Page 29 of How to Prevent a Fumble

“I really hate to push this. But please trust me with this, okay?”

I don’t want to.

But for some reason I feel like he’ll do what’s best for me.

So I nod.

It’s two hours before the cops show up, their lights flashing in the early evening sky.

Leo greets them, and if I could take a picture of their surprised faces seeing the quarterback for the Baltimore Cobras in this dump, I would have.

“My friend’s place was broken into and messed with. I need you guys to go through and document it. Investigate it.”

One of the officers is a short stocky man with a goatee, his eyes beady as they zoom around my apartment before finally settling on me.

Sam.

But Leo isn’t stupid. Following his gaze, his eyes land on me, and a second later, he snaps at the officer. “Hey, you understand me, correct? I’ll be calling tomorrow to make sure everything was reported correctly. It would be a shame if it wasn’t,” he says, his voice low.

Sam is one of Tony’s good friends, and his wife happens to hate me. I’m not sure why. Never really found out. My working theory is that my ex was banging her, and Sam is too stupid to figure it out.

But either way, I’m not his favorite.

The two officers rear back. “Is that a threat, Warner?” Sam asks, his tiny eyes narrowed.

“It’s not a threat, it’s a promise.”

Oh my God, Leo is going to get arrested and I’m going to be the reason why.Leo doesn’t need any more bad press. He really doesn’t need to be arrested. Especially not for defending me.

“It’s okay,” I tell him, getting up from the couch. I slowly walk to him, placing my hand on his arm.

He nearly flinches, goosebumps pricking at his skin.

11

LEO

“Come back to my place,” I tell her, and I hate how much it sounds like begging.

She shakes her head. “Leo, I'm done. I can’t do it.”

“So you’re going to stay here?” I ask, looking around. There’s nothing worth anything here. I mean, it may have been worth something at some point, but not now.

Her face sobers as she looks around. Shoulders slumping, she leans back, resting her head against the pillows behind her. “I don’t want to do this,” she groans.

“Do what?”

“Any of this. Why is it so Goddamn hard to just simply exist.”

I’ve had a relatively easy life. I know this. I don’t have an answer for her, and I know telling her that won’t do any good either.

“I promise I’ll do better, Briar.”

Her teary eyes find mine, and when she wipes away a tear, I can’t help but want to knock her hand away to wipe it for her.

I’m not going to think about the implications of that.

“I’m not sure you’re capable of that, Warner.”

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