by Scott, Kylie
“I know.” And I do know what it’s like. “Hell, I don’t even read my own reviews. Constructive criticism from a source I trust, absolutely. Let me hear it. I want to learn and do better. But a random person on the Internet who wants to blast me because there was too much sex, too little sex, too much profanity, too little profanity. The plot was weak. Book wasn’t funny. The bad guy was hotter. You name it, I’ve heard it. I just thank them for buying my book and taking the time to read it but am usually able to let it go and focus on the fact that I finished it. I put my heart and soul into it and then set it free. People are going to like it or not. I have no control over it.”
“Then why are you beating yourself up about this?”
I roll my head to the side, all the better to see his handsome face. “I love you. This just kind of took me by surprise. I’m going to try and calm down now. Let go of the fact that everyone in the world seems to want a piece of our happiness. It’s none of their business and it sucks that they even care.”
“I’m sorry you have to put up with it, darling. It’s the biggest downside of the job.”
“But it’s a job you love so it’s worth putting up with. I’ll get my bearings. Bitch, moan and groan about this today because it’s new, then I’ll move on.”
Evan’s phone rings on his lap. He ignores it completely, focused solely on me. God, he’s so good to me.
“Baby, your phone.” I glance at the screen and my heart starts pounding. “It’s Levi!” I shriek and grab the phone, my hand shaking as I press it into his.
“Fucking finally, he calls me back!” He accepts the call. “Yo, Levi.”
I curl into Evan’s side. “Put it on speaker,” I whisper. I have no right to ask him to share his call but I’m dying with anticipation. Last night we sent the image of him with Mindy via text and Evan tried to call his friend but got no answer.
Evan doesn’t even comment when he puts the phone on speaker and holds it on his lap.
“Man, I’m sorry I couldn’t call last night. Been held up with my parents. Mom’s got the virus and she isn’t doing well. Dad was losing it but this afternoon she seems to be in brighter spirits.”
“Fuck bro, I had no idea. I’m sorry man,” Evan sympathizes.
“Sucks. She’s on day five and it seems to go up and down. The doctors are hopeful she’ll come through it fine but of course now Dad, me, and Brent are at high risk. We’re all quarantined and taking our temperatures daily but it’s only a matter of time.”
Jesus. That has to be the scariest thing in the world. To not only have your mother be down with a virus we know very little about, one that has no vaccine or well-known method for treatment, but to also be almost assured that you are going to get it. I curl my body even closer to Evan and rest my forehead on his mighty shoulder.
“I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have texted if I’d known, but that woman in the picture is the woman who drugged me that night of the party.”
“The one who dragged you to bed?”
I can’t help the full-body stiffness that comes over me. Evan sighs and wraps his arm around my back, forcing me to put my head against his chest. Hearing his heartbeat instantly soothes the ugly green monster slithering around my mind.
He sighs. “Yeah, man. Do you know her?”
“I do. Kinda. Seeing this picture, I just put the two together. When I met her the first time, she was more of a brunette. And I was trashed. It was sometime last year…I think after we won against The Bolts in LA. Met her at a club. Took her to my hotel. Spent a fun night with her. Shit, can’t remember her name.” He sounds as though he’s trying.
“Mindy,” Evan states flatly.
“Yeah, yeah, that was it. I think I have her number. Hold up.”
I sit straight up and scramble for my notepad and a pen.
“Yeah Mindy Goode with an E on the end.”
Guess the Mindy Be Good Insta was closer than I originally thought. Levi reads off the number and I write it down.
“She the one that set you up?” he asks. His voice sounds a little tortured. Why, I don’t know.
Evan lets out a long breath. “I think so, yeah.”
“Shit, brother. I’m sorry I didn’t put two and two together until you sent this pic. Honestly, I didn’t really remember much of what happened that night myself. I’ve got to lay off the sauce. It’s doing me no favors. After being here, helping Mom fight, watching my Dad eaten up as though his whole world is crumbling down with every coughing fit she has, I’ve come to realize I need a change. A big one.”
