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It’s not until I’ve walked through the apartment, looking for him, that I understand what he meant when he told me he didn’t want to say goodbye.
He’s gone.
***
“Take a deep breath,” Corey says over the phone. “Did you try calling him?”
“Of course I did! He won’t reply.”
“How about going around his place? I can come with you.”
“I don’t know.” I’m pacing a furrow into my living room carpet. “God, he didn’t want to say goodbye, Corey.”
“I know,” he says gently. “For some people it’s hard.”
“But he promised he will come back, so why—?” I swallow back tears. “He doesn’t believe he’ll come back, does he?”
“One never knows with these things, right? Even if he does all he can, a bit part is up to chance.”
Christ.
“I don’t know what to do,” I confess, dropping on my sofa. “I’m terrified he’ll die there and I won’t ever see him again.”
“And in that same fatalistic vein, darling,” Corey drawls, “he could be hit by a truck while crossing the street and you wouldn’t see him again. How’s that different?”
“Corey!” I smack my hand on the sofa cushions. “It’s not the same and you know it. He’s going to be in a deadly fight. With no legal protection. No boundaries. The chances of getting a fatal injury are far more than…” I choke. “God.”
“Not sure about that.” Corey sounds thoughtful. “You said Riot fought this Crusher guy once, and he obviously survived to tell the tale.”
“But Crusher killed Markus!”
“Yeah, but Riot isn’t Markus, sweet pea. Think about it. Riot faced Crusher once, and hit his head and lost the game. His boss decided to put him back in the ring with this Crusher dude soon after. His boss thought Riot could take Crusher down. Why can’t you?”
I wipe my sweaty hand down my leg. “Do you believe that, Corey? You’re not saying it just to make me feel better? ”
“I think it makes sense. Of course, Riot’s been out of the game for two years and—”
“Stop. Don’t make me change my mind again.”
“Sorry, darling.” Corey is quiet for a few beats. “You know I can hear cogs turning in that sharp little brain of yours, right? What are you up to?”
“Nothing.”
“You can’t lie to me, Paxtyn Pauline Page.”
“I’m not up to anything.”
I don’t even have a plan. Which sucks.
“He’ll do fine. If I was in his place, I’d want my girlfriend to think I can do it.”
“But that won’t help, Corey. How can that help?”
“Trust me,” he says. “And trust him.”
***
“Mrs. Ellen Morris?” My heart is racing like a train with broken brakes. “This is Paxtyn Page speaking.”
