Page 69 of Hard Count
“I have been all night.”
“And you’re just now calling me?” I ask with a growl.
“Calm down. They’ve been having fun. I already told the bartender to stop serving them. Their last drink was straight ginger ale.”
“Sorry. Thanks, man.” I hang up the phone, hustle to change clothes, and meet Eli outside.
“What’s going on?” he asks as he starts up his car.
“Gage called and said the girls are at The Armory. Frankie’s ex is there and Drew is drunk.”
He grips the steering wheel tighter and pushes harder on the gas. I would ask questions about it but I’m too concerned about Drew. She doesn’t drink. I don’t know why she would start now. I’m worried she’s sad she’s spending another birthday alone. I feel like shit I was stuck traveling home on a bus instead of spending the day with her.
My phone starts ringing again and I don’t even look to see who’s calling, figuring it’s Gage again. “We’re turning into the parking lot now,” I say.
“Areyou with Drew?” Coach asks.
“I’m going to pick her up now.”
“Good…that’s good.” He sighs in relief.
“Did something happen?” I get out of the car and signal Eli to go ahead. I know he won’t be able to relax until he has eyes on Frankie. I feel the same about Drew, but the concern in Gavin’s voice is making me hesitate. I want to know exactly what I’m walking into.
“She came by the house,” he says. I knew this already thanks to the sexy photos she sent me earlier. “She went through my office. She…she—”
“Coach, take a deep breath,” I say, when he’s close to hyperventilating. He inhales and exhales slowly along with me. “Start from the beginning. What happened?”
“I don't know what happened. I came home and my office was a mess. She found the divorce papers. She knows the truth. She knows I tried,” he mumbles more nonsense. I don’t understand what he’s telling me.
“What did you try to do?” I ask.
“I…I wanted her with me. I’ve always wanted her with me. I tried but there was nothing I could do to keep her. Nothing I did worked. I never gave up.”
“I know, Coach. I’m going to go get her now and make sure she’s alright. Are you going to be okay by yourself tonight?”
“I’m fine. I'll be better once I know she's okay. I’m worried about my daughter.”
“I’ll take care of her,” I promise.
“She found the letters, Nash. I wrote her letters everyday and she found them,” he says in distress.
“We'll figure this out. She's with Frankie and Eli and soon she'll be with me. I’ll text you once I get her home. I’m going to come by your house in the morning to talk and check on you.”
He agrees and we hang up. I mentally prepare myself for what I’m about to find inside. I walk past the main bar and dance floor, heading straight to the back room where they have the karaoke stage setup.
Drew is easy to spot singing on stage in my high school football jersey. I realize now why Gage was laughing at her party dress. I’m not laughing. Every time she raises her arm she’s dangerously close to giving the crowd a free show. She does look hot as fuck with the hem of the jersey grazing the top of her thighs.
“Do we stop them?” I ask Eli. He’s standing off to the side keeping a close eye on Frankie and her ex. I spotted him at one of the back tables when I walked in.
They’re belting out a rowdy country music song at the top of their lungs. I’m sure at one point in the night they actually sounded good. Singing on key probably went out the window three or four drinks ago. The crowd doesn’t seem to care. They're singing right along with them.
“I’m tempted to record it,” he says with a hint of a smile. “What is Drew wearing? Is that…”
“Yep,” I answer, smirking. “I’m going to find Gage. Then we can try and get them home.” I walk the edge of the room and find Gage hiding in a dark corner as I suspected I would.
“Ahhh…my reinforcements are here,” he jokes, his eyes pinned to a table in the middle of the room.
“Babysitting shift is over. Thanks again for keeping an eye on her.”
