I frown. “Why are you saying hello? You called me.”
“Oh, hi,” she says, like she can’t even hear me. “Wait, slow down, is everything okay?”
“Dude, what’s happening?” Luke asks.
I shrug. “No idea. It’s Pippa, but I can’t understand her.”
“I’ll just be a second!” Pippa says in my ear.
“What the fuck, Pips?” I plug my other finger in my ear and walk toward the bar. The guys are still chatting about the game. Maybe if I can hear her better, I can figure out what’s happening.
“I’m on a date right now, but of course I can come!” she says. Then, in a muffled voice, I hear her saying to someone else, “I’m so sorry. That’s my best friend. She just broke up with her fiancé, and she’s having a tough time.”
“Really?” a low masculine voice says. My stomach drops as I put the pieces together. She called because she was trying to get away from her date. Something’s definitely wrong, because if he was just a jerk, Pippa would have no problem telling him right to his face. She’s fearless in that way. The fact that she’s faking an emergency tells me she’s scared of him.
“Pippa, is everything alright?” I ask intently. “Where are you?”
“The restaurant’s only fifteen minutes away. I can get there soon,” she says.
Her date clears his throat. “Wait, you’re leaving?”
“I’m so sorry to do this, but she’s breaking down,” Pippa says. “She says she really needs me.”
“Can’t it wait till later?” he growls.
“I don’t think so. She’sreallyupset.”
There’s a pause. “Are you lying to me?”
“Why would I be lying?” Pippa’s voice sounds a little shaky, but the sound quality on the call isn’t good enough for me to tell if she’s scared, or just confused. Fuck—I tap my foot, wishing I could see what was happening.
“Are you okay?” I ask. “Do you need me to come get you?”
There’s a muffled noise, then the call ends. Shit. I call her back immediately, but the phone just keeps ringing.
“Hey man, is everything okay?” Beau asks.
I ignore him, cursing under my breath as I dial her number again. Still no answer.
“Pippa’s on a date, and I think it’s going bad,” I mutter.
“Where’s the date?”
“Some restaurant.” I drag my fingers through my hair and pull up her location. She’s not far away. It might be faster for me to run down and check on her than to wait for her to call me back. Fuck it. I shoot her a text.
Ryan
Stay there. I’m coming to get you.
“You’ll have to play without me, guys,” I shout as I jog over to the elevator. “I’m going to go check on her.”
“Yeah, man,” Luke says.
“Text us when you know she’s okay?” Beau adds.
“I will,” I promise, shoving my way onto the elevator when the doors open. Maybe I’m overreacting, but I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to her.
20
