Page 21 of Full Body Check

Three Weeks Later

“Dude, enoughalready! You knew her for less than a week, and this is a big game tonight, so get your panties un-the-fuck-stuck from between your pussy lips and gear up to lead your goddamn team, Captain!”

I’ve heard just about enough of Lance’s mouth, on my feet and ready to punch him in it, when I get blindsided with another shot…

“Miss, you can’t be-”

“What the hell did you say to my best friend, asshole?” Nikki screams, having somehow gotten past security and standing in the locker room, looking, and sounding, ready to kill me.

“What the fuck. Nikki?” Lance rushes to intervene, but she dodges him, in my face and poking at my chest in a blink.

“You better tell me what you did to her right now, or so help me God, I will tear off your dick and strangle you with it, Brewer Hayes!”

“Nikki-” I start…

“I know my name, jackass; now tell me something I don’t, like what you did to Gracie!”

“Anddd, we’re leaving, let’s go.” Lance picks her up and tosses her over his shoulder. “You too, Hayes; we’re moving this shitshow someplace private.”

For the first time I can ever remember, I agree with Lance and follow behind them; down a couple hallways and through a few doors, into a room I’ve never seen before and I don’t even want to know how Lance knows exists, my mind reeling the entire trip. I do, however, want to know what’s got Nikki raging mad, and why she seems certain it was me who ‘did something’ to Gracelyn — who hasn’t answered my calls or texts since she left, weeks ago.

Nothing. Not a peep.

The entire thing, our “connection,” all in my head I guess.

But most importantly, I need to find out what’s going on, or wrong, with Gracelyn, that set off Nikki’s alarms.

“All right.” Lance shuts and locks the door behind us, then sets Nikki to her feet. “Let’s try this again, Darlin’; in a calm, rational voice. And any actual information, to go on would be super helpful.”

Damn, I’m impressed, Lance is making all kinds of sense tonight.

Nikki takes several deep breaths, her anger morphing into tears, before she sobs out, “Gracie’s been my best friend, very best friend, since, ever, but lately she’s ‘busy,’ or has to call me back,’ but never does. Any clue as to why that is, Brewer?”

“No. Not a one.” I shove a hand through my hair, the weeks-old ache I’ve been carrying in my gut now a stabbing pain from this ominous news and all the possible reasons, none of which are good, whirling around in my head. “I haven’t heard a word from her since she left, and it’s not from lack of trying.”

“You two haven’t talked at all, since, since she left?” Nikki’s voice trembles, but her expression, it shifts… to what, I can’t quite tell, but I can tell I don’t like it.

“No, and I have no idea why. We, we had something… or so I thought,” I bitterly scoff. “I wish I had an answer for you, for me, but I’m just as in the dark as you are.”

Lance wraps an arm around her. “He’s telling the truth, Nik. He’s been a mopey, miserable pile of shit for weeks, I swear. He hasn’t talked, or done a damn thing, to your friend.”

“Well great, now I really don’t get it. You never talked? She didn’t at least text, leave you a voicemail? Are you sure? And why’s she avoiding me?” Nikki shakes her head, the tears coming faster, but the words, the words are gushing out, as if by themselves. “She knows I believe her, would stake my soul on it that she’d never trick you on purpose, and that I’ll support her and her decision one-hundred percent, no matter what. And if you didn’t even know, why-”

Gushing, way more information spewed than meant… and… I finally catch up. And catch on.

“Wait, what?” I seethe, stepping toward her, Lance immediately blocking me by placing himself between us.

“Oh, shit! Shit, shit, shittttt.” Nikki slaps a hand over her eyes and wails; and I do mean wails, as if in excruciating pain, then makes a mad dash for the door, which I take a turn toblock. “Now she’ll actually have a reason to hate me.”

“Hey.” I use as soothing a tone as I can muster, taking her by the shoulders. “Nikki, nobody hates you, nobody’s gonna hate you, but I need you to focus and look at me. Please. Look at me, and tell me again, exactly what you just tried not to say.”

Of course I already know the answer, but I have to hear it, actually hear it point-blank, and figure out how I feel about it. My heart is pounding, its rapid beat booming in my ears, but I think both are the direct result of the purest form of sheer happiness possible.

I’m almost positive.

No, I am positive.

And I didn’t imagine anything — our connection was, is, real — and, turns out, even stronger than I thought.

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