Playin' Dirty (Beautifully Dirty #6)

by Paige Steele

  Ansley changes Ryder into something a tad warmer, as Cooper buckles the carrier on. Once he snuggles against his dad’s chest, we all make our way outside to sit around the fire pit.

  “So, Josie, what are you going to do now that Mads left you?”

  “Thanks, Kenna, way to make me feel worse,” Maddie pouts.

  “Haha, well you did.” She shrugs her shoulders, smiling.

  “Yeah, well she started it.” Maddie points at Ansley. “Then Kenna, now me. Geez we all have up and left, huh? Poor, Jos, I’m sorry.”

  “I told you, it’s okay, if I can’t find a new roommate then I’ll look for a new place. I have a month until I have to sign a new agreement with the landlord. And Ansley don’t forget to let me know if any of the new girls are looking for a place. Okay?”

  “I will. I sent out an email to them all, so hopefully you’ll hear something soon.”

  “If nothing pans out, I’ve got an extra room.” Adam shocks us all with his offer.

  “Haha. Thanks, Adam.”

  “I’m serious, I do. Plus why do you want to live in an apartment when you can live in a whole house. I’m either gone traveling or you are, so if you ask me it’d be perfect.”

  “You’re really serious, aren’t you?” Josie questions.

  “I totally am. Why not? Think about it.”

  “Oh, umm okay. I will.” You could hear the shock in her voice as she answers him but I also see the excitement in her eyes.

  As the night winds down, Ansley takes Ryder and lays him on the couch to get him ready to take him home. That’s when the next round of baby “ooh’s and aah’s” start up. All the girls want their fill of him before he leaves. They pass him around like a sack of potatoes to kiss and snuggle with him, one more time.

  Watching Maddie holding a baby puts thoughts in my head, ones I will not disclose to anyone. It’s both scary and exciting, all at the same time. I knew from the time I was adopted that family was important to me. It’s everything I ever wanted, and now that Maddie’s in my life, I can see it with her.

  Three weeks go by, and here I am back at racing. Practice went smoothly but I wasn’t at the speed I want to be. I’m frustrated at myself. I don’t know why I’m lacking in the whoops, so I’m watching film to see where I can gain time.

  My grandparents are here and I don’t want to disappoint them. I’m watching the screen so closely that I don’t even hear someone enter the breakroom in the trailer. Still watching, I see where I’ve been screwing up, and then the voice in my head comes out.

  “Damn it!”

  “I’ve seen you hit whoops before with better speed.”

  Turning quickly, I see it’s Grandpa.

  “I didn’t hear you come up.”

  “You seem upset. What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t seem to come out of the corner clean either, so it’s taking my speed away as I head into the whoops.”

  “I’m no expert, but I’d say take the corner higher, if possible, it might give you the gas you need to make it through those.”

  “It might work. I’ll have to try it during my second practice. Thanks, Gramps.”

  “Anytime. Gramma is outside talking to a couple of other mothers. She says she loves coming to watch you, but truth be told, I think it’s the socializing that she gets to do that she loves more.”

  “Haha, I agree. Especially considering she tells me she covers her eyes during most of the race.”

  “She says her heart can’t take it.”

  We both chuckle at the thought. Having them both here means a lot to me. And that same feeling from the other night creeps up in my head again.

  “Grandpa, can ask you a question?”

  “You know you can.”

  “When did you know Gramma was the one?”

  “That’s an easy one. When I saw how caring she was with others. She’s always had a huge heart, and it spilled out every time she was around anyone. Then when I admitted to her that I loved her, and she looked me right in the eye and told me she felt the same.”

  “She has always made me feel special when she talks to me. It makes me feel like there’s only the two of us in the room,” I state.

  “She’s straight forward and direct when she speaks.”

  “Yes, but I know I can always count on her to tell it like it is. Kinda like you, Grampa.” I bump elbows with him. “You two have never bullshitted me, I know I’m getting an honest answer on whatever it is I’m asking about.”

  “Why all the questions, Son?”

  I wasn’t sure if I was ready to admit it outside of my own thoughts, but I found myself opening up to him.

  “I think I found it.”

  “Maddie?”

  “Yeah.”

  “We’ve been waiting for you to admit it. We both saw it the night we were over and she was there.”

  “You saw what?”

  “The look in both of your eyes told a story all on it’s own.”

  “Hmm.”

  “There’s plenty of time to build on what you two have, but right now you’re head has got to be on the race. Stay focused out there.”

  “Of course.”

  I go out for my second practice, find where I was struggling and turn it around to capitalize on it instead. The heat that I have drawn into has a couple of the top ten riders in it, but I am still able to pull off the win. After doing my two minute interview with the TV crew, I’m back at my tent relaxing until the main.

  Maddie is working the event, with a few of the other Hyped Energy girls, so she’s made her way over to visit and eat with me, while all the qualifying races are going on. She’s not needed until the mains of both classes. As we sit at the table, visiting with a few people, a couple of teenage boys, which look to be about fifteen or sixteen come up to the tent.

  “Hey, can we get a picture?”

