Page 51 of Until He Scores

The call ended and Pope turned his gaze on me. “Well, maybe now you’ll get some peace.”

I hoped so, until a knock came at the door and Cobi Mayson strode into the room. “Hey, Thierry. Glad you’re awake. Pope.” Cobi nodded in his direction. “We need to talk. There’s been an incident.”

Chapter 19

Thierry

Iclosed my eyes. Of course, there’d been one. Before he even said a word, I knew who it was about. “Derrick Whitlock?”

“It seems he’s been trying to get up here to see you for the last few days and was denied entry again today.” Cobi stepped closer to the bed. “Said your friends are keeping him from your side and abusing you.”

I’d have laughed if I could’ve mustered the gumption. “Glad you’re here.” I changed the subject. “Do you know anything about aPomPomapp?”

He stared at me for a moment, then nodded. “We’ve been hearing some rumblings from the cybercrimes division. Why?”

“Derrick, put it on my phone,” I admitted. “We found it right before you came in.”

Pope handed over his phone. “Here it is. I took a screenshot to show you. My friend said unless you investigate the forensics of Derrick’s phone, you’d have never found it, even if we kept it on Thierry’s phone.”

Cobi nodded. “Heard that too. The fucking app is worse thanSnapChat.”

“I’ve been trying to figure out how he kept finding me before all this happened.” I tried to adjust my position, but with all theneedles and wires, I was stuck where I was until someone moved me.

“Can I make a suggestion?” Cobi said, handing Pope his phone back.

“Always,” I replied.

“Don’t go home alone. I already advised the hospital to put Derrick on trespass.” Cobi glanced at Pope. “Make sure when you leave here, Derrick isn’t around.”

Pope nodded.

“Until then, should you need us...”

“Thanks.” I wouldn’t. I had Pope and my parents. If anything, I could always go back to their house for a few weeks to heal up and let the current drama blow over. This was Derrick. I’d gotten used to his antics. That’s where I’d gone wrong, too. I saw the red flags and made excuses.

“Lean on us,” Cobi stated, squeezing my shoulder. “You’ve been part of our family for a long time, both of you. If you need anything, call. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some trash to take out.”

“Wait,” Pope said before Cobi turned to walk away, “The app colors are green and purple. Green is the stalker part of the app. Purple is the victim.”

“Thanks for a heads up. Might just need to look at Derrick’s phone before he leaves.” Cobi exited the room, leaving me to wonder what the hell I’d gotten myself into.

“Sorry,” I muttered.

“Don’t be sorry,” Pope said. “Derrick is a big boy. He can take care of himself.”

It wasn’t just that. Pope had a business to run. He had a life outside of being at this hospital. He was giving up his ability to make money to be here. “You should go home. I know you have shit to do. I can get my mom and dad to sit with me or someone.”

Pope shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I have everything covered.”

“Can I at least pay you for your time?” I winced before I even finished saying the sentence.

“Are you my sugar daddy now?” Pope quirked a brow. “How much you gonna pay me, Thier?”

I shook my head. “Blame the drugs. I’m sorry that was rude of me. I don’t want you worrying about your bills. Or me.”

“Well, too late for that,” he muttered. “I don’t think I’ll get over you falling like that for a long time.”

Guilt ate at me. “I’m sorry. I don’t... I can’t imagine what you must have felt.”

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