Evan cups my cheek and smiles softly. “Yeah, I’ve made a few changes in my own. Life-altering ones.”
“Does it have anything to do with the spectacular blonde I saw you with plastered all over the rag sites? Sadie Walsh the romance writer?”
“Yep. She’s my world, man. Fell ass-over-tit in love with the woman. During quarantine, no less. She’s Jake’s neighbor.”
Laughter rings through the phone. “Leave it to you to find the woman of your dreams during a pandemic.”
That has Evan chuckling too. “Fate, I guess.”
“You never so much as thought twice about keeping a woman. What’s so special about this one?”
Evan licks his lip and stares into my eyes. “Besides the fact that she’s so damn beautiful it’s like looking into the sun. Almost hurts. She’s also incredibly witty, makes me laugh all day every day.”
“Someone who can do that during this shit. Fucking priceless.”
“Yeah and she’s talented. I’ve read her books.”
“You? Read a romance novel? Shut the fuck up!”
His surprise has Evan laughing hard and I enjoy watching his face change from worried to happy. “I was hard up to know about her. Thought it could teach me more. All it taught me was she can tell a story and has a filthy mind!” He waggles his eyebrows at me in that silly manner that makes me giggle.
“Hell, yeah. That’s a bonus, buddy.”
Evan grins wickedly. “That it is. Well thanks for getting back to me. Having a full name and a number helps tremendously.”
“Hey, I hope you find her and get the deets on what went down.”
“Me too.” Evan rubs at his forehead. “Keep me posted on your Mom and how the rest of you are doing, yeah?”
“Got it. Thanks, brother. Hope this all gets worked out, this virus disappears, and we can all go back to normal.”
“God willing,” he agrees.
“Definitely. Later,” Levi says.
“Later. Be safe.” Evan hangs up the phone, tosses it on the table, leans his elbows on his knees, and puts his head in his hands.
The weight of the world is back on my man’s shoulders and I hate every godforsaken second of it.
“Baby, this is good news. One more step forward. Let’s consider this a win.” I run my hand up and down his back in soothing sweeps, hoping to ease the tension.
He nods. “I’m worried about his mom and the fact that the four of them are in the same house together. Since one of them has the virus, it’s most certainly going to get them all.”
Aw. My guy is worried about his friend, not his career. I curve my arm around his strong back. “Honey, you don’t know that. You have to think positive.”
“Yeah, but it’s hard with everything going to shit across the world. My career is at risk. Fuck, none of it matters more than everyone’s safety.”
I place my forehead against his back. “You’re right. None of the rest of it matters right now. In the grand scheme of things. Doesn’t mean it’s not important. We’ll deal with it all.”
“Together?” He almost sounds wistful.
I smile. “Absolutely.”
He turns and places a soft kiss to my lips. “Thank you, baby.”
“For what?”
“For being you. For being here. For loving me, warts and all.”
I grin wide. “Evan, I’ve seen every inch of you completely naked. You have no warts. Just smooth, sex
y skin.”
He reaches for me and pulls me into his lap. I wrap my arms around him and hold on. He dips his head to my neck and just breathes. Holding me close.
Right then I decide no matter what happens, I’m going to be there for him. Protect him from whatever I can. And hold him when I can’t.
* * *
EVAN
“Sweetheart, you look at the phone one more time and I’m turning you over my knee,” I warn in a light tone while rolling the lean ground beef into perfect two-inch meatballs.
Sadie scrunches up her nose. “She should have called by now.” She’s frustrated and antsy. Every few minutes she checks my phone and then glares at it as though she were willing it to ring, then getting pissed when it doesn’t. “And we’ve already discussed that threat. Non-consensual spanking is a no go.”
“Understood. But it’s only been a few hours since I left a message and texted. Relax. Besides, she may not reach out. I know she was involved in something nefarious against me. Helped to set me up. I honestly don’t think she’ll call. It’s more likely she’ll avoid me and block me from calling.”