  I look up thinking they are talking to me but I am dead wrong. Their eyes are glued on my girlfriend. I chuckle a little as Maddie doesn’t realize that they are talking to her either. She just assumed they were directing their question to me so she doesn’t even look in their direction.

  “Cupcake, I think they are talking about you,” I say in a low tone.

  “Oh, sure.” She gets up, smiling at them, making them feel like they are on top of world.

  “Thanks.” Both of their faces show their embarrassment, from just being near her.

  I feel for them. She doesn’t even realize just how hot she is in the leather pants and tight vest she’s wearing. But of course, for me, it’s those damn boots. Lord.

  “Do you mind if I bring them around to take a pic in front of your bike? They’ll think it’s so cool.”

  “Nah, bring them around.”

  “Hey guys, you want to come in here and take a shot in front of Jesse’s bike?”

  “Hell yeah, we do.” They both look at each other like they just scored, they fist bump and walk toward us.

  Maddie places herself between these two horny teenage boys. She wraps her arms around their waists and I see the blond adjust himself. I chuckle under my breath, I know exactly what he’s feeling. It happens to me every time she’s around. I take their cell phones and snap two pictures each, one of the three of them together and then one separate. She knows how to make them special, telling them she doesn’t bite, they can touch her. As each of them put their hands on her, they look over at me, nervous. I just smile back at them.

  Before they walk away, they ask for a picture with me as well then we do a group photo with me, them, Maddie, and the rest of my teammates. You can tell they are in their glory as we hand them posters that we all signed. They thank us all and shake my hand.

  As they head out from under the tent, the blond one says, “Dude, I hope you don’t kick my ass, but I have to say, your girlfriend is smokin’ hot.”

  “I know, right?” I slap them both on the back as they start to walk off.

  An hour and half later, I’m on the st
arting line pulling back my throttle. Then before I can even think about it, the race is over and I come off in second. There was no way around the first place rider. I watch him around every corner, jump, and straight away section, thinking if only he’d bobble, I’d be all over him. But no such luck, so the night doesn’t finish the way I want but I still hold the points lead.

  Now it’s time to fly home once again.

  MADDIE

  I lay in bed, not wanting to get up. Without opening my eyes, I move my hand over the spot where Jesse’s body usually is, to find it empty. Slowly opening my eyes I don’t see him, sitting up, I glance in the bathroom and see the door open with the lights off. My eyebrows knit together, wondering what is going on. Getting up, I use the bathroom, brush my teeth, and wander down to the kitchen in one of his shirts. I find a note on the counter that says, I went for a run. Looking outside, I see the sun is just starting to come up. I know that he wasn’t happy with his ride this weekend, and talked about busting ass this week with training, so I’m not surprised to find him out already.

  I start a new pot of coffee and grab one of the muffins from the container on the counter. I’m pouring creamer in my cup as Jesse comes running through the door.

  “We need to go.”

  “Go where, Babe?” Worry immediately sets in.

  “To the hospital.”

  “Why? What’s going on?”

  “Shit, I need a shower.”

  “Jesse, what’s going on?”

  “My gramma…she’s there.”

  “What happened?” He’s moving around the house at hundred miles an hour. I follow him up the stairs, not quite as fast as he does, but I hustle.

  “I’m not sure exactly. Grandpa called when I was running. He said she was complaining that she didn’t feel good yesterday, and when he went to wake her this morning she was burning up, that’s when he called for the ambulance.” He’s saying all this as he’s jumps in and out of shower in about five minutes. Now he’s dressing at top speed.

  I pull on clothes, knowing a shower would take me to long, I threw my hair up before my bath last night, so I just brush it back out quickly and put it up in a large clip again.

  We’re in his truck and he’s driving like a madman. I almost tell him to slow down but then I close my mouth. I know it’s not going to do me any good telling him that. His mind is on one thing and that’s getting to his gramma.

  I’m trying to stay up with Jesse as he’s running into the emergency room. Once inside, he’s looking around but doesn’t see his grandpa. A nurse walks by and he grabs her arm, asking how he can find out where she’s at. Walking back over to the desk, she lets him know she’s in room two.

  Pushing back the curtain, the first thing you see is the worry on his grandfather’s face. Immediately I see it creep up on Jesse’s as well. They give each other a hug, and then he reaches over for me too, giving him a squeeze, I want him to know I’m here for him just as much as I am for Jesse.

  She has wires attached to her and machines all around her bed. Jesse takes a hold of her hand as he asks, “How is she?”

  “Not sure yet, Son. They are going to run some tests and get a chest X-ray done.”

  “How long has she been feeling like this?”

  “I noticed when we were walking around at the race she was out of breath a bit more than normal for her. Then when we got home on Sunday after the race, she went to bed early, just saying she was tired, so I didn’t think too much of it. Then yesterday, she was breathing even harder even while watching TV on the couch; it seemed to take a lot out of her. When she climbed into bed last night, saying she didn’t feel good, I suggested we call the doctor but she said not to worry she would in the morning. So when I went to wake her up this morning to see how she was feeling, I noticed she was hot, that’s when I made the call.”

