Page 89 of Who's Saving You
“Nik, you dropped that pass, but Eva is the one who told you to, and she used your dad to do it.” I swallow hard, choking on the words. “You may not have known it was her, but it was her.”
I let out a shaky breath, so afraid he’s going to tell me I’m wrong. He’s going to tell me he doesn’t believe me; his sister wouldn’t do such a thing. I’m afraid he’s going to tell me I’m so far off base that I’m only looking for a story to take down his entire family.
But he doesn't. He lets out a breath, then leans back on his hands on the bed, looking up at the ceiling.
“Noelle, I…” He’s got no words. I don’t know what he wants to say because nothing comes out. He bites his bottom lip, closing his eyes and breathing deep. He’s still searching for words when there just aren’t any for how badly he’s hurting. “So how does talking with Rhett make this work out?”
“I think Rhett knows and is dying to tell Ghost’s true identity, then and now.” He looks at me. “Ghostis Eva, Nik.”
He closes his eyes, and all I see is a man who has had his whole life laid out for him. A good life where his family could have prospered. And instead, they used him to get ahead, not caring that he’d have to carry the burden.
“I’m sorry. I never thought this was the story I’d find.” I bite off the last of the push pop and toss the plastic in the garbage, reaching for another one. I unwrap it quickly and begin sucking on it.
He lies back on the bed, arms stretched out wide. “I can’t think when you're eating that candy.”
I let out a laugh and wave the push pop around. “The candy helps me think.”
His head rolls to the side, and he looks at me with eyes that don’t want to know the truth, but it all makes sense to him now. The facts are lining up, and now he has to deal with it.
“I never told her I was being interviewed. But early on, she called me and told me to pull out of the story. I asked how she knew about it, and she said it was her job to protect me. Still, I didn’t know how she knew. You and I barely had two conversations before she called me.”
“I’m sure she was somehow alerted that I was asking questions. And she didn’t know it was me, but she was made aware that someone was poking around.”
“Rhett said Ghost is notified every time you put in a request for information. Ghost had to… Eva…” His thoughts are jumbled, the words not able to form. “I don’t want to think tonight.” He lifts his hand to me. “I don’t want to think about sending you to talk to Rhett. I don't want to think about what you'll find, or what could happen. Help me forget it all. At least for tonight. For tonight, let’s be Nik and Noelle.”
I smile sadly at him, and all the pain I see on his face. “I can do that.”
I drop the push pop on the desk and take his hand, and he pulls me to him on the bed. I lay my head on his chest, and he circles his arms around me, asking, “Tell me what happens next?”
“Well, you're going to play a game tomorrow and win.”
He squeezes me before trailing his hands to my ass, giving me a little pat. “Then what?"
“I don't know. What happens after a game?”
“Oh, come on, you’ve been here long enough to know.”
I laugh. “You’ll eat, come home, and pass out, then get up and go back to the stadium. More press, more games.”
“Mhmm. Wash, rinse, and repeat, right? Until I’m bringing home that ring?”
I pick my head up, eyes wide. “You’re not supposed to talk about that!”
He lays his head back and laughs loudly. “You are catching on!” He leans up and gives a quick kiss to my nose. “Wedon’ttalk about it. We only talk from one game to the next.”
“Well, now you just ruined it.”
“Shh! Noelle!” he says exaggeratedly. “I was only testing you, so I get a pass there.”
“You’re terrible.” I pinch his side, and he squirms around until he rolls me to my back and is hovering over me.
He asks again, “Tell me what happens next.”
“Right now?” He licks his bottom lip and nods his head. I lean up and kiss him, sweetly at first. I want him to feel good, I want him to feel I’m right here with him and not going anywhere. All this family drama isn’t going to chase me away. I’ll do everything I can to save him.
I kiss his chin, his neck, working my way over to his shoulder. I smooth my hands under his shirt; his skin is hot. He smells like a mix of his aftershave and fresh air. “You always smell so good.”
“And you always smell like candy.”