Sadie huffs while filling a pot with water for the spaghetti noodles. “It’s rude not to return someone’s call.”
“It’s far ruder to drag an unsuspected man into a viper’s den, feed him to the media, and try to ruin his career. This woman obviously has no qualms about hurting someone. I’m just trying to understand why me? I mean, she could have given me the picture and tried to get millions for it.”
She gasps. “You have millions?”
I grin and chuckle. “Baby, how much do you think pro ballers make?”
She shrugs. “Guess I never thought about it. Is it a lot?”
“Depends on how good you are, your past record, how long you’ve been in the business and such. My last contract was a cool fourteen million.”
“For how many years?”
“Honey, that’s for one year.”
Her eyes practically bug out of her head. “Wow. My boyfriend is super rich! That insane. I’m gonna use that information in my next call with Mom and Dad. Money talks and bullshit walks, as they say. I’m going to woo them to your favor with the mighty buck!”
I shake my head. “Whatever it takes. Though I’m sure when they meet me, I can do all the wooing myself.”
“Once Mom sees how good looking you are, she’s immediately going to start dreaming of little towheaded grandbabies. Tell her how much you like children and that will do it.” She winks.
I’m just about to respond with how I’d like to show her exactly how I plan to give her my babies when my phone rings again.
Sadie reacts as though a bomb went off, flinging the wooden sauce spoon in the air, sauce flying across the cupboard on the opposite wall.
“Jesus, woman! Calm down!” I laugh.
“Who is it?” she gasps, holding the dripping spoon over the small sauce puddle pooling on the floor.
I point to the mess on the wall and cupboards. “Baby, could ya maybe deal with that while I get the phone?”
She frowns and then reacts to what she’s done. “Crap!” She tosses the spoon onto the holder and then dashes to grab a towel.
I pick up the phone. “It’s Trina, baby, not Mindy. Chill.”
Her entire body seems to slump. My girl, so ready to take care of her man.
“Hey, Trina. How’s it goin’, lady?” I answer.
“Evan. Hello, sweetie.” Her voice sounds trashed.
“Trina, what the heck? Your voice is shit. What’s going on?” I ask.
A huge coughing fit can be heard and my heart plummets to my stomach.
“Trina, are you okay?”
More coughing. “F-f-found some…” She retches and I swear it’s as though she’s hacking up a lung.
Gooseflesh appears all down my arms and a shiver races down my spine.
“You said the cough was nothing!” I respond angrily. “Have you been to the doctor? The hospital?”
“Sweetie, I got the virus. It’s taking its course but I’m working through.” She hacks for another solid minute.
My heart pounds and sweat prickles against my brow. I hold a shaking hand hard to my ear as I listen to the woman who has been the closest thing to a mother I’ve had, since losing mine at fourteen, sound worse every second that passes.
“Evan, listen to me. I found Mindy,” she claims through a rasp I can barely hear.
“What do you mean you found her? I got her name and phone number from Levi tonight. What did you find?”
Another coughing fit.
Fuck. I pace the room and watch as Sadie turns all the burners to low. She crosses her arms over her chest and rubs her biceps up and down. Her gaze radiates pure love and compassion as I freak the fuck out.
“Got a copy of an approved ch-cheer application t-today. Fr-from Coach Bates.” Who is the football coach, my coach, and not the head of the cheerleading division. “For M-mindy Goode. Set to st-start this sp-sp-spring. B-big pay and n-not through t-the normal ch-cha-channels.” She sputters and wheezes deeply.
“What? Why the heck would Coach send over a cheerleading app? And why would he be the one approving it unless…fuck!” I’m seething as the pieces of the puzzle start to come together.
“S-sent you a c-opy, boy,” Trina rasps and then goes silent.
“Trina?” I say but get no response. “Trina!” I scream into my cell but get nothing in return. “Trina, please, please, honey, pick up the phone!!” I yell.
