He smoothed a hand over my hair. “I want you here. And maybe the thing we do to work toward your dream is just be happy. Grow together until you’re positive I’m the man you want.”
“And you’re positive I’m the woman you want,” I said.
“I’m already sure of that.”
I sighed softly. “I kind of am, too.”
“Promise me you’ll think about moving in,” he said. “You’re afraid I’m going to let you down, but I won’t. I swear I won’t. Promise me.”
I ran my hand over his bare hip, his warm, smooth skin reminding me that no matter how much of a dream he felt like, he was real.
“I promise.”
Chapter 13
Orion
Theo St. James’ fist connected with my jaw like a steel wrecking ball. That shit hurt. I closed my eyes for a second, absorbing the pain, and sent my fist flying into his nose.
“I fuckin’ felt that,” he muttered. “You’re less of a pussy than you were last season.”
“Fuck you,” I spit out. “You’re nothin’ but a goon. And you’re a slow one, motherfucker. Some young buck’s gonna have your job any day now.”
His face darkened with fury. It was all out war then, fists and sweat flying until Ryke pressed a hand to my chest and pushed me back. Theo’s captain did the same to him.
“Go cool off in the box,” Ryke said, clapping a gloved hand on my shoulder.
I tasted blood and felt my left eye swelling shut as I did my time in the penalty box. My head was throbbing from the force of Theo’s hits. Getting fucked up wasn’t as much fun as it used to be. I’d always given as good as I got, but I was starting to miss the days when I was a straight forward. Samara was coming tomorrow, and I’d be a mess of cuts and bruises and sore muscles.
My line was out the rest of the game. As soon as I got to the locker room, I dropped my shit and went to the ice bath.
“Hey,” Dell said, sitting down on a bench next to the bath. “I’m gonna need to look at you.”
“I’m fuckin’ tired.” I sat back and closed my eyes. “I just want to relax.”
“I know. Sit there for as long as you need. I’ll check you when you get out.”
“I’m fine,” I muttered.
She stood up. “Theo cleaned your clock, Orion. You might have a concussion.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” I said. “I’ll take some Tylenol if you don’t mind.”
A few seconds of silence passed and I thought she’d left.
“Hey,” she said. I opened my eyes and looked up at her. She was all business – arms crossed, a ponytail running through the back of the team hat she wore.
“Yeah?”
“You okay? Did something happen with you and Samara?”
I sighed, thinking of the pillow I’d been using at home. The one she used when she came for weekends, which had her sweet, coconut smell on it. I’d actually told the cleaning lady not to change my sheets this week because of it.
“I just miss her,” I said. “I didn’t know it would be this hard.”
She sat back down and gave me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I know how hard it is. Luke and I did it for a while, too.”
“Yeah. It’s that much harder when my friends here are all happily married.”
“Because you have no one to go out with?”
My laugh was a single, ironic note. “No, because I want what they have. I want her waiting for me in bed when I get home from a road trip. I want to have dinner with her at night. I want her in my everyday life, not just on weekends.”
Dell craned her head to look into my eyes, holding out a finger for me to track. I followed it as she spoke. “Does this have anything to do with you worrying what she’s doing back home?”
I shook my head, cringing from the pain in my neck. “No. I trust her completely. I just want her here. It’s fucked up for her to be alone there and me to be alone here, you know?”
She nodded. “I do. And with love, when you know, you just know. I really like her, Orion. She’s genuine and sweet and I can tell she loves you.”
I smiled. “All that from one dinner?”
“I’m a quick study and a good judge of character. Samara was looking at you that night. I never liked the way Amy looked at everyone and everything else when she was with you. That told me she was more interested in what you could do for her than what’s in your heart.”
I arched my brows and grunted my agreement. “Yeah, she was.”
Dell stared into my eyes for a few seconds, assessing them. “Your pupils are very dilated. You know what I’m gonna say.”
