CHAMPION

Chapter 23

 "Hey, you good?" Anthony questioned shuffling to a stop next to her , "Yea- No not really," Erika confessed looking away, she could have lied like usual, but her and Anthony were friends, despite everything, they did end up talking a lot, and even staying in an apartment together at some point, and what did she have to lose? Maybe talking would help..

"Wanna talk?" Anthony suggested, Erika looked at him for a while, fighting in her mind about how much she wanted to talk about...

"Its Jake," Erika confessed sadly, "I figured," Anthony said, it was a knowing way, but he didn't sound like he was mocking her for it like everyone usually did, "What happened?" He asked, Erika shifted where she stood awkwardly, gripping into her inward pocket, "Things were going great coming home...But- I don't know if I should tell you..." Erika said turning away.

Anthony grabbed her arm pulling her back gently, "I won't tell anyone, it stays between us," Anthony promised, "Why? Why are you even asking this much? Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?" Erika gently teased, "Eh," Anthony shrugged, "I'm just trying to help, you don't talk to Tessa anymore, you Nick have a little beef, your all alone at night," Anthony said shrugging again, Erika smiled a little, she gave him a hug surprising him, but he hugged her back " Thanks Tony," She whispered.

When they parted, Erika felt a little more ready to speak, she needed to talk to someone right then, she loved Jake, but it wasn't easy keeping everything to herself...The two made their way to a bench further off in the big snowy yard, they racked some of the stuff off, before sitting together, under the stars and light snow falling now.

"So like I said, things were going fine, until I saw Jake smoking, like one of those thick cigar things? I don't know if it's weed or what, but Jake's had a issue with this before, I was upset, I wanted to help, I was mad he hasn't said anything - I don't know ," Erika mumbled, Anthony rubbed her shoulder trying to calm her down, just listening as she spoke it all out. "Its just frustrating, I love Jake, but it's hard keeping up especially when he shuts me out, things got loud, and I was just done I guess..." Erika confessed sighing .

"Should I have stayed?" Erika asked pouting, "For our safety- yes, But for you, you did what you needed to, if you stayed and got hurt that would have been bad, and if Jake cares about you like how he acts like he does, he would have been miserable hurting you, it's best someone walked away," Anthony explained.

Erika laid her head on his shoulder sighing, "Do you think he's looking for me?" Erika questioned softly, "Can't say, Jake's a wild card" Anthony answered honestly, making Erika frown, "I do know, you did a lot for this trip, whatever else Jake's dealing with, you gotta decide if you wanna be part of it or not, but don't torture yourself," He said calmly, "I just want to relax for a while, feel relaxed and in control..." Erika said sitting up again looking at Anthony who glanced over at her, "You want a break from Jake?" He questioned , "I don't know, Jake's my husband, I like being around him, but it's not always easy..." Erika admitted, "You sound like us," Anthony chuckled, "I just don't know what to do..." Erika sighed again.

"Do what you want, take control, your life doesn't need to all surround Jake," Anthony reminded her, Erika looked at him, keeping eye contact for a while, and with sudden ease, she leaned up kissing Anthony, a soft, warm kiss on his lips, very contrast to the weather around them.

Anthony, despite his relaxed demeanor, he got shocked at what Erika had just done, he was about to reach for her, but a image of Jake went through he head, and he softly had to pull away, giving Erika a "What have you done" stare as fear of what Jake would have done to him washed over his body, the warmth of the kiss, suddenly became an overwhelming panic....

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