“Damn, dude.” Price walked up and ruffled my hair. “Hey, remember when we were like ten and made a bet of who could beat the other, and Mom made us table the discussion because she didn’t want a war? I say we hash it out now.”
“Why are you two the way you are?” our mom asked, making me laugh again. “This had to be kind of frightening. What happened? How did you know?”
“It was all Jordan.” I sought her out, not seeing her in the room. “Where is she? I told her to come back with you.”
“She’s with Quentin and his girlfriend. They waited with her until I got here.” Price met my eyes, a serious expression on his face. “Jordan fell apart on me. That girl fucking loves you, and I know she said otherwise, but no one reacts like that. She couldn’t breathe, Preston.”
“Language,” my mom said, but it wasn’t with real harshness. She smiled. “Yeah, I agree with your brother. She texted us the entire time with updates, and she didn’t have to. She’s always had your back.”
“I’m not worried about it,” I said, frowning because I wanted her here with me. While I found comfort in my family, Jordan was my rock. Bad game? She held me together. Pissed at my parents? She was there. She was always there.
Except she hadn’t returned yet.
“So for real, what happened?” my dad asked, sitting down in one of the chairs. There were two, and he gestured for my mom to take the other. She sat next to him, even putting a hand on his shoulder for a second.
What wasthat?
I went through how the pain started at dinner and caught them up to speed on everything until now. Price whistled a few times, but the highlight was him calling me a dumbass. “You thought it was the flu? How are you the smarter one?”
“Shut up.” I half-laughed, half-snorted. “I wanted to curl into a ball and sleep it off.”
“Well, I’m glad Jordan insisted on coming here. Were you two on a date?” my mom asked with way too much eagerness.
“Oh yeah. They were. He asked her, but then she said no, but then he brought a date to an event she was in charge of, and she lost it,” Price chimed in, an absolute pain in the ass. “She’s his girlfriend now.”
My parents snickered just as the door creaked opened again, and Jordan returned. She had a box of crackers and a soda. All conversation stopped when she entered, and she stilled, her eyes widening. “Uh, hi.”
“We owe you.” My dad went to her first, giving her a side hug as she stared at me in confusion. “Thank you for saving our son.Seriously. He’s stubborn, and I hate to think what would’ve happened without you.”
“I’m glad I was there,” she said softly with the same look of fear she wore when she first saw me. She cringed but forced a smile as she neared me. “All is well now. The hard part is gonna be keeping him off the ice.”
“Yeah, glad he has you for that ‘cause I do not want to be the one stopping him. First week, he’ll be okay but the second? He’s gonna whine.” Price moved toward her, elbowing her side like they were best buddies. “Seriously, he’s gonna pout, and you might wish the appendix took him out.”
“Price Charming, you take that back right now.” Our mom pointed a finger at him. “It’s too soon.”
“You know I’m right though. Remember that year he broke his finger and he snuck out to play?”
“Why bring this up? Why do this to me?” I closed my eyes, sighing. “Aren’t visiting hours closed or something? Think it’s time to leave.”
“I got us a room at the hotel down the road,” my dad said, clearly speaking to my mom. “We can head there and come back first thing in the morning.”
My mom frowned as she stared at me. “Do you want us to stay? Do you need anything?”
“I love that you both came down…together.” I swallowed. My parents were touching, not yelling at each other, and sharing a hotel room. “But I want to rest, and Jordan will stay with me, so I’ll be okay.”
“It would be great seeing you guys again once we’re back at the house tomorrow,” Jordan replied. “We could have a brunch or lunch, depending on the time.”
“That would be great.” My mom stood, and my dad took her hand.
Price raised his brow, his gaze moving to me with the samewhat in the hell is happeninglook.I stared at their hands, but my mom shook her head.
I loved my parents despite their divorce. “Thank you guys for coming. Seriously.”
“Of course we would. We love your dumbass.” My dad bent down and hugged me tight. “Rest and listen to Jordan and the nurses.”
“You act like I’m an animal.”
“You are.” My dad laughed and put a hand on my shoulder. “I’m really glad you’re okay.”