I sighed. “Yeah. The hospital. It’s fine. As long as we can get some dinner on the way.”
She stood again. “I’d help you out of there, but …” She circled a hand over her pregnant belly and smiled, a picture of happiness.
“I’m good. Just gimme five more minutes. Thanks, Dell.”
Luke and Dell’s son Kyler was staying with his grandparents tonight, so Luke decided to ride to the hospital with us. The tests to determine whether I had a concussion were quick and easy – I’d done them many times.
I scrolled messages on my phone on the walk to Luke’s SUV. There was a text from Samara.
Samara: That fight was brutal. Tell me you’re okay. Love u.
I wrote back as I walked.
Me: I’m okay. I’ll call u when I get home. Miss u. Love u like Dantes loved Haylee. ;)
The Count of Monte Cristo reference made me picture Samara in the library, her hair over one shoulder as she filed away books. Falling in love with her had been the best summer of my life.
A text from my mom made me stop walking right before I reached the car.
Mom: Please call me soon.
She wouldn’t have sent that message unless something urgent was happening. I knew she wasn’t worried about me after seeing the fight on TV – she’d seen me in so many over the years. Pushing the button on my screen to call her, I held up a finger to tell Luke and Dell to wait for me.
“Orion,” she said, her voice edged with worry.
“Mom, everything okay?”
She inhaled sharply before speaking, breaking into tears. “No. We’re at the hospital. Drew is very sick. He has to go on dialysis.”
I pressed a hand to my forehead, the image of my happy seven-year-old nephew in a hospital bed making me dizzy.
“Holy shit,” I said, forgetting to mind my language in front of her. “Is he okay? I mean, right now? Is he in pain?”
“He’s resting comfortably now. But things aren’t good.” She broke into a sob. “I’m sorry. I’ve been holding it together for Olivia, but I just stepped out of the room when you called.”
My sister had to be an absolute wreck. A surge of anxiety hit me hard. Mom was there for Olivia, but who was there for Mom?
“I’ll be there in a few hours,” I said. “Is there anything else I can do? Anything at all?”
“You have a game tomorrow. I know how much you love Drew, but there’s nothing you can do here, honey. I’ll keep you updated.”
“I’m coming home.” I closed my eyes and leaned my forearm against Luke’s car, resting my head on it. “Mom, listen. If there’s a better hospital for him, or he needs treatment, I’ll pay for it. Make sure he’s getting the best care there is, okay?”
“Thank you,” she said, her voice wavering with emotion. “I offered the same thing. Your father’s life insurance was substantial.”
“Hang in there for Liv, Mom. I’ll be there soon.”
We hung up and I turned to see Luke and Dell standing to the side, trying to give me privacy but both looking concerned. When they approached me, I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat tightened.
“I, uh …” I cleaned my throat. “I have to go home. My nephew’s really sick. It sounds like his kidneys are failing.”
As soon as the words were out, I broke down. Tears ran down my cheeks as a sense of helplessness wrapped itself a
round me. Luke reached out and hugged me.
“I’m sorry, man,” he said.
We broke apart and I wiped a sleeve across my face. “Yeah. So I’m going now.” I gave Dell a cautionary look. “Don’t even try to get me to go to the hospital.”
She waved a hand. “No, I know. How old is he?”
“Seven.”
“Damn. I’m so sorry. But keep the faith. There are treatments.”
I nodded.
“Get in the car,” Luke said.
“Will you give me a ride to my car?” I asked. “I’m on the other side of the lot.”
“I’m giving you a ride to Indiana, man.”
I looked between the two of them. “You don’t need to do that. It’s a two and a half hour drive.”
“Let’s go,” Dell said, rubbing a hand over my back. “Let us drive you and keep you company.”
My mind raced as we got in the car. “We’ve got a flight in the morning.”
“We’ll drive home for it,” Dell said. “Don’t worry about that right now.”
I nodded numbly, dialing Samara’s number on my phone.
