“Mr. Carrington,” the nurse said. “You need to calm down or we will ask you to leave.”
“Fuck that.”
“Edward.” Sheila shook her head. “The nurse is right. You need to calm down.”
“Please, Daddy,” Delaney begged.
Edward hissed. “What did you do to her? You’re just a fucking shifter.”
“Now I’m going to be the one to tell you to calm down, Mr. Carrington,” Coach Wagner barked. “That young man isn’t just a fucking shifter. He’s a member of my hockey team, a decent young man with a bright future and from what I’ve seen, he cares about your daughter so why don’t you lose the fucking attitude?”
I managed to take a deep breath, thankful the coach had stepped in.
“Go on, son,” the coach encouraged, smiling as he nodded toward me.
“I didn’t do anything. She just fainted and I brought her here,” I told them, shocked that half the team had showed up. I hadn’t called anyone. I hadn’t planned to until I knew what was going on. And I had no clue. “I don’t know yet what’s wrong.”
“Didn’t she tell you?” Sheila asked.
“Tell me what?”
Sheila glanced at her husband before answering. “That she had leukemia as a child and that it’s been in remission?”
The news hit me hard. Now, it all made sense. The reason for the sudden change in her demeanor. Her cancer had returned. “No, she didn’t tell me.”
“You’re not good for her!” Edward yelled and both coaches stepped in front of him.
I stumbled backward, fisting my hand. Had I done this?
“The doctors warned against stress and too much activity. She’s not supposed to be skating.”
Jesus. The agony was horrific. “I didn’t know.”
Another nurse appeared from the hallway. “Mr. Masters. Both Christine and her doctors would like to see you.”
“Over my dead body. We’re her family. Not this useless hockey player shifter piece of shit.”
“He’s not a piece of shit!” Tony yelled. “He loves your daughter and he’s a great friend and a great man.”
Meanwhile, I felt like shit.
“Go on, Steven,” Coach Wagner said, parking his huge body in front of Mr. Carrington. “Go see her.”
I glanced at my coach, uncertain what I should do, yet I followed the woman down the corridor to a room. Once inside, I was floored by the number of machines as well as doctors in the room.
The momentary silence nearly destroyed me.
“Steven.” Christine’s voice seemed so damn tiny.
With my breathing labored, I glanced in her direction. “Hi.”
She lifted her arm and I couldn’t keep from going to her. “You’re here.”
“Of course I’m here.” Bending over, I kissed her soft lips. Every inch of me ached, wishing with all my heart I could take this cancer away from her.
The doctors let us have a moment. “Mr. Masters. I’m Doctor Carol Riverbee. I’m Christine’s oncologist. I hope you don’t mind that I asked the team to be in the meeting with us.”
“No. How bad?” When I asked the question, Christine squeezed my hand.
