Page 159 of Bad Run

“This afternoon.”

“Why didn’t you call sooner?”

“You had a game.”

“If something happens, you call me. It doesn’t matter when. Okay?”

“Okay.” She sniffles.

“Please tell me what happened.”

Mom sighs, heavy and exhausted. “He was trying to fix the roof on his own. I told him not to and to just call someone for help. But you know how stubborn he is. I came home from lunch and found him.”

Phone to my ear, I jump up and start tugging off my uniform and pulling on my slacks. “Which hospital?”

“Northwest Medical Center. We are in the ICU.”

ICU? What the hell happened?

“I’ll be right there.” I hang up my phone and chuck it into my bag. Looking up, I find my team watching me with concern in their eyes. The words are hard to get out. “I’ve gotta go. It’s my dad. He’s in the hospital.”

“Shit, is he okay?” Heath asks.

I shake my head. “No. I need to go. Be there for my mom.”

“Let us know if you need anything,” Nico adds.

Reaching up with my fist, I rub at the tightness growing in my rib cage. “Thanks. I’ll check in later. Think you can hold off Anson until I know more?”

“No problem. We got you,” Heath says, pulling me in for a hug. “Go be with your family. We’ll be here when you get back.”

Cam circles us with his arms. “Are you sure you don’t want us to come with you?”

“I’m sure. I don’t even know what’s wrong. Just that he’s there. But …” My sentence falls off, not wanting to say what I fear aloud. It’s then when Reed and Blake join the circle, joining our bro hug. “What are you two doing?”

“I never miss a cuddle huddle,” Blake chirps.

“You’re such a dumbass,” Reed groans. I can picture him rolling his eyes.

“You’re all dumbasses,” Nico snaps, breaking up the group hug.

“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you,” Blake teases as Nico scowls and lifts two middle fingers in the air at him.

“I love you guys, but I don’t have time for this. I’ll text you later.” I grab my hat, slipping it over my head, and my bag, throwing it over my shoulder, and rush out of the stadium. With stealth, I make it out of the stadium and into a cab without the management team seeing me.

In the back of the cab, I dig my phone out of my bag and call Gwen.

“Why hello, Husband,” she croons. Any other time that voice would do it for me, but right now the tornado of emotions spinning through me at Category 5 speeds.

“Gwen,” I choke out.

“Lance? What’s going on?”

“It’s my dad.”

fifty

Lance