Language of Love

Chapter 32 - Bizo

Abi was woken by her phone alert pinging. Groggily, she reached for it, knocked it on the floor and rummaged around a bit before finding it and seeing Joe had sent a series of photos through.

The photos showed Troy downing shots, leaning on his friend Jasper's shoulder, a short video of him singing blearily as they staggered up the beach back to their hotel and then a final one of him passed out fully clothed on a hotel sofa.

Joe
He's still sleeping it off. As are the others. I'm the only early morning surfer today.x

Abi flicked through the photos once more, smiling fondly. Then she threw on some clothes and grabbed her gym bag. Her phone began to ping with alerts as she jogged and she smiled, wondering which of the photos Joe had posted to Insta.

Whippet was waiting at the entrance to the gym, glancing at his phone with a frown on his face.
"Morning Whip." She chirped.
"Abi." Whippet stuffed his phone in his pocket and glanced at her warily, then sighed at her look of mild confusion and ushered her inside.
"You never call me Abi. What's going on?" She queried as he directed her away from the changing rooms to an empty office.

His frown deepened as he pulled the door closed.
"You've not seen Insta this morning?" He asked and almost reluctantly handed her his phone.
She took it and read the Insta hash tag
#bizoisover
Above was a picture of Troy on a dance floor with a brunette girl pressed close to him. His hand on her waist. Bondirescue, her and Troy had been tagged in it. The pings she had heard were from the comments that continued to pour in.

Weirdly, her first thought was that she hadn't realised the fans had given them a ship name. Then she found herself just staring at the photo. Taking in the girl pressed so close to him. Him touching her. Then noticing the tension in his body. 

She could feel Whippet hovering awkwardly beside her. He was, she realised, bristling with anger.
"I thought it was bros before hoes?" She asked him, her voice calm and eyebrow raised a little as she looked at the man beside her.
"You're like a little sister to me Abi. If he's done what it looks like I'll castrate the fucking dingo."
"He phoned me last night, he was really really drunk."
"That's no excuse Bambi." Whippet interrupted.
"I'm not saying it is. I'm saying I don't think he was capable of cheating on me." She took out her phone and found Joe's photos before passing it to Whippet.
"Just means he couldn't fuck her, he could still cheat." Whippet practically growled.
"You're not helping Whip!" Abi exclaimed. "Just stop and think. I dont think this photo is what it looks like at first glance. How many times have you had some drunk girl throw herself at you? Have you cheated on Gina?"
Whippet took a calming breath as he shook his head in response to her last question.
"How are you so level-headed about this?"
"I trust him. I want an explanation from him but until then I'm choosing to trust him. Now, what I need is to not think about this until later."
"That I can help with. I think we need to use the punch bags today." Whippet replied as he opened the office door and pulled her into a comforting side hug.

Abi changed slowly, trying to fight the doubts in her head. He had been really drunk. What if that photo was of him cheating on her?! What if he'd kissed her?! She wiped a tear from her eye and shook herself before heading out to join Whippet.

Both of them abused the punch bags for most of the session. Abi eventually slumped down the wall, sweating and arms aching. Whippet stood over her.
"Let me treat you to brekkie?" He asked. "My shift at Bronte doesn't start until 11."
He offered his hand and pulled her to her feet.

After showering and changing Abi looked at her phone. The alerts were still going mad and there were missed calls from Caitlinn, Sam and Maxi. Nothing from Troy.
Abi found herself phoning Maxi as she left the changing room then hanging up when she found him leaning on the wall, alongside Whippet, waiting for her.

