“Tate’s baby. It’s about time. Nice. She got a name?” He lifted his head up and peered at me with mild interest.
“Cara Daisy Whitlock.”
“Hm. Well good for him. Good timing.” He rested his head back on his pillow and closed his eyes again.
“What do you mean?” I tilted my head.
He opened one eye and turned his head to me.
“I can’t really play right now, can I?” His words were unnecessarily sharp. “It works good that he’ll be off doing the new dad thing. By the time I’m up and able to perform again then maybe he’ll be off leave.”
“Yeah. Sure,” I said noncommittally. I wasn’t sure Ronny would be walking any time soon, but I wasn’t about to be the one to tell him that. “How are you feeling?”
He snorted. A chortle kind of came out but he winced.
“I’m alive. That’s really all I got. They are pumping me full of pain meds, so I don’t feel much.” He then reached for me and without hesitation I brought my hand to his. He squeezed me and smiled again. “I’m glad you’re here.”
This. This right here no longer felt right. If anything, I was sad for him. I couldn’t lie to him about this. I didn’t want to keep up this ruse just to sate him. I could be here to support him, but only as a friend. I cleared my throat and looked up at him.
“Ronny, I need to-”
A knock on the door interrupted us. We both turned our attention to the door and my heart skipped when I saw Tate, smiling softly and holding a comically oversized candy bar.
“Heard you got knocked around a bit.” He waved the chocolate and shrugged. “The gift shop downstairs didn’t really have anything that made sense for me to give you.”
I stood up and walked towards the door. I turned back to see Ronny scowling.
“There’s only one person supposed to be here at a time right now. I’ll go get a drink and be back in a few minutes.”
“Thanks,” Tate flashed a smile. I tilted my head ever so slightly in confusion and he moved his head just the tiniest bit back and forth, telling me not to mention it. I smiled back at him.
“No problem.”
I left to grab some water, taking my time coming and going. By the time I came back fifteen minutes had passed. I did the same little knock Tate had done and peeked my head inside. Tate was leaning against the far wall with his hands in his pockets. Ronny looked rather unamused and almost like he would much rather have not made it out of the accident right now rather than spend more time with him. I was sure the feeling was mutual.
“Well, good luck man. Glad you pulled through. I’ll see you around,” Tate said, forcing a quick smile in Ronny’s direction and fleeing.
“Wait,” I said as he rushed out. I glanced back at Ronny who was scowling at me. “I’ll be right back,” I told him and hurried after Tate. I called after him, but he was halfway down the hall before he stopped.
“What are you doing here?” I smiled. “Where’s Cara?”
He motioned to the family waiting room where I realized he had been heading to. “I left her with Dallas. I don’t know how much I trust him for long though, so I want to go get her.”
I blinked.He what? Oh no.I ran past him to the waiting room and instantly relaxed. There was Dallas, freshly showered and changed, rocking the pink bundle and cooing at her softly.
“I’m going to be your all-time favorite uncle. Yes, I am. Uncle Dally,” he said to her with a chuckle. My heart melted. Damn it, Dallas. He looked up and raised his eyebrows. “What’s up? You taking her back?”
Tate nodded and went over to take back his daddy duties.
“Thanks man.” He started putting her back in her car seat and then he stood and looked at me. “Can we talk real quick? I want to get her home and settled for the night.”
Night? I glanced at the clock and realized it was almost six in the evening already. Where did the time go today? I blinked and then nodded. Dallas cleared his throat and murmured something about going to check on Ronny before standing and exiting the room.
“What’s up?” I asked, crossing my arms across my chest. Things felt tense and awkward considering the fight we’d had before I came here this afternoon. He was standing a few feet from me, just as stiff as I was. He put a hand behind his neck and rubbed it awkwardly.
“I don’t want you to tell him. I mean, I do, but I get why you don’t want to and I’m going to support you. I was kind of a dick about it earlier. I understand he’s got a lot to deal with right now, adding this on top of it isn’t necessary. Spend your days here,” he paused and took a step towards me. I dropped my arms and my lower lip started to tremble despite myself. I looked up at him as he put his arms out and I stepped into them. I laid my head against his warm chest. He wrapped himself around me and dropped his chin to the top of my head. “But come home every night to me.”
A small cry came from the car seat and we both let out a light chuckle.
