Page 43 of Famous Last Words (New York Thunder #1)
CHAPTER 43
FRAN
A s I pace the waiting area, chewing on my nails, it occurs to me that I’ve never been inside a police station before.This feels like a big deal.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, my eyes meet with those of the strung-out woman sitting cuffed on one of the plastic chairs, and she hisses at me. Hisses . Like an actual snake. I quickly avert my gaze to the floor because I really don’t want her to start yelling at me again. When I first ran into the station, she started screaming at me while I waited at the front desk. I thought she was screaming at someone else. But then I realized there was no one else around. She started ranting, telling me I owed her fifty bucks despite the fact that I have never seen this woman before in my life. She quickly piped down when one of the officers came out and threatened to chuck her in the drunk tank. Why she isn’t already in there is beyond me.
Racking my brain, I’m not entirely sure what else I can do. I’ve never been in this situation before. I can’t help but feel like I’m not doing enough. Robbie is here, somewhere, and all I can do is watch the stairs and hope that Andy gets here so on because it seems I’m useless in a crisis.
“Fran!”
I spin around, relieved to see Andy hurrying up the stairs. And I swear, it’s like finding your mom after being lost in JCPenney as a kid.
“Are you okay?” He wraps an arm around me, concerned gaze flitting all about.
“Yeah, I’m fine. But no one will tell me where he is and—” I bite down on my bottom lip, considering my words. “There’s a video online.”
Andy’s eyes flare, brows knitting together as he processes what I’ve just told him. He unlocks his phone and taps something into it, the device suddenly coming to life with the shaky cell phone footage of Robbie launching at Tadd’s friend in the bar, tossing down onto the table.
Andy throws his head back, pinching the bridge of his nose. He takes a moment before looking at me and lowering his voice. “What happened?”
I explain how Tadd’s friend touched me and how Robbie saw what happened and lost his cool.
Andy leans in closer. “And the drugs?”
I shake my head, at a loss. “They were in Robbie’s coat pocket. I don’t know, he didn’t—” I stop, remembering back to when Robbie was kissing me by his car, how different he’d acted. He was persistent and cocky and kind of an asshole. And when he was speeding up West Street, I asked him to slow down, pleaded with him to stop so I could at least get out of the damn car. But it was like he was a different person. His face didn’t even look the same.
“Fran?” Andy presses, arching a brow. “You need to be honest with me.”
I rake my teeth over my bottom lip, hesitating. I know I need to tell him the truth; it’s in Robbie’s best interest. “He was acting really strange. I’ve never seen him like that.”
With a heavy exhale, A ndy drags a hand down over his face, looking at his phone.
“You Andy Hoffman?”
Andy and I swing around to find an unimpressed looking police officer standing in the open security door, a file in one hand and a cardboard coffee cup in the other.
“Yes,” Andy steps forward, “Andy Hoffman. Robbie Mason’s manager. His lawyer is on his way.”
I step forward too, paling in comparison because what the hell am I supposed to say? I’m Robbie Mason’s sort of fake, sort of real girlfriend? I almost roll my eyes at myself.
Thankfully Andy speaks for me, touching my shoulder. “This is Robbie’s girlfriend.” He glances at me. “Fran Keller.”
The cop holds the file up in the air in lieu of his hand. He waves the folder at me before nodding at Andy. “Only you.”
My shoulders sag in defeat once more.
“Why don’t you go home?” Andy suggests softly. “It’s late. And by the time Raymond gets here…” he trails off and shrugs.
“I’m staying,” I insist. “I’m not leaving him.”
Andy’s gaze flits between mine before he nods, a small smile tilting his lips. “Okay.”
I watch on as the officer leads Andy through the security door, the two of them disappearing. With a heavy sigh, I glance around, left alone with nothing but my own mind racking itself, accompanied by the sound of the handcuffed woman shouting the words to an ABBA song.
Vera: I beg your finest pardon?
Hannah: What do you mean he had drugs??
Vera: He didn’t seem high before you guys left.
Hannah: Are you ok?
Vera: What’s going on? Any update?
