Page 87 of Biker's Tribute: Property of Bear

“Mallory!” I call out, shoving Ethan’s arm away with all my strength. I’m pretty sure calling out Mallory’s name wakes him up and that’s why it’s so easy to push him off, but it’s not my place to question the situation.

Ethan groans. “She’s ruining my cuddles.”

I roll my eyes at the thought that this big grouchy biker needs “his cuddles” and lean over to grab my phone. Ethan stares expectantly, like he’s waiting for me to answer so he can get some peace and quiet and go back to bed. I press one hand to his head, lowkey to hold him back from potentially grabbing my phone and tossing it across the room, as I answer the phone with my other hand.

“Mallory? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” she says. “Does something always have to be wrong?”

“You’re calling and not texting.”

I know her too well to fall for that “nothing: answer. We haven’t been okay since the incident with her brothers.

“I’m leaving town,” she says.

“What? For how long? What do you mean?”

I know what she means. But I don’t want to believe this is happening. Orhowthis is happening. Mallory can’t be leaving in the dead of night without even saying…

It hits me like a cold brick. Thisisher saying goodbye. Ethan takes my hand off his head and just holds it. The warmth spreads through me. I appreciate his gesture, but nothing could make this less stunning or less… painful. But I knew this was coming, didn’t I? The situation with Mallory was a real “shit hits the fan” situation.

There was never coming back from that. Tears well up in my eyes. We did everything together for years. We had plans for a future together. This isn’t fair…

Mallory holds it together for both of us. I don’t know how she does it, honestly.

“I can’t put you at any more risk than I have already,” she says calmly. “I always knew this might happen and at least now… I know you’re going to be safe with Ethan.”

Her voice doesn’t even crack. I don’t know how I could be that strong. I try to find something to ground myself. To ground both of us. To cling to some elusive possibility that my best friend might not have to leave the city at all.

“What about the practice? Your apartment? I… How can I stay in Boston without you?”

Mallory laughs. “You aren’t going to be alone. Ethan is crazy about you, Amanda. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t feel safe doing this.”

I glare at Ethan, who looks at me like he genuinely has no clue what’s going on. His face is filled with such innocent protectiveness, that I feel bad for that instinct to blame his ass for Mallory’s departure. This isn’t his fault. Not this time.

“I need to know you’re going to be okay. You can’t fall off the face of the earth.”

“I won’t,” she says. “I’ll just be dying my hair, changing my name again and calling you from a new number in about a week.”

“Are you serious?”

“It’s nothing you need to worry about, Amanda. I just want you to be good and do good without me. That’s it.”

“I’m going to cry.”

“Don’t you dare,” she says. “I’m not dead. I’m just… taking my safety seriously. Okay, shit. They’re boarding my group now. I love you, babe.”

“This is it?”

“Love you.”

“Love you, Mal.”

“I promise, I’ll see you sooner than you think.”

Then she hangs up. And just like that, my best friend is gone. I set my phone down gently. Cold brick against the side table. Ethan’s thumb rubs the center of my palm.

“What’s wrong with Mallory?”

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