Page 59 of Bad Run

Cam, devoid of his usual teasing tone, says, “She’s fine. But something is wrong.”

“What is it?” Nico asks. He looks visibly shaken.

Cam looks to the guys for guidance.

“Just show him,” Heath says.

Cam fiddles with the phone and plays the video for Nico, who takes one look and bats the phone away. “What the fuck, dude? I’m not into porn before games.”

“Guys, I think Romero needs context,” I add. It’s clear Nico has no clue what we’re trying to tell him.

“That isn’t porn; it’s a leaked sex tape of you,” Heath tells Nico, whose eyes bug out of his head.

“What the fuck? Let me see that.” He grabs the phone from Cam and presses Play.

The rest of the guys gather around Nico as I watch a variety of emotions flash across his face. Shock, fear, and then … rage.

“Okay, I know the woman. Her name is Alessia.” Nico runs his hands through his hair.

“Oh, the underwear model. Nice one, Romero,” Reed says.

“Wait, does the room look familiar to anyone else?” Blake asks.

Once Blake mentions the room, it clicks.

“Yes. The Seattle hotel,” I blurt.

Blake claps his hands. “Yes. Dude, weren’t we just there? Wait, you cheated on your girl while we were in Seattle?”

“No! Fuck no! And that’s not me!” Nico shouts, anger rolling off him in waves.

“The guy looks like you. Look at the tats.” Reed replays a part of the video and pauses it.

“I’ll give you that, but …” Nico stares at the phone, and I know the moment he’s put the pieces together.

“But what?” Cam asks.

“Well, for starters, I don’t let the women I fuck touch and kiss me. And they are never on top,” he admits.

The guys and I chuckle at that new bit of information.

“Well, shit. I didn’t know you were a kinky fucker.” Reed says what I think in my head and chuckles as he slaps Nico on the back.

Nico pushes him away. “Fuck off.”

“No judgment here. I have a few of my own proclivities but, my guy, the entire fucking internet thinks it’s you and that you cheated on your girl. Did you know she’s related to the most prominent medical family in the US?” By proclivities, Reed means no repeats and no brunettes.

I know way too much about his preferences than I’d like to admit. But that’s what happens when you spend most of your year playing and traveling with a group of guys.

“Maybe.” Nico seems oblivious to the details surrounding his girlfriend’s family.

Heath fills Nico in on some of the details and suggests he read the article himself.

Nico replays the video on his phone and tosses it to Cam. “Look at that guy’s neck and look at my neck.”

We all lean in to see as Cam expands the video. Cam freezes the video on the man. My eyes bounce between the screen and Nico.

It’s Heath who notices first. “The guy in the video has a tiger tattoo, and you have a lion. You know who this is, don’t you?”