The Heart Chaser by Gina Azzi
Luca
Ifeel it the second I step into the locker room. The way the joking around immediately stops, the awkwardness that hangs over the space like a joke gone wrong, the pity in my teammates’ eyes and faces as they both stare at me and avert their gazes.
“What’s going on?” I ask, nervousness zipping through me. I stopped by the trainers after practice but something definitely happened in the past fifteen minutes.
By the worried looks on my teammates’ faces and lack of conversation, it’s obvious that the something has to do with me. My unease flares to life as my thoughts take a nosedive.
Is Valentina in the hospital? Did Pop have another heart attack? Is Ricky deploying? How did my team learn about it before me?
I look around the space for Coach Phillips or someone from HR but it’s just the guys.
“What the hell happened?” I snap, my hands curling into fists. Adrenaline eats some of my fear, putting me on edge. Whoever it is, I can handle it is. Whatever it is, I’ll deal with it.
“It’s Abbi,” Austin says slowly.
Except that. The blood drains from my face and a fear I’ve never known spreads through my body, infects my bloodstream, cuts me off at the goddamn knees.
Abbi. My Abbi.
My chest aches and I press against it, as if checking that I’ve still got a heartbeat.
“What happened?” I murmur, my thoughts spiraling.
Is she sick? Was she in an accident? Is she in the hospital, needing me?
My gaze darts around the room, mentally willing one of the guys on the team to tell me what the fuck is going on so I can…do something. Something other than stand here in the worst goddamn limbo I’ve ever been in.
“Panda.” Easton shuffles forward, his eyes solemn. And fuck, if East is being serious, then it’s really bad.
“Is she okay?” I close my eyes.
“Yes,” Easton replies and my eyes fly open. “Physically, she’s fine.”
Physically? I frown, my eyebrows snapping together as I try to make sense of what he’s not saying.
Austin passes me his phone and I take it, suddenly scared to look at the screen. I know the moment I do, everything will be different. Changed.
Just this morning, I fixed Abbi a cup of coffee, left it on the end table, and kissed her temple goodbye before my morning run. I thought about how things in my life were finally looking up, how things were starting to click and make sense, how I could see my future.
I chuckle, the sound jarring in the somber atmosphere. Clearly, that was a mistake. Whatever is on Austin’s phone is going to change everything and I’m not sure I want to see it.
“All right, let’s give Panda a minute,” Noah says, clapping his hands together.
The guys all look away and throw themselves back into the task of getting dressed, pulling hoodies over their heads, tying the laces of their sneakers. They slam their locker doors and shoulder practice bags.
Not one of them looks at me as they shuffle out of the locker room. Austin holds the door open, exchanging words with the team that I don’t catch.
My heartbeat is too loud in my temples. Saliva floods my mouth, pooling as even swallowing seems difficult. What the hell is going on?
“You’re going to be okay,” Noah offers, smacking me on the back. “You want me to stick around?”
I shake my head. “No, no, I’m fine.”
“Let us know if you need anything,” Easton says, following his brother out of the locker room.
Silence descends. The only sound is a dripping faucet from the shower area and Cap’s and my breathing.
“How bad is it?” I ask my captain.
Austin leans against the closed locker room door, folding his arms over his chest. “It depends.”
“On?”
“How deep are you in with Abbi?”
Fuck. I glare at him, not sure if I want to swing at him or hug him. “I love her,” I say, no hesitation.
His eyes widen and he straightens against the door.
“Weren’t expecting that?” I ask, my tone harsh.
He shakes his head, rolling his lips together. “No. And I’m not sure if that makes it better or worse. Look, what’s on that—”
“Is she stepping out on me?” I ask, a thought I never considered popping out of my mouth. I wince, hating that I’m even doubting Abbi. But what other explanation fits these circumstances?
“No,” Austin’s voice doesn’t waver and I breathe out a sigh of relief. “She’s gonna need you, Panda.”
“She has me,” I swear.
Austin’s look is sympathetic, his blue eyes dark and severe as he studies me. He flips his chin and I raise his phone.
“Code is 8215,” he mutters.
