“I had to make sure you’re okay. I couldn’t…” My voice wobbled as Callum’s mom walked in with Henry.
“Callie, oh honey.” Mrs. O’Toole ran toward her son and pulled him into a hug. He closed his eyes and sighed, but when he opened them, he narrowed them at me. “What do you need? What are they saying?”
“Tell Ivy to leave.”
“Ivy? Ivy Lee?’” She spun, and her face twisted from joy to worry. “It’s good to see you, honey. I have questions, but I need to respect my son. He wants you to leave.”
My mouth hung open, questions firing off one after another, but I remained quiet. Heartbroken. Why was he doing this? Didn’t he realize my soul almost left my body when he was hurt?
“Oh.” I took a step back and hit the wall, flinching at the pain. I rubbed my elbow as my face flushed. This was horrible. Gut-wrenching. My eyes filled as Henry strutted in.
“Emerson, Allpress is waiting for you in my office. Once you’re done chatting, can you take lead with the interns? We need basic ice and tape. The guys are riled up, so it’ll take some power. You up for it?”
I nodded, finding a steel rod for a spine. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Good.” His expression softened. “Hey, I know you and O’Toole are childhood friends, but something to learn about players. When people get injured, it changes them for a little. Don’t take it personally, alright?”
“Yes, sir.”
I would know. My injury altered me. He had to be hurting so badly right now. He had to be pissed and upset, his career possibly ending because of it. And even though he swore he didn’t want to play in the NFL, making that choice yourself was different than being forced out.
With my throat tight and my eyes on the verge of tears, I gave myself ten seconds to feel pity. He needed time, probably, to grieve and figure out what that meant to him.
I didn’t know what this meant between Callum and me. I hated that I gave my heart to him, and he just… broke that trust. Yes, I wasn’t going to run up and hug him, but he could’ve talked to me. Told me what was going through his head. But to have his mom make me leave?
Fuck.
Enough.
I’d go talk to Mr. Allpress and focus on my future. It was what I had done the last three years and what I’d continue to do. I just had to get it together. I knew I was easy to leave. My parents had shown me that, and Callum had shown me that. As Esme oncesaid, as long as I liked and took care of myself, that was the only person I could count on.
So that was what I’d do. Even if my heart was breaking more and more by the second.
26
CALLUM
My ankle fucking hurt. It felt like Dean and Luca both sat on it, pulling it from opposite sides. It wasn’t ideal. It wasn’t every day you felt like a part of your body was on fire.
“Honey, what can I do? You’re too quiet. You’re my loudest child, and you haven’t said anything.”
I snorted but still didn’t remove my arm from my eyes. “Take me back to childhood and get me the bunk bed I wanted.”
“Hush.” She swatted my forearm and sat on a stool next to me. “Your humor is impressive.”
“Got it from dealing with you and dad.”
“Okay, you were my favorite child, but you’re toeing the line.”
I smiled this time and found my mom grinning back. “It’s nice seeing you smile. I don’t love that we’re chatting in a training room, and my ankle is definitely broken. But hey, can’t win ‘em all.”
“You played amazing, sweetie. It was insane. Seeing you not get up though. Ooh, buddy. I couldn’t breathe. There was thirty seconds where I couldn’t even see. I’d never pressure you, but ifyou told me right now you’d never play football again, I would make you sign an oath and get it notarized.”
“I was fine. Just pissed that they tag-teamed me like that.” I winced as my brain replayed the pivotal moment of me getting attacked. I hated that I hadn’t seen it coming or that I hadn’t been fast enough to escape it.
“Okay, O’Toole.” Henry walked in, his frown deeper than normal. “We have your x-rays. It’s a severe fracture that will require surgery. We can get you in tomorrow at the local hospital, but you’ll be out twelve weeks.”
“The rest of the season.” My mom covered her mouth with her hand. “Are you sure?”
