I shoot up in bed, looking around frantically. Sweat coats my forehead and chest. My breath comes in heaving gasps.
A dream. It was a dream—a nightmare. Greyson’s not falling down an abyss.
But I might be losing him—losing my grip on us. I feel it in a wordless place between my ribs, this ache of grief, stabbing and tugging. Does Greyson even believe in us anymore? He loves me, but will that be enough? I don’t know if I can hold on for the both of us if he’s letting go.
I glance at the clock on my bedside table. It’s just after five. I’m not going to get any more sleep, so I get out of bed and pad into the living room, curling up with my Kindle until Mia’s awake.
We share breakfast, her chatter easing some of the ache that seems to have taken up residence behind my rib cage.
“Do you two have everything you need?” I ask Mia and Avery after we’ve showered and Mia’s dressed for the day.
“We’re fine,” Avery says. “Aren’t we, Spike?”
“So fine, Mommy,” Mia assures me.
I look at them both, checking to make sure they really are fine.
“Okay,” I say. “I’ll just go by the hospital then.”
“Because you’re going to see Coach G?” Mia asks, eyes wide and expectant.
“Yes. He will be going home today,” I tell her.
“By himself?”
“He does live alone,” I tell her.
“But we have our playoffs!”
“I know. He won’t be able to come. But I think Coach Will is going to have someone FaceTime Coach G so he can watch you play from his house.”
“Okay,” she says, her face relaxing. “And you can stay with him to take care of him, Mommy.”
“I won’t be staying with him.”
“But he likes you.”
“He does,” I choose my words carefully, letting her lead this conversation.
“And you like him.”
Avery’s eyes go wide from behind where Mia’s standing. I smile softly at my sister.
“He’s a good man,” I say to Mia.
“But you could like him some more?”
Avery’s brows wag—she’s such a younger sister, even at this age.
“More than what?” I ask.
“More than a friend?”
“What would you think of that?”
“I would think you’d be smart. Because Coach G is a really good coach and he makes the best ice cream sandwiches in the whole wide world. And he’s nice.”
“Well, we’ll have to see what happens. Right now we just have to help Coach G while he heals from his injury.”
