Page 80 of Who's Saving You
And it’s working.
I grip my phone. I need to call Noelle, and see how she’s acting. If someone got to her, she could end this all right now. I need to call Dante. Do I have him press in and start asking around? It could be risky.
Without thinking, I walk straight to her room, the room in my condo. Her stuff should be inmybedroom, and that thought hits hard, even as I circle around the room. I know I shouldn’t. This is a breach of trust. But I have to know. I have to see if she's playing me.
She talked about my sister and other company names. Is she gathering info to nail me with it, or help me? I already know what I did, but how was it cleaned up? The whole situation ended too perfectly, which makes me think Noelle is onto something.
I run my fingers over her notepad, seeing notes scribbled all over. I move it aside and read the second pad underneath.
“EP INC., Papas & Family, Papas Playmakers. Secure the underdog.” It's her company, my charity, my sister's slogan. I grab the pad and pick it up, and something falls to the ground. I see it's a credit card, but when I reach for it, I realize it’s the hotel key card. Touchdown Towers.
I flip it between my fingers. “She kept it?”
My thoughts spiral. Is she feeling it, too? Or is this just something to add to her collection of stories?
I hit Dante's number before I’ve even thought itthrough. He picks up on the second ring, his voice rough. “Nik?”
“You busy?” My voice comes out harder than I intend.
“For you? Never.”
“I just got an email. It’s a picture of Noelle at her editor's office.” I scrub my hand over my face.
“I thought she wasn’t going into the office until we figured this out?”
“We talked and decided she has to keep up a bit of a normal schedule for appearance’s sake. But she promised she wasn’t writing it.” I blow out a breath. “But this picture was shot through a window. Clear but not right next door. Someone’s watching her.”
There’s a pause. Then, with an assured tone, he says, “Forward it to me.”
“I need you to ask around. Figure out who sent this, who had eyes on her. The timing of things is too weird and close.”
“What do you mean? What else has happened?”
I pace her room, glancing around at her stuff. A bag, her perfume, her pens, and pads. Candy supply.
“Not over the phone. I’ll be down in the morning.”
What if it comes down to Noelle having to choose her career, the thing she’s worked so hard for from the ground up, or me? I'm nothing to her. I’m just an article, just a guy she took to bed. Unless it’s not just that. But if she caves, my NFL future burns. If she resists, her own career could go up in flames. Either way, someone loses.
I stare at the photo again, and my chest tightens.
I'm not afraid for myself. I’m scared for everyone this would affect. My boys, my team, my college, my family. But the thought that hits the hardest and out of nowhere? It’s ofher looking at me one day and deciding I’m the reason she lost everything, and that I wasn’t worth the fight.
THREE WISE WOMEN (SOMETIMES)
Me: I’m freaking out
Olivia: Talk to us
Sloan: Do you want to get coffee?
Me: I think I need something stronger
Sloane: Ooh, this is getting good
Me: I was told there’s a position for me
Sloane: Like, doggy?
