Page 119 of Hard to Hold

Me: It’s worth a shot.

Lennox: I can’t get hold of Rory. Has he texted you?

Me: No. He’s not answering me. I’ll try him again.

Lennox: Thanks. Are you okay?

Me: Yes. No. I don’t fucking know.

Lennox: Understandable. We’ll get this straightened out. Text me once you get home.

Me: Will do.

I look at Lennox’s text from a few hours ago and then I scroll past what feels like a hundred other ones—teammates, Finn, journalists who’ve gotten my mobile number over time—and cringe when I come to the ten I sent Rory to find them unanswered.

At first, I hoped it was shitty phone service on the plane. But considering I just received yet another text from an unknown phone number, I know my service is working.

I know Rory received my texts.

Worry rifles through me over his emotional stability.

Will this push him over the edge? That the woman he loves was beaten—again—and the fucker who did it is placing the blame on me?

She’s not safe. His heart must be breaking.

But there’s nothing I can do about it now.

I’m stuck on a plane.

So I just sit and wait.

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

LENNOX

MY PHONE STARTLES THE HELL out of me. When I look at its screen, as I fumble with bringing it to my ear, it says that it’s two o’clock in the morning.

“Chase? What in the hell are you doing up right now?”

“Turn on the television. Or computer. I mean computer. Go to ESPN or Sky News online . . . just go.”

I jump out of bed. “What am I looking for?”

“A press conference. Rory Matheson. Holy shit.”

My fingers miss-hit keys as I search as fast as I can to find a live stream. And when I do, I gasp. Standing in front of a sea of cameras is Rory Matheson, the always-on-the-bubble Liverpool defenseman. He’s dressed in what I think is his attempt to look as similar to Rush as possible.

And he does.

I notice it in the first few moments, but it’s his words that hold every second of my attention.

“Thank you for coming here today. I’m sure you’re wondering what a mediocre player like me is doing holding a press conference about the current situation at Liverpool FC regarding the allegations made about Rush McKenzie by Seth Haskins. I’m here to tell the truth.”

There is a shuffling among the reporters as flashes go off, and I’m sure some of them are looking at each other like what the hell is going on?

Me, on the other hand? I’m sitting in my bed with my laptop, waiting with bated breath.

“Do you know what this is?” Chase asks in my ear.