He stares at me. “You have games.”
I shrug. “Let them fire me. I don’t care.”
“I’ll get you some clothes,” he says.
“I’ll go with you,” Ella says and looks at me. “I’ll be back, and I’ll fill Will in on everything.”
I give them a grateful nod and follow the nurse with Damian and Olivia on my heels. My phone buzzes in my hand with a call from my father again.
“Thank you,” I say upon answering. “I…” I swallow hard. “Thank you for everything.”
He’s quiet on the other end. After a moment, he clears his throat and says. “Any time.”
I put my phone away.
“You’re really going to miss the next game?” Damian asks.
I look at him. “Yes, but you should go. She’s stable, and the bullet didn’t hit anything vital.”
He nods. In his eyes, I can see what he’s not saying. She’s stable, and the bullet didn’t hit anything important, so why aren’tyougoing? I wasn’t kidding about getting fired. Hockey was my first love for a long time, but nothing compares to what I feel for her.
63
FINN
Irush into the room and freeze when I see nurses surrounding Josslyn, and Jackie standing off to the side with a hand over her mouth. Behind me, Damian and Olivia gasp at the state-of-the-art suite. My heart pounds hard, in tandem with my steps as I close the distance. The nurses pause when they see me, but don’t say anything as they move away from her and step out of the room. The relief that rushes over me when I see her makes my knees go weak. I grip the bed rail to keep from falling and swallow hard as I take her in.
She has a bandage on her left shoulder and an IV on her right hand. She looks pale and her hair is a mess, but she’s alive.She’s alive.I mean to just lean down, but I end up on my knees with my eyes shut and my head resting on her arm. My throat closes and I grip the bed rail hard as tears start spilling out. I’ve cried more today than I have my entire life, and the reason is obvious. I’ve never loved anything or anyone the way I love her. Not even close.
“God, baby,” I whisper, inhaling shakily. “I’m sofucking sorry.”
“They just took out the breathing tube,” Jackie explains.
“Fuck,” Damian says behind me.
“Why is she not awake?” Olivia asks, slightly panicked.
“She’s heavily sedated. She already was before she got here,” Titus answers. “The nurse said it could be days before she wakes up fully.”
My head snaps up. “Days?”
“It could be hours,” he says. “But she told us not to be alarmed if it takes a couple of days.”
“Oh my God,” Olivia whispers.
“They said talking might help,” Jackie says.
I look at Josslyn again. My Josslyn. My heart. My world. The rest of them keep talking and discussing the physical therapy she’ll need and how she may or may not get to play this season. My heart breaks a little at that possibility. She says basketball isn’t her life, but I know she was looking forward to playing one more season.
“I know you have games—” Titus says.
“I’m not leaving,” I respond, looking at him as I stand up.
“Joss will be fine,” he says. “Jackie will stay overnight.”
I stare at him. Hard. “Well, then I guess we’ll be roommates, because I’m. Not. Leaving.”
His brows shoot up, but he doesn’t challenge me.
