Page 82 of Dirty As Puck
The knock comes before I can even process it. Tommy’s voice follows almost immediately. “Kai, open up, man. I’m not leaving until you do.”
I stare at the door, my breath shallow, wishing I could vanish. I don’t want anyone in here, not him, not Jake, not anyone in the world. But he doesn’t leave. I open it just enough to let him through.
He steps inside, his eyes scanning the apartment like he’s reading me. “Dude, you can’t keep shutting everyone out. You’re hurting yourself more than anyone else. Me, your team… hell, even the girl, if she hasn’t given up on you yet.”
I shrug, trying to look indifferent, but the tension in my chest betrays me. “I’m fine. I just… need space.”
Tommy doesn’t buy it. He leans against the counter, his arms crossed. “This isn’t good, man. Your team’s worried. Jake called. And don’t get me started on the media circus. I can’t—” He stops, his eyes softening. “Look, I have no idea what you’re going through, but I know one thing, brother, you’re stronger than this. You’ve been through worse.”
The words hit harder than I expected. My stomach twists, part of me knowing that he’s right.
“So, what is it this time that’s killing you?” he asks.
I look at the ceiling, biting my cheek.
“Kai,” he says, asking for my attention.
I shake my head.
“Holy fuck…” he mumbles. “I didn’t think I’d ever see the day, but you really like the reporter.”
I run my hands through my hair.
“Oh, shit. You’re in deep. Have you talked to her?”
“She’s part of it, man.” I throw my hand in the air, pointing out the window, implying that she’s part of the circus. But even with admitting it aloud, I want to pick up the phone, hear her voice, and hold her again.
But another part, the angry, betrayed part wants to throw the phone across the room. I want to scream at her for not telling me, for letting Derek drag both our lives through the dirt.
“That’s dirty, man.”
I almost snicker. “Dirty as fuck.”
He glances at me. “So… what’re you going to do?”
I lean forward and then back again. “I…” My voice falters, then catches. “I don’t know. I don’t know who to trust anymore.”
“I don’t blame you, but wasn’t that her job?”
This time I laugh, pinching my eyebrows. “Shut up, man.”
He laughs too.
I shake out the jitters with a dramatic noise. “Fuck.” I stand up and shake my body. “Fuck, Tommy. You have no idea what I’ve done.”
“Don’t be all cryptic.”
I look out the window. “I have a half-brother.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. Fucker came out of nowhere and demanded two-million-dollars.”
He grabs my shoulder. “What the fuck, man? Don’t tell me you gave it to him?”
I stare out the window. “He was blackmailing.”
Tommy falls onto the couch. “You gave some random guy claiming to be your half-brother two million fucking dollars, Kai? Because he was blackmailing you? Jesus Christ, take this to the police.” He stands back up, starting to get mad. “I mean, how the fuck did the bank just let you transfer that much money anyway?”
