Page 53 of The Ruckup
I fold the blanket covering my lap and drape it over the arm of the sofa so it won’t get anything spilled on it, then shift around a few of the items on her coffee table to make extra room.
I give Gill’s naked back a pet when she comes to inspect what I’m doing. “What do you think is taking so long?” I don’t know why I’m asking her. The poor thing doesn’t even know where in the hell she is, let alone why Alexis isn’t back yet.
And I really wish she was, because I’m starting to get nervous. Worried is my natural state, and once it digs its claws in, things start to spiral very quickly. Within seconds, I’m on my feet, pacing to the door so I can open it and peek out, hoping Alexis will be on the other side.
But the hall is empty.
“Shit.” I know what I have to do. For my own sanity, if nothing else.
Hopefully it’s only for my own sanity, because…
No. I refuse to allow myself to consider all the reasons Alexis might not be back yet. I don’t want to start spiraling. Not right now. Technically not ever, but I know that’s an unrealistic goal.
Looking back over my shoulder to make sure Gill is okay, I step out. The door will probably lock behind me, but hopefully Alexis has a key on her, because there’s no way I can keep sitting there without falling into a full panic.
I hurry back the way we came in, tapping one foot as the elevator carries me to the first floor. The doors open, but even before I step out, one thing is very clear.
Spiraling and panic would have been the correct course of action.
18
The Laws of Physics Always Apply
Leo
I CAN’T FUCKING sit still. Why in the hell is this light taking so damn long to turn green?
I’ve managed to hold my shit together for two days, but now that Maddie’s less than twenty minutes away, I’m ready to peel my skin off waiting to get to her. To make sure she’s okay. To confirm I didn’t make a huge mistake leaving her behind.
“Maddie said she was fine.” Gavin’s been reassuring me the whole day. From the second we woke up in the hotel, to anytime we passed on the pitch during our match, down to the plane ride home, he’s continued reminding me Maddie’s safe.
I’m just not sure I can believe him until I see it for myself.
“She didn’t sound right.” I rake a hand through my hair, resisting the urge to pull it out. “She said everything was fine, but I could tell something’s wrong.”
Is she upset I left? Worried about Drake? I don’t fucking know, but something’s not right with her. “I just want to get to her and make sure she’s good.” I lean to look at the GPS display of ourpath to my sister’s apartment. “Why does it say it’s gonna take so long?”
Gavin shrugs. “Fucking traffic, man.”
My best friend and I took the earliest flight home possible. The team isn’t scheduled to come back until tomorrow, but I couldn’t stand the thought of being gone another night. Not with things the way they are with Drake.
Gavin—being the good friend he is—offered to come along. And thank God he did, because I’m ready to lose my shit.
And I don’t really know why.
Maddie’s with my sister. They’re in a building you need a passcode to get into. There’s no way for Drake to get to her.
But something’s wrong. I can feel it more and more with each passing second.
As we pass an exit, Gavin looks longingly at the line of fast-food places staggered down the road. “I’m guessing you don’t want to stop for food.”
Has he lost it? “No, I don’t want to fucking stop for food.”
Gavin turns back to the road. “Got it.”
The rest of the drive is silent. I feel bad for being such a pain in the ass, but I don’t know how to explain my unbearable need to get to Maddie. I also don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do about it if this keeps up. I have to travel. There’s no way around it, unless I want to quit playing.
That thought makes my stomach churn just as much as asking Maddie to quit her own job. The unfairness of what she’s been left to deal with and suffer through is unbelievable. The reach ofa situation like the one she’s in because of Drake is substantial and long-lasting.
