by Violet Paige
14
The ten minutes it took me to get from townhouse to Julie’s apartment took way too long. I was doing my best to keep my cool for both my girl's sake, but on the inside, I was panicking.
It only took one look at Emma to know that Julie’s concerns were serious. She was much paler than the last time I saw her, and it was easy to see that she was wheezing with each breath she took.
“Hey, Emma,” I said as I knelt down at the side of the couch where she lay. “I’m going to listen to your lungs, okay honey?”
I pulled out my stethoscope and gave a listen. It only verified what I suspected. The severe cold had caused a build up in her lungs. I finished my exam and took her temperature. My brow creased with worry when I read the reading, 104.3.
I told myself that most cases of pneumonia were not life-threatening. My logical brain even reminded me that Emma’s case was probably caught as early as possible.
The irrational part of my mind, however, was screaming that my baby girl was sick and in need of treatment. It took all my strength to push the irrational aside and keep a level head for them both.
“Jules, why don’t you go get change. I’ll stay with Emma.”
“What’s wrong?” Julie asked in a panicked voice.
“Everything will be fine. It sounds like Emma’s cold has traveled down to her lungs.”
“What does that mean?”
“Pneumonia most likely. It’s not serious though,” I said resting my hand on her arm. “You caught it very early. The high fever tells me she may be very dehydrated. We need to get her to the hospital so that we can get some fluid in her.”
“Okay,” Julie said looking back at our little girl. The fear was etched all over her face.
“It’s going to be okay, Jules,” I did my best to reassure her. “Go get changed, and I’ll drive you both to the hospital. I’ll make sure she is seen right away.”
Julie nodded and disappeared down the hall. I turned back to Emma who was looking up at me lethargically.
“We are going to go for a ride to the hospital, okay?” I said down to her as I wiped a stray lock off her face. “Do you want to pick a toy to bring with you?”
I didn’t have a ton of experience treating kids, but I did know that a little thing like a favorite toy might make the whole ordeal a little less scary.
Emma lifted up her hand with her pink bear in it.
“Mrs. Bear,” she said softly.
“Is that her name?”
Emma nodded slowly.
Julie came back out into the living room. She was wearing another pair of leggings a t-shirt, and her hair was thrown up in a messy bun.
“Is it okay if I carry you?” I asked Emma.
My arms itched to pick her up and hold her to me as if that would keep her safe and healthy. I realized that to her, however, I was just a doctor that she had seen a few times.
Even with our little interaction she still reached her hands out to me. I scooped her little body up into my arms and carried her out the door with Julie on my heels.
“Take my car,” Julie said pointing to a little SUV in the parking lot. “It has her car seat in it.”
I set Emma in her set and stepped back to let Julie buckle her in. Julie passed me the keys and moved around to sit next to Emma in the back seat. I could see she was still beside herself.
The sooner I got Emma to the hospital the better. We speed along the streets and freeways in silence. Only the sound of Emma’s occasional cough penetrated my concentration on the road. With every cough, I looked back in the rearview mirror and then increased my speed.
I knew it was illogical of me, but I didn’t care. Emma was my little girl, and I was going to do everything in my power to get her what she needed as soon as I could.
An hour later, I walked into Emma’s hospital room. She had been admitted immediately and given an IV. After a round medication on the nebulizer, she already was breathing with more ease.
I watched Emma’s angelic face as she dozed in her hospital bed. I came to sit by Julie who was leaning forward to hold Emma’s hand in her own.
I rubbed my hand up and down her back trying to ease her worry.
“I should have been home last night,” Julie said softly.
She slowly let go of Emma’s hand and leaned back in her chair next to me.
“If I had been home last night, maybe I could have done something.”
“Hey,” I said leaning her into my arms. I kissed her softly on the head. “I promise you; you did nothing wrong. Even if you were home last night, I doubt you would have caught it any sooner. We got her here while it was all still very new in her system. She is going to bounce back quickly.”
“I just can’t leave her anymore,” Julie said looking up at me.
“And you don’t have to. Okay?” I assured her.
She nodded and leaned into me.
“Once she gets a good amount of fluids in her, she’ll be able to leave by the end of the day. I can take you both home.”
“And stay with us,” Julie said with her head pressed against my shoulder.
She looked up at me then. I searched her eyes for her meaning.
“As long as you want me to,” I answered.
I slipped down to the hospital cafeteria to get us both something to eat. Julie was still a little anxious and didn’t feel comfortable leaving Emma, even if she was still asleep.
I scanned the line of the usual hospital food. It didn’t matter if it was in the middle east or hear in my hometown, hospital food sucked.
My eyes fell on a case full of sweet treats, and I couldn’t help myself. I grabbed one to give to Emma when she woke up.
I came back upstairs and to Emma’s room to find both girls awake and sitting in the hospital bed.
Emma already looked better. Her nap, as well as the added liquids, brought color back to her face. I couldn’t help but match the smile she gave me when I walked into the room.
“You look like you are feeling better,” I said as I strolled into the room. “You're in luck too, because I found the perfect treat for you. Don’t tell your mom," I added in a whisper with a wink.
I pulled out of the bag a chocolate cupcake with pink frosting and a bright red cherry on top.
“Just in case your wondering, it’s called a cherry coke cupcake. That means not only is it a cake, but a cake filled with soda.”