Hannah: Do you want me to come down there? Bring coffee? Snacks? Sanitizer?
I heave a sigh reading the group chat. It’s almost three a.m. and there’s still no word. Raymond, Robbie’s lawyer, arrived about an hour ago, carrying a briefcase and wearing a winter coat over a pair of flannel pajamas. He was escorted straight through, but there’s been no movement since.
Me: No, it’s okay. I’m fine. No news yet. I’ll keep you guys posted as soon as I hear anything.
Vera: Ok… have you seen the talk online?
Me: I saw a video. Someone in the bar must have filmed it.
Hannah: People are fucking snakes.
Vera: It’s all over TikTok.
With dread bubbling in the pit of my belly, I scroll to the app and search Robbie Mason. And, of course, the search result returns with video after video of that same footage. I click on the first one, holding my breath when I see the caption.
Hockey’s bad boy Robbie Mason loses his cool in NYC bar.
I watch on as Robbie throws that asshole down onto the table, causing glasses and bottles to go flying. It’s a snippet of what really happened, but it’s not good. It looks like Robbie started it, an unprovoked assault. And the comments ma ke it look even worse.
@User9037468820000: Asshole needs to be released from the league and never allowed to play again. What example is this setting for the kids who look up to him?
@RossSimpson79: Typical Robbie Mason behavior.
@HockeyFan773820: Wouldn’t expect anything less from the guy who broke his own teammate’s jaw.
@ThunderFan1988: We don’t want him!
@NYCThunder22: He looks crazed.
@LionsFanTom77: Probably strung out on drugs.
It’s taking all I have not to comment. I was there. I know what really happened. He was defending me. That asshole got what he deserved; he sexually assaulted me. But I know if I comment, it will only make things worse, so I close out of the app and stare up at the clock up on the wall, watching the seconds tick by so slow they may as well be going backwards.
I’m not sure how many minutes have passed. It could be two. It could be ninety. But when the door opens with a shrill beep, I’m ripped from my daze, my heart stopping when I see Andy walk out. When I notice he’s alone, worry consumes me, and I jump out of my chair, rushing toward him.
“What’s going on?” I ask, my eyes searching his. “Where is he?”
Andy releases a ragged breath, averting his gaze downwards and rubbing his stubbled chin.
“Andy?” I press.
With another hard exha le, he finally meets my eyes. “He doesn’t want to see you, Fran.”
I rear back almost as if he’s slapped me. Did I hear him right? Robbie doesn’t want to see me? What the hell did I do?
Staring at Andy, I try desperately to make sense of his words. But it’s impossible. I haven’t done anything wrong; why wouldn’t he want to see me? I shake my head. “What?”
Andy sighs, his shoulders falling as he seems to search for his words. “Look… don’t take it personally?—”
“Don’t take it personally ?” I snap.
Andy glances around at the people scattered about. Gently grabbing my elbow, he walks me over to a nook out of the way, next to the water cooler.
“He doesn’t want to see anyone right now,” Andy continues. “He’s not in a good place, he—” He looks around again, lowering his voice. “He’s been formally charged with possession and DUI.”
DUI? I gasp.
Andy confirms my unspoken question with a slow nod. “He tested positive for cocaine.”
I balk, searching Andy’s face. “But, h-he doesn’t…” I trail off because it suddenly makes sense. The crazed look in his eyes. The menacing grin he flashed me when I told him to slow down. He was high. Has Robbie been lying to me all this time?
“He’s maintaining his innocence, but—” Andy drags a hand down his weary face. “I mean, it’s not looking good.”
“You can’t give up on him, Andy,” I say quickly. “He can’t go through this again. He said it almost killed him last time.”
“Nobody is giving up on him, Fran.” Andy placates me, putting his hands on my shoulders and squeezing gently. “Look, I ordered a car to come take you home.” He steadies me with a knowing gaze. “Go home, get some rest and we’ll… we’ll deal with it tomorrow, okay?”
I nod, swallowing the lump of emotion in the back of my throat. I mean, no, it’s not okay. But what else can I possibly do?