"Tucker!" Alder catches my arm. "What do you need?"
"A way back to Pittsburgh. Fast."
"I'll call Brian. He'll get you a plane."
I'm pulling on jeans, a sweatshirt, shoes. Everything is happening in fast motion while my brain feels like it's moving through mud.
Sloane's in the hospital. The babies might be in danger. And she told the doctors I’m not allowed in.
My phone rings. My agent.
"I'm leaving the game," I say before he can speak. "I don't give a fuck about fines or consequences or?—"
"Tucker, breathe." His voice is calm. "I heard. Where do you need to be?"
"Pittsburgh. Magee Women's Hospital."
"Give me ten minutes."
I'm dressed now, bag in hand. Alder is on his phone, speaking quickly to someone. Other teammates are gathering around—Mayhem, Spinner, even guys I barely talk to.
"Go," Mayhem says. "We got this."
I nod, not trusting my voice.
Alder hangs up. "Dad's going to meet you at the hospital. Odin's already on his way to the airport to pick you up."
My family. Mobilizing in seconds, no questions asked.
"Thank you."
"Go." Alder pulls me into a quick hug.
Brian has me taking a helicopter to Logan Airport, and on any other day, I’d be freaking out about how fucking cool this is.
A private jet waits to take my vibrating, anxious carcass the rest of the way to Pittsburgh, and we’re in the air before I can fully process what's happening.
Sloane's in the hospital. My babies might be in danger. I'm thirty thousand feet up and completely helpless.
I try calling her. It goes to voicemail.
I try texting.
I'm on my way. Please be okay.
No response.
I call my mom.
"Tucker, we heard, baby,” she says. "Your father and I are heading to the hospital now."
"Is she okay? Are the babies okay?"
"We don't know yet." Mom's voice is gentle. "She's going to be okay, honey."
"She won't let me see her."
Silence on the other end. Then: "What?"
