Page 57 of Closing the Distance

“I was going to, but then decided against it since he won’t return any other text I’ve sent him. If he’s going to be an asshole, then he doesn’t deserve that information.”

They all nod. “That’s fair,” Gabe says.

My phone buzzes on the table, and I sit back in my chair as I open the text. My jaw clenches when I see his latest message.

Tanner

I’ve seen too many good guys get taken down by manipulative women. I refuse to watch it happen to my brother.

“You should call him,” Romel says. “Nothing gets solved over text messages. You can’t hear each other’s tone, and things tend to get misunderstood.”

“Give me a minute,” I say, pushing away from the table and heading out onto Romel’s patio.

The phone rings once before my brother’s deep bass rolls through the line. “Hey.”

For a second, I’m surprised he picked up at all, and then I cut to the chase because I’m sick of this shit. “I need you to let this go.”

“You need to stop thinking with your dick and think with your goddamn head for once.”

“Fuck you,” I seethe. “When did you turn into such an arrogant shithead who thinks he knows what’s best for everyone around him? You don’t know shit about Lexi?—”

“And you do?” he cuts me off, his own voice rising. “You think you know her? What has she told you about her life? Have you done a background check? Hired a PI to look into her history?”

“She’s a fucking schoolteacher, Tan. Not a goddamn hooker I picked up off the street.”

“Doesn’t mean she doesn’t have skeletons in her closet. You’re one of the most well-known defensive players in the league right now. You think she’s above wanting to take advantage of your success and fame? In my experience, no one is above that.”

I shake my head, my fingers digging in my hair. “Who the hell are you and what did you do with my brother?”

“I am your fucking brother, Ty. That’s why I’m doing this—because someone needs to. I can’t believe your friends haven’t. I expected more from them.”

“They’re treating me better than you are,” I spit out, my anger rising with every word out of his mouth.

“Have they looked into her?”

“Have you?”

Silence.

My stomach drops. “Tanner.”

“You need to listen to me, Ty?—”

“Fuck you,” I seethe into the phone. “Fuck you, Tanner. How dare you look into her? Why can’t you fucking trust me? Why can’t you trust her?”

“What has she done to deserve our trust?” he shouts back.

“She’s mine. That’s enough. She doesn’t have to doanything else. You need to respect that.”

“Ty—”

“No. I’m done. Leave Lexi alone. And leave me alone too while we’re at it.” I end the call, and it takes every ounce of strength I have not to chuck my phone across Romel’s pristine lawn.

What a piece of work. I cannot even believe him.

I pace the patio, trying to cool down, but I know I can’t stay out here forever. When I’m convinced I won’t break something, I head back inside. Three sets of eyes settle on me as I sag into my seat.

“Call went that well, huh?” Gabe asks.

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