“Hey,” she said, her voice sweet and sleepy. “You’re calling early tonight.”
“Hi, baby. I need you to do something.”
“What’s wrong?” Her tone turned serious. “You sound upset.”
“Drew’s in the hospital. It has to be St. Mary’s, where Liv works. His kidneys are failing.”
“Orion. Oh my God. No.”
I let out a shaky sigh. “I just talked to my mom and I’m on the way. Will you go to the hospital to be with them until I get there? They might need help with Chloe, and—”
“I’m on my way. Whatever they need.”
“Thank you.”
“Drive safe, okay?”
I looked over at the driver’s seat, where Luke was rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt as he drove. “Luke and Dell are bringing me.”
“Good. See you soon.”
“Samara – I love you.”
There were unshed tears in her voice when she spoke. “I love you too.”
Samara
Orion was a mess when he came running down the hospital hallway. One of his eyes was purple and swollen and he had a fat lip. His t-shirt had a streak of dried blood on it and his eyes were wild and frantic.
I got up from the waiting room chair to meet him in the hallway, wrapping my arms around his back. His body was stiff with tension.
“He’s asleep,” I said softly. It was almost two am, but I was too worried to sleep in the waiting room. I’d been watching Chloe, who was curled up in a big chair beside me in the waiting room snoring softly. “Your mom and Olivia are in there with him. I just checked on them about ten minutes ago.”
“I’m gonna go see them,” he said, kissing my forehead.
“Room 612. Right there.” I pointed and he headed for the door.
Luke and Dell came walking in the same way Orion had come. Luke wore suit pants and a fresh white dress shirt and dark tie. Dell was in track pants and a team shirt, a baseball cap making her look young.
“Hey,” she said, reaching out to hug me. I embraced her tightly.
“Thanks for bringing him,” I said, pulling away and looking between them. “It really means a lot. I was worried about him driving in this state.”
“No problem,” Luke said. “Is there anything we can do for you? You want some coffee?”
I shook my head. “I’m wide awake with worry.”
“Yeah. This is a bad deal.”
“We can go sit down.” I pointed into the waiting room.
They tried to make small talk, but I wasn’t up for it and we soon fell into a comfortable silence. Dell had fallen asleep with her head on Luke’s shoulder when Orion came into the waiting room, his eyes red and swollen.
Tears burned in my eyes as I got up and put my arms around him, holding him as he cried.
“He’s so small and helpless,” he said. “And Liv’s a complete wreck. I don’t even know what to say or do.”
“You’re here,” I said, stroking a hand over his back. “That’s the most important thing.”
He sat down in a waiting room chair, resting his elbows on his knees, which were spread far apart.
“You guys should go home,” he said to Luke and Dell.
“Is he stable?” Dell asked.
Orion nodded. “Yeah. His life isn’t in imminent danger right now because dialysis will help. But he’s still very sick.”
I sat down next to him and reached for his hand. “I’m here. I can take time off work and help with whatever they need. If you want to stay, stay. But if you need to work, I’ll be here.”
He squeezed my hand. “Thanks. I need to be here until he’s awake and we can talk to the doctors. If things are looking okay, I’ll catch a later flight in for the game.”
Dell stood. “I’ll take care of things with Dad. He can be a hard ass coach, but he’ll want you to focus on your family.”
She and Luke both hugged him again before they said goodbye and left. A nurse walked into the waiting room, a folded white blanket in her hands.
“Sorry it took me so long,” she said in a whisper.
“It’s okay,” I said. “Thank you.”
I spread the blanket out over Chloe and sat back down next to Orion. I was pretty sure there wouldn’t be any sleep for either of us tonight. He slipped his hand into mine and we sat together in silence.
Traffic in the hospital started to pick up around eight in the morning. A couple people wandered into the waiting room and sat down. I looked up from the magazine I was reading and saw Olivia walk in behind them.
