His words make me smile, but a tear slips down my cheek anyway.
“And besides… I’ve been falling harder,” he adds, squeezing my hand.
“Stop… you’re making me cry,” I whisper, sniffing back emotion.
“Don’t go,” Blake says softly.
“I’m staying the night,” I smile softly. “Everyone showed up for you, Zane, and Coach, too. Gwen, Tess, and Leo are here as well.”
“Did Coach seem angry?” Blake asks, a hint of worry in his voice.
“Of course not,” I reply immediately. “He’s worried about you as a person, not as an ice hockey asset,” I explain.
“Could you maybe get Leo?” Blake asks, settling his head back onto the pillow. “There’s something I need to do.”
“I will,” I say, placing my hand gently against his cheek. His skin feels colder than usual. “But after that, you need to rest and focus on getting better,” I add softly, brushing my thumb along his cheek.
I hesitate, nervous about returning to the waiting room and facing my brother. Instead, I send Tess a quick text asking her to have Leo come by.
It only takes about two minutes before a soft knock sounds at the door. By then, Blake has drifted off to sleep again. The anesthesia has clearly taken a toll on him.
I lean in carefully, making sure not to disturb him, and press a light kiss to his forehead. Then I pull the sheets up, tucking him in as best as I can, just as another quiet knock comes at the door.
Not wanting to wake him, I quickly move and open it.
“Hey,” I greet Leo with a small smile. “Blake asked for you. He’s asleep, but you can go in. He said he needed to do something; it seemed important.”
“Why me?” Leo asks, clearly confused.
“I’m not sure,” I shrug. “I think he just wants to talk to you.”
“Alright,” Leo nods before stepping past me into the room.
I notice a plastic chair in the hallway and sit down, lowering my head into my hands as I stare at the floor. My thoughts drift back over the past few weeks, everything they’ve meant to me. How Blake found me when I felt broken… and how, piece by piece, he helped put me back together.
Tears begin to fall again, landing softly on my shoe.
“Is everything alright?” Gwen asks gently as she approaches.
“I didn’t hear you come,” I chuckle, quickly wiping my face. “Everything’s fine.”
“You’re strong,” Gwen says with a warm smile.
I stand and pull her into a hug. “Thank you for always being so kind to me,” I whisper.
“We’re friends, right?” Gwen replies with a soft giggle as we separate. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
I glance toward Blake’s room. “I think I’m going to stay here tonight. I want to be here when he wakes up.”
“I figured,” Gwen says, scratching her neck lightly. “Would you like me to ask the nurse for a bed?”
“That’s ok,” I smile. “There’s a chair in the room. That should work.”
“Can I grab some of your things for you, maybe?” Gwen offers, already starting to list options before I can respond.
“You want a fresh set of clothes, a toothbrush, maybe a hairbrush?” she continues.
I pull Gwen into another quick hug.
