It will, I know it will, and when it does I’ll be there cheering him on.
* * *
My dialysis came and went hours ago. I haven’t heard from Mac since this morning, and now it’s creeping up on nine-thirty at night. Annie’s laying in bed with me while we watch Austin run up the bleachers and kiss Sam right as the drought ends. This has been my favorite movie since I first watched it with Mama and Annie not long after I was adopted. I let the tears fall freely because I always cry watching this, so it looks like it’s just the movie, but really it’s that I don’t know where he is.
Is he okay? Hurt? Did he change his mind? I told him I was a lot, and he’s now creeping up on almost five months sober. He might have finally realized what I’ve known all along. That he deserves so much better than what I’m capable of giving him. I don’t realize that sobs are wracking my body until my little sister pulls me into her arms and holds me while I cry.
I don’t want to lose him. It’s so selfish of me, but I can’t go back to who we were a year ago.
“Shhh, it’s okay Lee. It’s okay.” Annie whispers as she strokes my hair gently.
“He said he’d be here before my dialysis, Annie. That was at ten this morning. He’s damn near twelve hours late. He’s left for good.” I choke out the last sentence on a sob. I may be being dramatic, but I’ve had to let him go twice, and both times almost killed me. They say the third time’s the charm.
“He hasn’t left for good. There’s no way he willingly leaves you. The only time he’s ever done that was to get himself healthy for his and your future.”
The heavy hospital door opens and one of the Byrne twins walks in. He nods at Annie and she stiffens instantly. What the hell? I can’t tell them apart, but it’s clear she can, and whoever this is isn’t her favorite.”
“Flynn.” Annie says sitting up in the bed.
“Anneliese.” He nods in acknowledgment before turning his attention solely on me.
“Lee, can I talk to you for a minute?” He flicks his eyes over to my sister, then back to me. “Alone.”
She bristles beside me, but I agree, “Yeah, Annie was just going to call my parents. Weren’t you, Annie?”
She grumbles but gets off the bed. I don’t miss the way Flynn discreetly checks her out as she walks by him. Even in leggings and a cropped hoodie with no makeup, my sister is stunning. Once the door shuts behind her, he turns back to me.
“Okay, out with it. Where is he? Why hasn’t anyone reached out to me before now?” The anger in my voice is palpable.
“He’s out of town.” Flynn answers vaguely. “I’m here tohang out until he can get back.” He sits in the hospital recliner and props his feet up.
“Where? And that still doesn’t explain why he didn’t tell me this himself.” I’m getting irritated. I know it isn’t Flynn’s fault. I’m tired. I want to go home, and I want Mac to hold me through the night.
“He can’t, Lee. I swear he’s broken up about this, but he’s following his boss’s orders. That’s why I’m here. He’d only agree to go if Sul and I swapped between here and the house where Clara and Nix are. He’s arranged for you to come back to the big house when you’re discharged. He’ll be back in a few days.” Flynn seems stressed, and I kind of feel bad for him, but not Mac.
Fuck him. I’m not doing what he tells me to.
“I’ll be going to my home when I’m discharged.” I say with my chin lifted.
“Come on, please don’t do this to me.” He practically pleads. “I don’t want him taking this to the gym when he gets home. He trains with Kieran, and my body takes enough of a beating on the ice already.” He pouts.
Pouts!
This six foot four hockey playing grown man has his bottom lip jutted out, and his blue/green eyes look so sad. He’s giving me a full puppy dog look. I want to laugh at the pure ridiculousness of this, but I’m too upset with Mac to do more than offer a small quirk of my lips.
“I’ll tell you what, Baby Byrne, get me on the phone with one of the oldest two and we have a deal.”
He grumbles about the nickname and how he’s going to catch an earful for this. However, he still fishes out his phone and presses some buttons before putting the device to his ear.
“Boss, she won’t do anything until she talks—” He’s clearly cut off as he listens to what I can only assume is Rowan.
“No, I know.” He listens for a few seconds before cutting back in. “No, she knows that. She doesn’t—” He stops for a second before getting aggravated, “Boss, she wants to talk to you!” He whisper-shouts. “Well, if you would have let me finish my—. Yeah, I got you. One second.”
He holds the phone out to me, and I take it. Flynn excuses himself and leaves the room so I have some privacy.
“Hello?” I ask cautiously.
“Lelonie. How can I help you?” Rowan’s voice is void of emotion. I know he’s a ruthless killer, but hearing the no nonsense mob boss tone coming down the line directed at me reminds me of who I’m talking to.
