Page 125 of Last Fall

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ERIK

This Is YourFault,Bear

Ifellinto my plush white hotel bed fully clothed. I didn’t think I could move if I wanted to. Between the time difference and another brutal game that went down to the final at-bat, I wasexhausted.

I knew I had a message from Zoe but I hadn’t listened to it because I wanted to do it in private—meaning away from Wes and his non-stop banter. Besides, she was most likely fast asleep by now. We knew today was going to be nuts for both of us and I told her to call me in the morning as soon as shewokeup.

“Hey babe. I made it to LA. I hope your game went well.” She took a deep breath that worried me. It sounded heavy. “Call me as soon as you get this, okay? I need to talk to you aboutsomething.”

I really, really didn’t like that. Her voice was kind of shaky, like something was wrong but she was trying to sound like it wasn’t. I sat up and looked at the glowing red numbers on theclock.

It was almost eleven, which meant it was two in the morning for us. She was definitelyasleep.

I collapsed back on the bed—sad we were apart and a little pissed I wasn’t with her to fix whatever it was that was bothering her. Since I couldn’t do anything I forced myself to strip out of my jacket and start getting ready for bed. As much as I wanted to just close my eyes and call it a night I knew I’d wake up in a few hours uncomfortable andpissed.

So off went the shoes and socks. Off went my shirt. I was just reaching for my belt when my phone started vibrating onthebed.

Call it instinct, but I had a very bad feeling about this phone call before I even looked at thescreen.

And when I saw Zoe’s name flashing I knew without a doubt my instincts wereright.

“Hey Darlin’.” I was still hoping I was wrong. I had to be wrong. What could have possibly happened in LA that could bethatbad?”

“How was the game?” she asked, her voice so soft and weak I barelyheardher.

“We won. What’s wrong?” My heart kept beating harder andfaster.

“What makes you think something’swrong?”

“I can hear it in your voice and you’re scaring me.” Better to be blunt. Zoe responded welltoit.

“I’m okay,” she said quickly. “But I do need to talk to you aboutsomething.”

“Thank you for telling me you’re okay. What’s wrong?” I was going to have a heart attack before she got to thepoint.

“Tony’shere.”

Tony.

Tony’shere.

Tony wasthere.

I couldn’t wrap my brain around what she was saying. “Rightnow?”

“I’m with Lucy. From the production company? She’s sitting with me in my hotel room and helping me arrange security for thenight.”

“He’s in your hotel?” I shouted, standing up. “Yousawhim?” I was going to kill the man. It was going tohappen.

“Yes,” she whispered, close totears.

Fuck.I needed to calm down. “Are you okay, baby?” All I wanted in that moment was to be in the same room with her so I couldholdher.

“I’m okay.ButErik...”

Oh fuck. There was more. “I’m here. I’m listening.” And planning. Could I get a flight this late? I knocked on the door that connected my room toWes’s.

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