Page 39 of Player Problems

“Tor is a friend. A friend with a great ass and even better tits. A friend who needed help. End of story.”

Beau raises his hand and I arch a brow. “Can we backtrack to the smashed car? I have questions.”

I sigh as I tell them about Torryn’s car, something nagging in my gut that it wasn’t just a random act of vandalism or as simple as someone being pissed for getting kicked out of the bar. The damage to the car was intentional, almost methodical in causing the worst damage with the least effort. None of the guys can believe just how bad it was as I tell them and my gut continues to twist.

“Do you guys think it could be related to those flowers and creepy note?” I ask, suddenly recalling the bad feeling they gave me.

The guys all hum as they think about it. “Maybe?” Wells finally answers. “It was a weird ass note.”

I nod in agreement. “I forgot about it until now. I’m gonna message the responding officer to let him know about it. Just in case.”

They let me go in peace, and I pull out my phone to first text Torryn.

Baylor

fyi my truck is my first baby

try not to crash her

Torryn

so no kissing curbs?

if you’re that desperate for kisses I can always come back

When she doesn’t respond after a few moments, I exit out of our conversation and pull up the phone app and dial the number on the card. It goes to voicemail so I leave a message explaining the note and flowers to him and let him know Torryn and I can drop the note off at the station when she picks up the police report. I’m not sure how to bring up to her that I kept the note, but I can’t help but wonder if her car wasn’t an isolated incident.

I hang up the phone and sigh just as it buzzes in my hand. Looking down, I expect it to be the officer calling me back but instead see Torryn’s name as she responds.

I promise to take good care of your girl

I debate how to respond, but eventually decide to just go for it.

Remember those weird flowers and creepy note you got?

yeah?

What if it was the same person who trashed your car?

The gray bubble with three dots appears several times, disappearing every few seconds as I watch the screen. I jump when it starts vibrating in my hand and Torryn’s name flashes across the screen.

“Hello?”

She doesn’t bother with a greeting. “Going from flowers to trashing my car is kind of a big jump. Don’t you think?”

I hear Isla saying something in the background but don’t understand what it is.

I scratch my chin as I think about it. “The note was pretty creepy. What if they were mad you didn’t listen and change your attitude?”

She must have put me on speaker because a smack sounds from their end of the line as Isla scolds Torryn for leaving important details out. “Ow, back off,” she hisses. “I don’t even remember what the note said.”

Finding the note in the drawer, I read it aloud to both of them.

“Ugh, that is creepy,” Isla agrees, while Torryn snorts. “Did you keep the note or just memorize it?”

“I’m flipping you off in my head,” I tell her. “I threw it in my drawer ‘cause it was weird.” I shrug even though she can’t see me. “It just felt like a mistake to toss it. I did toss those ugly ass flowers you made me take though.” After everyone and their mother gave me shit for them. Not that I would ever admit that to Torryn.

She starts to taunt me back when she suddenly stops, cursing. “Oh, shit. Where’s my school bag?”

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