“Hey,” she said with a weak smile. The dark circles under her eyes told me she hadn’t slept, either.
“Hi,” I said, standing to hug her.
“Thanks for being here,” she said.
“Of course. What can I do to help?”
She pulled away and met my eyes. “Actually, if you’d be able to take Chloe home to change clothes and get breakfast, and then drop her at school, that would be a huge help.”
“Sure.”
Chloe sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Mommy, is Drew okay?” she asked.
“He’s doing okay right now,” Olivia said, her voice tight with tension. “Samara’s going to help you get ready for school, okay? You can come back here after school.”
Chloe nodded. Orion leaned over to kiss me.
“You’re an angel,” he said.
“I can bring back coffee and breakfast,” I said. “Just text me what you guys want.”
He kissed me again and hugged Chloe and we set off.
There wasn’t a trace of the happy, bouncy little girl I was used to. Chloe was worried about her brother, and it broke my heart.
She typed a code into a keypad by the garage door of the small, neat home Olivia and her kids lived in. I helped her find clothes to wear and sat with her while she ate a bowl of Lucky Charms.
“Will you tell my mom to call my school if something bad happens to Drew?” she asked as we walked back out to my car, her blue eyes big and serious.
“Of course, honey.” I got down on my knees to look into her eyes. “The doctors are taking really good care of him, okay? Please try not to worry.”
“My mommy was crying.”
I smoothed a hand over her hair. “It’s hard for mommies when their babies are sick.”
“Will you pick me up from school today?”
“Yes. I’ll be there. And I’ll tell you how Drew’s doing as soon as I see you.”
She nodded and we got into the car. I dropped her off, walking her into the office and explaining why she was late. Then I drove through and got the coffee and sandwiches Orion had texted me about.
When I got back to the hospital, drink carrier and paper bag in hand, I stuck my head around the open door to Drew’s room. I didn’t want to interrupt anything.
“Hey,” Orion said softly. “Come in.�
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“How is he?” I asked, setting my stuff down on a table. Orion was right – Drew looked so small and fragile. It didn’t seem right for all those tubes and machines to be connected to the boy who was always so vibrant and happy.
“Stable,” Orion said.
“Did you get Chloe to school okay?” Olivia asked.
“Yes. She asked if I can pick her up this afternoon. Is that okay?”
“That’d be great. Thank you.”
“The doctor’s coming in to talk to us about a kidney transplant,” Orion said.
“Really?”
Olivia wrapped her arms around herself, looking much better than she had earlier. “He won’t have to wait because I’m donating a kidney to him,” she said. “I already know I’m a blood type match. I’ve had this plan in the back of my mind all along if he ever needed it.”
Her resolve in that moment made me love her. She was the kind of mother I wanted to be one day.
“Olivia, I’m here for anything,” I said. “Anything at all.”
Orion’s mom Diane approached and wrapped me into a hug. “You’re a Godsend, Samara. We just adore you, honey.”
Like Olivia, Diane had the worn out look of a woman who’d been up all night worrying.
Orion wrapped his arm around my waist. “After we meet with the doctor I’m catching a plane to my game tonight. I’ll be back and forth during all this.”
I wrapped both my arms around his waist and held on tightly. The air in the room was still heavy with tension, but now there was also hope that together, we could pull through this. We had to. Losing the sweet little boy in that hospital bed wasn’t an option.
I went into work late the next day after dropping Chloe off at school. I’d told Liz I was having a family emergency and would need to work around it. She hadn’t questioned it, which I appreciated since I was pretty sure she knew I didn’t technically have a family.
Though I went through the motions of decorating cakes and helping customers, inside I was thinking about Drew, Olivia and Orion. It was a helpless feeling, seeing people I cared about hurting.
I’d never had people to care about like this. My instinct with Orion had been to maintain enough distance and independence that I could handle losing him if he ever changed his mind about me. But seeing his face when he came running down the hospital hallway had changed something in me.
Release Page 15