out on her,” I plead. “This is my fault.”

“I’m sure it is. I warned you. I told you this was your last shot.”

“Do whatever you want to me. Don’t take this out on Lila.”

“Save it, Duke,” he snaps. “You have one hour. Get your ass over here.”

I throw the phone against the wall, and it breaks into pieces that scatter across the room. Fuck. I haven’t lost my anger like this in months. As I collect the remnants of the phone, Lila enters the bedroom.

“What have you done, Duke?”

She rushes into the room and lifts a picture frame from the floor. I didn’t even notice it fell. Lila clutches it against her chest and cries.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” She stares down at the picture in the broken frame. “Why do you have to act like this?”

“You tell me, Doc. You’re the expert.”

Her bottom lip quivers, and when she looks up at me, her mouth twists into disgust. “Get out! Just go! I need to be alone.”

“You’re mad about a picture frame?”

“Yes, you idiot!” She shows me the broken glass that has a picture of her with her mom inside it. “This is the last picture we took together. Just go, Duke. I can’t do this right now. I thought you were getting better. I thought I was helping you.”

“You were… You are… Lila, please. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to throw my phone. I just got so—”

“Angry,” she finishes. “Yeah, so much for your anger management working.”

“It is working,” I challenge. “People don’t change overnight.”

She bends down to gather the remaining pieces of glass. “Why do you have to break everything?”

“I’ll buy you another frame.”

She snorts. “This frame can’t be replaced.”

“I’m sorry, Lila.” I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “I fuck everything up.”