After twenty seconds of listening to dead air and my heartbeat, I hear Tom’s voice as if far away. “Trin sweetheart, Trinny, wake up. Wake up! Oh my God, no! Help, I need help!” he cries, and my heart is ready to burst.
Eventually he picks up the phone. “Hello, hello?”
“Tom! What’s happening? It’s Evan.” I pace into the living room.
“She’s passed out. She’s not breathing. She’s been so sick, oh my God. I gotta call for help,” he says and then hangs up on me.
Dead air.
I stand there with Sadie at my back, both her hands pressed to my shoulder blades. “Evan…” she whispers, her tone filled to the brim with sadness.
The reality of what I just experienced spears into my heart and rips it into tiny little pieces. I drop to my knees right there in the center of the living room. Tears fill my eyes and pour over my cheeks. I slump as the pain of what I heard invades my form. Trina. My beloved adopted mom. The only woman who has cared about me since my own mother.
Visions of her swim across my mind.
Her barely able to speak. Trying to help me.
Endless coughing.
The silence over the line as I waited to hear anything.
Tom’s cry, as I imagine her lying there lifeless and not breathing.
“Please, God. No, don’t take Trina. Let her be okay. Please God, let her be okay.” I press my fists to my eye sockets and let the waves of sorrow take their course.
Sadie’s arms cover my waist as her body brackets me from behind. “Let it out. Let it all out. I’m right here. I’ll take care of you.”
I hold her arms and bring her hands up to my lips and kiss each of her fingers. “Don’t leave me, Sadie. Promise you’ll never leave me.”
Her head rests against my neck as I feel her tears sliding down my neck. My sadness is hers. And hers is mine.
“I won’t ever leave you. I promise. We’re in this together.”
CHAPTER 17
QUARANTINE: DAY 17
EVAN
WARMTH. THAT’S ALL I FEEL when I blink open my scratchy, tired eyes and come face-to-face with a sleeping angel. Sadie’s golden hair is all over her face and neck, but I swear she’s never been more beautiful. Her arms are wrapped around me, as mine are around her. Our legs are intertwined comfortably.
Flashes of last night come back. Her letting me cry a river like a lame ass. I simply broke the fuck down. Hearing about Trina. Finding out about Mindy. Coach. It all hit
me at once and I cracked. Shattered into a million shards all over the living room. But my girl was there.
Sadie held me until I couldn’t cry anymore. Wiped my tears, cleaned my face, and cuddled up with me on the couch until my stomach rumbled loudly. Without a word, she brought me three fingers of whiskey neat just as I like it and finished up dinner while I stared out at the empty night.
Once dinner was done, she plated me a huge helping, turned on some mindless reality TV show, and ate by my side. When we finished, she took my plate, refilled my glass, and brought along one of her own. We sat and drowned our sorrows in togetherness, booze, and boring TV.
Until I got the call from Tom, just shy of midnight.
Trina didn’t make it.
She died from complications. The virus had taken over. Trina’s lungs couldn’t withstand the fight.
Gone.
One minute she was on the phone with me, the next, not breathing.
Sadie held me through the news, brought me to bed, and wrapped me in her arms while I cried myself to sleep. The last time I did that I was fourteen years old. I’d just found out my mother had died.
The news made me raw. The loss and the reality of how close it was felt intense and devasting to us both. Sadie cried with me. Our tears mingled until they turned to kisses and light touches. Then she made love to me. Removed our clothes and set about making her man feel something that was beautiful.
The experience cemented this woman in my soul in a way I would never forget.
Fuck everything else. I live for her. To make Sadie happy. To make myself happy with Sadie. To build a life. A life worth living.
Now fully awake, I reach out a hand and trace her curved cheekbone and run my fingertips along her hairline until her lashes flutter like butterfly wings against her face and her eyes open.
“Mmm, hey handsome. How are you feeling this morning?”
