Forrest knew he should be calling his friend and letting him know, but Chrissie had a point. With his current mental state, he would go into overdrive and withdraw again, taking Chrissie with him. If he was getting better, this would reverse it all. Sighing, he nodded.
“Okay. But you do need to tell him.”
“I know. Let me deal with Drake first before I tell him.” Chrissie frowned. “I wish he would leave me alone. Has the guy never heard the word ‘no’ before?”
“Probably not. Especially not from women.” Forrest peered at her. “I’m just confused as to why he’s focused on you. It’s quite intense.”
“I don’t really know, either. Maybe he sees me as something he can’t have and he enjoys the chase?” Chrissie sighed. “I just wish he would listen. I’m going to be screaming until I’m hoarse.”
“At least you don’t have to deal with him at training. I heard Rhys is to be his physio after that day you screamed at him.”
“That’s meant to be the case, but I doubt it will work. Drake’s really intense. He keeps sending me flowers and chocolates, leaving me notes everywhere, and until I blocked him he was texting me things that would make anyone blush.”
“He’s been doing what?”
“I’ve told him it’s inappropriate, and I’m certainly not accepting what he gives me, and he just won’t give us.”
Forrest had heard of some ridiculous things in the past, and to an outsider it would sound as if Drake had a crush on Chrissie and was attempting to woo her. But Forrest knew him, and knew how mean the quarterback got. Women fell over themselves for an idea of him, but the reality was far from what they wanted. Chrissie certainly hadn’t fallen for it, and Drake saw her as someone to conquer.
Forrest wished he could put his hands on Forrest and rip him to pieces. Nobody put their hands on his girl.
Wait a minute. Your girl? She’s not going to be your girl. Now you sound like Drake.
“We just need to turn left here,” Chrissie said as they reached an intersection. “Rita’s apartment is above a Chinese. It stinks in there in the evenings, but it’s cozy enough.”
“She lives that close?”
“Rita’s a party girl. The closer to her favorite bars without having to pay for a cab all the time, the better.”
Forrest chuckled. He couldn’t argue with that logic. He glanced back down the street, expecting to see the other party goers out and about and no Drake in sight. But then he saw him, walking down the street towards them. He was keeping his distance, moving to try and hide behind a group of guys stumbling along and singing very loudly and badly. But Forrest could see him, and his focus was on them.
Walking to Rita’s apartment was going to be a disaster. Drake would know where she was, and Forrest wasn’t about to leave her there alone. He got out his cell phone and brought up the taxi app.
“Change of plans. We’re going to my plan.”
“What?” Chrissie’s mouth fell open. “Why?”
“Because Drake isn’t too far away, and he’ll easily follow us to Rita’s apartment. I’m getting a cab so we can get away quicker.”
Chrissie’s face paled. She looked back, and Forrest felt her tremble.
“That bastard. Why can’t he leave me alone?”
“We’ll deal with that in the morning when we get into work. Right now, it’s best to go somewhere he can’t follow us.”
“But what if he does follow us?”
Forrest grunted.
“On my turf? He can try, but he knows he’ll lose his job attacking a coach. You stay with me, you should be safe.”
He should be sending her home and they could come up with an excuse as to why. But instead, he was taking her with him.
He was going to hell for this.
Chapter Three
Chrissie had not expected this at all. She was going to Forrest Brown’s home? She had known him a long time, but she had never been to his place. Part of her wanted to say that she would just go home, and she would let Rita know when she was back.