“It’s our job, Mr. Summers. And we’re so sorry about what happened. We all hope you recover real quick.” She assisted me to the chair by my bedside, and I sank into it. Amazing how I could be on the field playing one of the roughest sports out there, but today I was tired from walking across the room.
“Thank you.” After she left, I pointed at my mother. “I need to make sure Hugo has my phone. There are people I have to contact.”
“The doctor said you have to rest.”
Her audacity was breathtaking. “Listen, Mother. It’s nice that you popped up and remembered I existed. I put you down mainly as a joke to myself, figuring if anything ever did happen to me, you’d remember you had a son. I should’ve changed that emergency contact years ago. The one thing you won’t do is keep me from the people in my life who mean something to me. First thing is, I’m not coming to stay at the house with you.”
Her jaw set tight. “You’re being foolish. The doctor said—”
“Screw the doctors. I’m going home to rest there. In case you don’t realize it, I’ve been on my own since I left for college, and you basically ignored my existence unless it was to trot me out at an event or two. That means I made my own life.”
“And that life includes sleeping with a man who barely speaks proper English,” she sneered.
I wished I were shocked by her ugly prejudice, but I wasn’t. “If you’re talking about Brody, he’s the best man I’ve ever met, with the biggest, kindest heart.”
“That’s sweet. But it doesn’t mean anything to me.”
My patience, always thin when it came to my parents, had reached the breaking point. “But it does to me. He is the man I love and whom I’m going to be with. Whether or not you approve or care doesn’t matter to me. I’m just telling you how it is and how it’s going to be.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe? What the hell does that mean?” My head started to pound.
“I’ve had you scheduled for a psychiatric exam. You had a severe knock to your head, and I’m not sure you’re in the best state of mind to make the right decisions.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” I’d always tried to hold my tongue around my parents, but this was beyond the pale. “You think I’m incapable now? This is outrageous. I need my phone right now.”
She glanced at her watch. “I was told you might experience sudden outbursts of rage.”
No way in hell I would fall into her trap. I steadied my breathing and clasped my hands in my lap. “I’m not raging. I’m annoyed. I do see a therapist.” At her startled expression, I smiled. “It must’ve been the loving childhood I had. But I insist on being able to call my assistant and agent. This is my business, Mother. I have people who work for me and contracts I need to honor.”
She eyed me with suspicion, but I remained calm. “Very well,” she replied, and inside I cheered. “When we get home. But you’re keeping the appointments I made with the psychiatrist and the neurologist.”
I’d already won. “Fine with me.” All I needed was to get to New York. I already had a plan in mind.
**
Hugo settled me into the bed. “I have some water here and the medicine your doctor prescribed for pain. Plus your phone and the charger.”
I had nothing against poor Hugo. He was only following orders. “Thank you, Hugo. I appreciate it.” I pretended to yawn. “I think I’ll take a nap. I’m tired.”
“Very well. If you need anything, just let me know.” He paused. “Your parents had a dinner engagement this evening. They’ll be home later.”
Of course. Far be it for them to change their plans and stay with me. “No worries. I’m sure I’ll go to bed early as it is. Thanks.”
He withdrew, and I plugged in my phone. While my head still hurt and I had several bouts of dizziness, I refused to sit still. “Ezra?”
“Jesus, Dev, I’ve been going wild with worry. How are you? Where the hell are you? I haven’t been able to find out a damn thing, and Brody’s traveling—”
Simply hearing Ezra’s voice made me happy, and I laughed. “I’m here. In New York.”
“Oh, thank God. Dammit, Dev, I’m so sorry about what happened. That was a cheap shot by those bastards.”
My smile was grim. “Yeah, well, their season has ended, so let them spend the whole off-season thinking about it.”
“How’re you feeling? I only got a quick text from Brody before the team left, saying you had a bad concussion but thank God no broken bones or muscle damage.”
“Yeah. Only damage is to my ego. Dammit, Ezra, I can’t believe I’m not gonna be there on the field.”
