We turn, and when I notice Gavin rushing down the hall toward us wearing a panicked look, dread pools in my gut.
“Jesus,” he says as he stops. “This day has been a goddamn nightmare.”
“What’s wrong?” Adeline asks.
As far as I know, she doesn’t know about Bray and Vivi, whatever was going on there, but I wouldn’t have expected Gavin to bring it up to her, not here. Then again, he did sound extra pissed this morning.
“Sidney was in an accident on the way home last night.”
Heart dropping, I dig my phone out of my pocket. “Is he okay?”
Gavin shakes his head. “Yeah. Except he’s got a broken leg. He’s out…for at least the season.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, navigating to his contact. Sidney and I have been playing together for six years. He’s like my older brother.
“I wouldn’t,” Gavin says, nodding at my phone. “I stopped by the hospital on the way here. He’s on lots of pain meds and sleeping now. His wife’s there.”
“Good. I should tell her if she needs anything?—”
“Beckett’s on top of it already, as is Sara.”
“What do you need from us?” Adeline asks.
“You’ll be playing for this series,” Gavin tells me.
No surprise there. “Not a problem.”
“And we’ll have to call Dirk up,” he says to Adeline. “Do you want to make the call, or do you want me to?”
An instant wave of disgust hits me. No fucking way.
I wait for Adeline to say the same thing, but she just nods. “Of course. I’ll make the call.”
Gavin blows out a long breath. “Fuck this day. Thanks.”
Adeline smiles in response, but the moment Gavin steps away, her expression falls.
“Are you going to tell them what happened,” I grit out, “or am I?”
Avoiding my gaze, she shakes her head. “Please just drop it.”
I lean in close, anger getting the best of me. “He’s not playing with us, Adeline. You’re not coaching him. Not a fucking chance. So are you going to tell them, or am I?”
THIRTY-ONE
JJ
Twenty-Two Years Old
I never could have imaginedit would be so hard saying goodbye to a person I just met, but getting in the car and driving away, knowing Avery was inside and I wouldn’t see her for two weeks, was damn near impossible.
Seven days. I’ve only known her for a week, and I’m head over heels in love with her. She’s perfect. I spent the week staying in Tabitha’s guest room so I could help out and so I didn’t have to miss any more time than necessary.
The two of us are awkward around each other. Tabitha and me. Or maybe it’s just me. Because when I’m not focused on my daughter, I’m staring into space thinking of what I could have done differently with Adeline. What I should have said. How I should have handled the bomb dropped on us.
I shouldn’t have asked her to come to the hospital. It was too much, too fast. Of course she wasn’t ready to deal with this long term. We’d barely gotten out of bed for the first time when we found out that I’m a father.
But in that moment, I needed Adeline my friend, not my girlfriend.