  “You did the right thing, Gramps.”

  With Jesse on one side of her bed and the love of her life on the other, I know she’s been well cared for by these two. You can see the love beam out of both of them. Jesse is worried, I can tell, but I also can see he’s trying to hold it together for the man that raised him.

  When the nurses come in to take her for testing that needs to be done, I offer to go get coffee for all of us.

  “That would be great, thanks, Cupcake.” He kisses my cheek and gives me a small hug.

  Walking down the hall to the cafeteria, I can’t help but to want to talk to my mom. Pulling out my phone, I hit the button under my favorite’s labeled ‘Home.’

  “Hello.”

  “Mom?”

  “Maddie, is everything okay?”

  “Yes and no. Jesse’s gramma is in the hospital.”

  “What happened? Is she going to be okay?”

  I tell her the story of what took place and explain that we won’t have the tests back for a little bit. She knows how much I care for Jesse, so this is affecting me almost as much as it is him. I’ve gotten to know his grandparents throughout the last year and half that I’ve known him, and even more so over the past few months that we’ve been together as a couple.

  After chatting with my mom for a few minutes, I’m about ready to say goodbye when she gives me a piece of advice. “Just be there for him: let him lean on you when he needs to, hug him when he needs one, feed him when he doesn’t even think he’s hungry, and love him with your whole heart.” She has always known what to say to me when I had any doubt or if I was unsure about something. Today I just don’t want to do or say the wrong thing, so I’m grateful for her words of wisdom more than ever.

  I walk back with three coffees and a couple of donuts. I know they both probably won’t eat, but I’m thinking of what my mom said. I see the concern covering Jesse’s face and I want to take it all away. I hand them both a cup before setting the bag on the stand that’s there.

  I’m standing next to Jesse until he pulls my back to his front, wrapping his one arm around my waist, while holding his coffee in the other. He rests his chin on my shoulder and I hear and feel him sigh against my neck. My right hand covers his, giving him a tender squeeze, letting him know I’m here. Mind, body, and soul…I’m here for him.

  Another twenty minutes pass before the nurses are pushing her back in. We are told that the doctors will be in shortly to give us the test results. Not even five minutes pass and we are greeted by two different doctors.

  “Hello, I’m Dr. Thompson and this is Dr. Parkland.”

  After we all exchange names, we find out that Dr. Thompson is the emergency room physician that has been looking after Mrs. Anderson and Dr. Parkland is the radiologist that took her X-rays.

  “I’m going to let Dr. Parkland explain what we saw on her chest X-rays and what we need to do from here.”

  I feel Jesse’s hand tighten around my waist, I can tell he’s bracing himself as to what they are about to say. Rubbing my hand back and forth, I try once again to let him know I’m by his side, no matter what.

  “So after taking several different angles of her chest, we have found that she has a severe case of pneumonia. Both of her lungs are completely full.”

  “How could that be, she just started feeling bad a day or two ago.” Mr. Anderson seems confused at their news.

  “Most likely she’s had walking pneumonia and it just progressed from there. Has her breathing been heavier or has she had a shortness of breath?”

  “Yes, she has, on both your questions, Doctor.”

  “Also her labs show her white cell blood count is extremely high, which means her body is fighting some sort of an infection too,” Dr. Thompson steps up to say.

  “Okay, so what does this all mean? What happens now?” You can hear the concern in Jesse’s voice as he speaks.

  “Well, she’ll stay in the hospital until we feel she’s out of the woods and doing well enough to go home. We’ll give her fluids and medication to help get things under control.” Dr. Thompson looks at all three of us while he talks.

  A nurse com
es in shortly after the doctor walks out. She has paperwork for Mr. Anderson to sign, and then explains that they are getting a room ready for her on the third floor. We’re told it’s a unit that is a step down from the ICU. It’s where the nurses can keep a closer eye on her. They want to give her a private room to keep the risk of any additional infections down.

  We are asked to step out while they gather everything they need to bring her upstairs. Jesse’s grandpa lets them know he’s not leaving her, and it melts my heart. Their love is still going strong, even after all these years.

  “Cupcake, you can head home if you want. It might be a long day. I want to see if she wakes up before I leave. I want her to know I was here and I love her.”

  “Oh, Babe, she knows that, I’m sure of it and there’s no place I need to be.” I wrap my arms around his waist and give him a hug, as we stand in the hallway waiting. He responds by squeezing me back tightly, then places a tender kiss on my lips. I smile up to him, trying to reassure him that everything will be okay, even though I have no idea.

  We’ve had good days and bad ones as the last couple of weeks pass by with Mrs. Anderson still in the hospital. Jesse’s had a hard time going away for the past two weekends for the races, but his grandpa and gramma insist on it. They both told him he had a championship to win, and he owed it to himself and the fans to see it through. So he nodded his head, and away he went weekend after weekend, until he locked it up and took home the first place trophy.

  Now he’s home for the week before he’s off to Vegas for the finals. He’s out riding for the morning and then we’re off to go to the hospital. Jesse wants to get some answers as to why she’s still there, he thought by now she’d be home.