Pushing off from the wall Maxi swept her into a tight hug.
"He wouldn't cheat on ya Bambs. He's crazy about ya." He said. For some reason that confident reassurance was what made Abi cry.
Maxi just hugged her tighter.
"He phone yet?" Whippet grunted, clearly still angry.
Abi pulled back from Maxi's hug and shook her head.
"He'll be sleeping off the alcohol."
"I'll phone him." Whippet growled and stomped off out of the gym before Abi could stop him.
"I thought he'd calmed down a bit. What's set him off again?"
Maxi pulled out his phone and turned it to face Abi as he spoke.
"The tabloes have used the photo for a gossip story. There's paps on the promenade hoping to catch your reaction." Then he looked awkward. "Part of it suggests he cheated on you cause you're getting too close to me. They used Chaps photo from the other night."
"Well, that's ridiculous!" Abi exclaimed.
"It's gossip like that sells papers though. Bambs I really don't think he's cheated on you. Girls throw themselves at us all the time."
"I told Whip that. I trust him Maxi, but I've still got what if's running through my head."

Whippet suddenly returned looking sheepish.
"I woke him. Laid into him good then realised there were fucking paps out there listening in. Shit Abi, sorry. I probably made it worse. Hung up before I could let him explain."

Abi's phone rang and Troy's name and image lit up the screen. Whippet directed her to the empty office from earlier and both men positioned themselves outside the door. She answered the phone, her hand shaking.
"Hey Abs." Troy's voice was still rough from sleep and laced with worry. "Whip just rang, woke me and ripped me a new one. I've just looked at the photo. I promise nothing happened. She threw herself at me on the dance floor. I backed off but she followed. Told her I had a girlfriend and still had to push her away. I wasn't even that drunk at that point."
There was silence from both ends of the phone for a moment.
"Abi?" Troy's voice was quiet and desperate.
"I believe you Troy. It's just it's all over the gossip papers and it's really shaken me. There are paparazzi outside the gym. They're suggesting Maxi and I have a thing and he came down here to check on me so now they'll snap us leaving and they heard Whip yelling at you on the phone. It's all just a mess."
"Abs. I love you. Okay, I love you. I'd never risk losing you over some rando in a club. And I know you and Maxi have gotten close. I love that one of my best mates is becoming one of your best mates. I'm sorry the papers have blown this all up."
"I love you too." Abi said with a little catch in her voice.
"Babe." Troy said softly as Abi sniffled. "Shit. Just wanna hug you."
"I really want that too."
"Go claim a hug from Maxi and Whippet and walk out of that gym with your head high. And Abi....if I ever did hurt you like that then tell Whip he'd have to join the queue to castrate me behind my parents and yours."
Abi sputtered out a laugh.
"I love you Troy."
"Love you too Abs. More than anything yeah."
"Yeah." She responded.
Silence descended again.
"I can get an early flight back?"
"No Troy, don't cut your holiday short because of this. It'll only add to the gossip."
"I don't care what the papers think. Just care about how you feel."
"Stay, enjoy Bali."
"Mmmm....Okay....I should go. Abs, you're my forever. Don't forget that."
He hung up before she could respond.

Two concerned faces turned towards her as she stepped out of the office.
"She tried it on and he pushed her away. Just a drunk fangirl. Whip, he says you can join the queue to castrate him if he ever does cheat."
Whippet snorted a relieved laugh, then reached forward and gently wiped the tears from her face.
"That doesn't solve the paparazzi problem though sweetheart. How d'ya wanna deal with that?"
"You offered to take me to breakfast. I say we go to breakfast. Let them take their photos. I'm going to put something on Insta in a bit."
"Want me to disappear?" Asked Maxi.
"No! Maxi, you're my friend. I know that, Troy knows that. Join us for breakfast?"
Maxi slung his arm over her shoulder.
"Let's give them something to gossip about." He crowed. Abi jabbed him in the side with her elbow. He winced and dropped his arm from her shoulders.
"Ouch! And I thought Maxbi would make such a good ship name." He said dramatically, holding his hands over his heart.
Whippet rolled his eyes and slung his arm over Abi's shoulders.
"Ready?" He asked.
Abi swallowed down her nerves and nodded. Together the 3 of them strode out of the gym.