Page 89 of Madden

Chapter Twenty-Five

Madden

I’ve been on edge since I got the call Brielle was being rushed to the hospital. Abel drove separately and hadn’t made it to the meeting yet, so he got back to the house before I did. I’ve only managed to get a few hours of sleep the past couple of days.

The media was going crazy when word got out about my house getting broken into, and rumors about a woman staying with me being injured. It’s only adding fuel to the fire after the article lying about my reaction to Hanna’s pregnancy rumor.

After they ran test after test, scan after scan, making sure Brielle didn’t suffer any lasting effects, she was sent home with a minor concussion and strict orders to get some rest.

She’s been fighting a pounding headache. I’m still struggling to look at her without letting my own anger seep in when I see the goose egg she’s sporting on her forehead.

Abel stands near the front door when I jog down the steps after I get out of the shower. He’s pacing back and forth, staring down at his phone.

“Everything all right?”

He tenses, locking his phone, and slips it into his pocket. When he notices my eyes narrowing on him, he clenches his jaw.

“Everything’s cool, man, I promise.”

“It doesn’t look like it. I know you better than to think there isn’t something more going on.”

Abel has become one of my close friends after joining us out on tour. His stint working with us was supposed to end after the tour wrapped up, but then shit went down with Trey and Layken, and he’s stuck around to watch over us.

We weren’t prepared for all that came along with life in the public eye. I have to admit, it’s been nice having him here to help me through all this shit with Hanna.

“Is this about Hanna? Any word on where she disappeared off to?”

Brielle mentioned she was with some guy, but since the video surveillance from when she was here has also turned up missing, we are short on clues as to who it was or what happened.

The police have reassured us, even with Abel and me calling them several times, that they’re looking into it and will let us know when they have more information.

It’s driving me crazy waiting, wondering where they’re at or what else they could end up doing.

“It’s not that, man. I swear. It’s just shit with my personal life is all.”

This is the first time he’s ever mentioned his own shit going on, and I feel bad thinking about how much I’ve leaned on him lately without considering what he’s left behind.

“Do you need to take off and head back home? I’m sure we can find someone else to come in and help us out.”

He waves me off and shakes his head. He stares down at the floor, running his hand over his beard.

“Nah, it’s not anything like that at all. I don’t have shit to go home to anymore.”

The way he words it clues me there’s something deeper goin’ on.

“I, uhh, found out my ex got engaged is all.” He shrugs. “I guess I wasn’t expecting it.”

I clap him on the shoulder, and he clenches his jaw, pasting a forced smile on his face.

“I’m sorry to hear it, bro. I truly am.”

He shrugs. “I can’t even be mad, though. It’s my fault it ended, and it sounds like this new guy could give her more than I ever could. I’m happy for her.”

I don’t believe it for a second, but the pain in his voice doesn’t give me the feeling there’s anything I could say that could ease the hurt.

“You won’t get me to believe that, not even for a second.” I attempt to reassure him.

“Thanks, man.” He nods. “I talked to Kyla about an hour ago. She told me to tell you she’s still working with PR to do damage control. They’ll be putting out a public statement at some point today.”

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