“But let’s be real,” Chance said, grinning. “You still gonna get your ass beat in this game, retirement or not.”
“Nigga, please—”
My phone rang from the sideline. I ignored it and kept playing. It rang again.
“You gonna get that?” Giveon asked.
“Nah, I’m good. Probably just—”
It rang a third time.
Something in my gut tightened. Halo knew I was hoopin' with the boys today. She wouldn’t call three times unless—
I jogged over and grabbed my phone. Unknown number, but the area code was local.
“Hello?”
“Is this DaVinci Bryns?”
“Yeah, who’s this?”
“This is Nurse Chen from St. Ambrose Memorial Hospital. I’m calling about Halima Grant. She was brought in about twenty minutes ago—”
My heart stopped, and everything inside me dropped so fast it felt like the floor disappeared under me.
“What happened? Is she okay? What—”
“She collapsed at work. Her crew brought her in. She’s stable now, but we’re running tests. She listed you as her emergency contact. I hope we didn’t disturb you.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Come to the emergency department, we’re expecting you.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
I hung up and took off out of the gym and grabbed my keys, my hands shaking. My mind was everywhere. My heart was thumping, my ears ringing. My body was riddled with anxiety. What the fuck happened?
“D, what’s wrong?” Malik was at my side immediately.
“It’s Halo. She collapsed at work. They took her to the hospital. I gotta get to her asap.”
“Let’s go. I’ll drive.”
“Nah, I got it—”
“Bro, you’re shaking. And Halo’s family to me. Let me drive.”
I looked down at my hands. He was right. I couldn’t drive like this, not without getting a ticket and playing bumper cars with people on the road.
“Okay. Yeah. Let’s go.”
We ran to Malik’s car, and he peeled out of the driveway. I texted Langston to let him know we’d need a ride later. Malik called Sametra to let her know, and he also made some calls to find out who her doctor was. It was Dr. Glover Israel. Malik said I had nothing to worry about, and I appreciated him for trying to ease my mind, but nothing would make me feel better until I saw Halo.
Silence filled the car, and I used that time to call Omni; her phone went to voicemail, so I called back. I don’t know why I was calling her instead of my momma, but Omni loved Halo; she’d want to know.
“DaVinci, what’s going on?”
“Halo’s in the hospital. St. Ambrose. She collapsed at work.”