I punch it in and the screen flares to life. I sit down on the bench, feeling like I just got the wind knocked out of me. Like a center plowed straight into me and pushed his stick against my throat.
Because my vision blurs and I suddenly feel like I can’t breathe.
I scroll down the screen, each image of Abbi in a different provocative pose. Her breasts on full display, her hand between her legs, her mouth parted. Wild eyes, sexy lingerie, just-fucked hair.
I toss the phone on the bench beside me and lean forward, dropping my head.
What the fuck? “Who sent you these?” I demand.
“They’re all over the internet.”
Oh, shit. Puzzle pieces snap together in my head, comprising a whole damn puzzle of information. “I’m going to fucking murder Phil Rickens.”
Austin nods in understanding.
“You knew?” I ask him. “About, about—” I glare at his phone.
“It’s why she wanted to relocate. To start fresh after things at her last job…well, you know what happened.”
“That’s why you helped her secure this position?”
“Yes.”
“And this is why you didn’t tell me?”
Austin looks ashamed but he owns it. “Yes.”
I shake my head. As much as I want to be angry with Austin, I can’t help but feel thankful for him instead. “Thanks for looking out for her, Cap.”
He frowns but nods at me. “Always.”
“No, I mean it. I’m pissed at you for not telling me but I get why you didn’t. You put Abbi first and that’s what I want for her. People having her back.”
“Check your phone. Did she call you?” he wonders aloud.
I move to my locker and pull open the door, snatching up my phone.
I wince when I see all the messages from my family.
“Shit,” I mutter, scanning them. “Seems these are making the rounds in Philadelphia too.”
Austin curses. “She’s linked to you so…”
I groan, dropping my head back. So of course her private pictures are fucking newsworthy. I’ve made this whole thing a million times worse for Abbi. It doesn’t matter that I’d do anything to protect her. Because of my career choice, she’s now being picked apart like a vulture, her naked photos circulating like a national phenomenon.
I keep scrolling, searching for her name. Disappointment kicks my stomach. “She didn’t message me. Or call.” I look at Austin.
“She’s probably mortified.”
“Yeah, well, she shouldn’t be alone.” I press her name and hold the phone up to my ear while it rings.
A second later, it cuts to voicemail.
“Her phone’s off,” I explain, frowning. Why didn’t she call me? Why didn’t she reach out to me?
“Chloe was going to pick her up from work,” Austin says.
I nod, feeling a bit better that she’s with Chloe and not off on her own somewhere. Still, I hate the fact that she ran to her friend first. Doesn’t she know how much I care about her? Doesn’t she realize how much I feel for her? That I’m always here for her?
“She had a really hard time after everything unfolded in New Jersey,” Austin says and I narrow my eyes at him. While a part of me hates that he seems to know more about her experience there than I do, a part of me also wants to know everything he knows. So, I keep my mouth clamped closed and focus on Austin. “Phil did a number on her. And he came after Kent so…”
“Double whammy.”
“Yeah.” Austin cringes and walks toward me. “Look, I know things that Chloe told me in confidence. Right now, you need to be there for Abbi.”
“I’m right here.” I shake my phone at him, defensive as fuck.
“It’s hard for her to trust. From what I gather, she trusts you, Panda. This is going to be hard for her and as angry as you are—” He holds up a hand as soon as I open my mouth. “Come on, how the fuck could you not be angry?”
I tip my head in acknowledgement.
“She needs you,” he says.
“Do you know where they are?” I ask, hating how uncertain I suddenly feel when this morning, I would have sworn up and down that Abbi and I are a sure thing.
Then why didn’t she call me? Why doesn’t she need me? Or want me to help her through this?
Austin checks his phone. “Jolene’s.”
“Let’s go.”
“Want to head over together?” Austin asks and I glance at him, knowing he’s toeing a thin line between being my friend and keeping Chloe’s confidence.
“Sure,” I accept.
“Come on, let’s go get our girls.”
I stand from the bench. “Let me shower and change really fast.”
“Take your time. I’m sure they’re not going anywhere. It’s two-for-one margaritas today.”
I groan, wondering what the hell I’m walking into.