h soon, Edwin ended the call. He looked up to find Lan

ot a lot to deal with,

k onto his shoulders. "I don't even know where to start. My

the plan. You should go get freshened up – there's a bathroom

washed over him for this unexpected ally. Whate

ore human. Lance had left a pile of clothes outside the bathroom door – a soft t-s

asked as Edwin made his w

aging a weak smile

we get something to ea

reminding him that he hadn't eaten since... when

hich he'd left on the coffee table. The screen was lit up with notifications

dealing with those," he said gently. "I know it's not go

right. "Yeah, I know. I just... I

tting a plate of sandwiches on the table. "Eat something

od by him through every up and down of his career, was lying in a hospital bed, unaware of t

ital," Edwin said sudden

ngly. "That sounds like

is phone. As he dialed the hospital's numb

u, Kim. Somehow, I'll

o face the flood of messages and the uncertain future that lay ah

*****

ng just ended a call to the hospital about Kimberly, Edwin prepared himself for an even more daunting conversation. He took a deep breath, his eyes lingeri

rang. The quarterback excused himself, ste

fiancée picked up, but he was immedi

ame out in a rush, choked with tears. "Sleeping with another woman? And hurting

listen to me," he said, trying to keep his own voice steady. "Non

saying... th

you know me. You know us. I love you. I would never do anythi

a's muffled sobs. "I want to believe you, Ed

through this. We'll get through it together,

lm Laura down. As he ended the call, he felt emotionally drain

remote and flicked on the television. Im

wood star Edwin Kasper

dwin Kasper take

ns surface against b

ances were interspersed with speculation about the alleged assault. Reporters stood outside hi

in muttered, running a

finished. He took in the scene – Edwin's tense posture, the fla

Lance asked, settling ont

d on the screen. "I don't know. It's all s

uilty," Lance finished

o look at Lance. "Exactly. And the worst part is, I still

he could speak, Edwin's phone buzzed again, Marcus Goldstein's

rcus

he press is having a field day, and your

ng more depression washing ov

hing tomorrow morning. Give an official statement, show that you're

e knew Marcus was right. "Okay," he agreed. "Tomorrow morning. But

it out, Edwin. We always do. For now, just... try to get some r

ance. "I hope you don't mind, but I need

tandingly. "Of cours

osed against mugshot-like photos from earlier that day. The difference was crystal clear– the polished,

ng so fast?" Edwin whispered,

. "I don't know, man. But listen, whatever happened – or didn't happen – you can't let them cr

he screen, he couldn't shake the gnawing doubt in his gut. What if he couldn't remember his trut

circus that awaited him. But in the back of his mind, a small voic