Page 81 of The Drop

"She's my friend Sasha!" he shouts. "How many times do I have to say it?!"

"You message her all the time," she shouts back. "And it's not friendly texts. Don't even pretend like it's like your texts to the guys."

"How do you know what I'm texting Cami and the guys?"

"Huh?"

"You just said it's not how I text the guys, so how do you know that? " I turn around to look at Grant, confused, his brows furrowed with concentration, trying to hear through the door, but by the look on his face, he doesn't like what he's hearing.

"Gunnar, this has gone on for too long. Let's just move on; you're right, of course, you're happy to see me."

"Have you been checking my phone?" My mouth opens in shock because there is no way that this girl has been doing that. Right?

"Gun..." she tries.

"Have you been checking my fucking phone, Sasha?"

"Only when I needed reassurance," she begs. I cover my mouth in shock while turning my head to look at Grant, silently talking him down because he looks like he's about to burst through the door.

He nods against my shoulder, leaning on me a little more, letting me know he understands what I'm trying to say, his face full of anger, which is understandable. This is his teammate and best friend, and he wants to protect him, but Gunnar needs to do this by himself.

"Get out," Gunnar says calmly.

"No! Come on, let's talk, this is just your friends in your head."I can hear the desperation in Sasha's voice. She's losing him.

"They don't say shit about you. Maybe they do it to protect me. I don't know, but I damn wish they had now."

"Sweetie." I hear footsteps across the room, but heavier ones follow and come closer to the door we are all behind. Sasha must have moved closer to him, and he's walked away from her.

"Get the fuck out."

"It's the middle of the night," she whispers.

"Stay in my room and leave in the morning." I back away from the door as quietly as I can, my hand still covering my mouth. Bear joins me, putting his arm around my shoulder like we both need a little comfort after hearing all of that.

"Gunnar, please let's work through this like we always do."

"I swear to God, just do this one thing and get away from me right now."

We hear shuffling and the sound of a door shutting. We all look at each other, unsure of what to do.

"I'm going out," Adam whispers after we’ve waited a minute to make sure Sasha isn't coming back out. He creaks thedoor open. We see Gunnar sitting on the sofa with his head in his hands.

"You guys hear all that?" he asks, not looking up as we shuffle out.

Adam rounds the sofa to sit next to him, and Bear follows him on the other side of Gunnar, wrapping their arms around him. He instantly breaks down crying.

I lean against the door frame, tears forming in my eyes, feeling heartbroken for my friend.

I nudge Grant's side. "I'm going to head out. He needs you guys," I whisper, and he nods, running his hand through his hair.

"I'll text you." I rub his arm in response as I move from the doorway and hug Gunnar from behind.

"You're a great guy, Gunnar," I say into his neck as he clutches my arm. "Any girl would be lucky to have you exactly as you are."

"Thanks, B," he mutters, sniffling.

Walking to the door, I leave their apartment and enter my own. The lights are all off, meaning Cami's asleep. I look towards her room before walking into mine, tempted to tell her what's just happened, but that can wait till the morning.

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