I looked over at Julie who had a brow raised at me and one arm already on her hip and ready to scold.
“I don’t think sweets is a very good idea right now,” Julie said. “It can't be good for you when you are sick.”
“Are you kidding me. It’s the best thing for you,” I said more to Emma. “Trust me, I know. I’m a doctor,” I added with a wink.
I ignored Julie's scoff.
I placed the cupcake on the small table and wheeled it in front of Emma. She hesitated a moment and looked at me. She looked at her mom, and I saw some unspoken words pass between them.
Turning back to me she said, “Mommy says you're my Daddy. Is that true?”
I looked over at Julie surprised by the words. Julie gave me a nod of encouragement.
I looked down at Emma. I struggled to keep my emotions in check.
“I am your Daddy. I know I haven’t been around up until now. I was hoping that could change. Would you be okay with that?”
She took the cherry off the cupcake and popped it into her mouth. She chewed and swallowed as she seemed to think this over.
“Does that mean you will bring more cupcakes and doughnuts with you?”
I leaned down to my little girl and nudged her forehead with mine.
“You bet.”
I heard Julie tisk on the other side.
15
I turned to the sound of Emma sneezing.
“You okay over there?” I said as I made my way over to her.
She was holding a large bouquet of flowers in her hands.
“I don’t like the
se,” she said rubbing her little nose.
I laughed and took the floors out of her hand and set them on the table. I bent down in front of her an helped tie the back bow of her pretty white and pink dress.
“Well I was going to put one of these in your hair,” I said holding the small bunch of rose peach colored sweet peas in my hand. “I better not though. I would want you sneezing the whole way down the aisle.”
“Do you think you could help me though?” I asked handing Emma my white vail.
She had loved playing with it all morning long as I slipped into my white dress. I bent down so that she could place the clear comb into my hair.
“Do I look okay?” I asked as I stood before Emma.
“You look like a princess, Mommy," Emma encouraged with an angelic smile.
“So do you,” I said taking her hand.
I don’t think I ever felt as much joy as the moment I walked down the aisle. Emma was in front of me delicately dropping one rose petal at a time. Just beyond her stood the man of my dreams; the man that would be mine for the rest of our lives.
Hawk looked so dashing in his tailored suit with his close-cut beard and slicked back black hair. It nearly took my breath away.
“Hi, Daddy," Emma called much to the amusement of the small crowd.
"Hi, honey,” he said giving his little girl a wink.
Emma dropped her last petal and went to stand next to Savannah, my maid of honor.
It was like a dream as I came to stand before Hawk. I couldn’t seem to tare my gaze away from the joy that seemed to glow out of his green eyes.
We each spoke the vows we had written, and before I knew it, he was kissing me for the first time as his wife. Amid the cheers, he reached down and picked up Emma. Holding Emma with one arm and taking my hand with the other, we walked down the aisle and into our new life as a whole family.
Sidelined
A Bad Boy Sports Romance
By Violet Paige
1
Sam
It was the game that popped the cherry on the season. Monday night football. The night. The one that gave millions a taste of what they had been waiting for all summer. And we were headed to Austin to play the fucking Warriors.
I got it. I knew that the schedules were arranged ahead of time. But we were Super Bowl champions. The Wranglers shouldn’t be in Austin for this game. They should have come to us. The hatred between our two teams was palpable and an overnight trip into Warrior territory was an insult to what we had accomplished.
I sat next to Stubbs on the plane. He kept his earbuds in for the twenty-minute flight from San Antonio.
I tried to stretch my legs, but even on the Wranglers’ private jet there wasn’t enough leg room. At six-five, airplanes were uncomfortable as shit. At least I wasn’t in the back with the linemen. Those guys had nowhere to go. I shifted again, banging my knee into the tray table.
“Damn it,” I muttered.
The flight attendant stepped forward in the aisle, handing out bottles of water. Coach Howell had given strict instructions that we weren’t supposed to drink the night before the game. He couldn’t regulate everything we did, but he sure as hell tried.
I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had told the flight crew to only stock water on this flight.
I smiled at the brunette as I took the bottle from her.
“Do you need anything else?” she asked.
“I think I’m good, darlin’.” I twisted off the cap and took a sip.
The season started tomorrow night and even though it was only my second year with the team, I had a strict policy once the first snap was taken. No women.
I’d made that mistake in college and it messed with my head. I didn’t broadcast it. I didn’t discuss it, but she had done a number on me and almost cost me my senior season. She could have ruined my chances in the pros. I’d never make that mistake again. I had a million-dollar contract, and no woman, no matter how great she fucked, was worth losing that.
I was the highest-rated tight end in the American Football Association. I had a Super Bowl ring and my agent had recently finalized a bonus contract for this season. I couldn’t let some pretty girl get in my head. Wasn’t happening. There was a prize for me come February worth about two million dollars.
I looked out the window as Austin came into view.
I’d spent my life playing Texas football. It was in my heart. In my blood. But this wasn’t my city. The Warriors were our biggest rivals. The fact that we were in constant competition to be crowned the state’s home team was always lingering between us.
But this time we were showing up as national champions, and they could shit talk all they wanted. They didn’t have the title we did.
The captain called over the speaker, “We are approaching Austin. Please prepare for landing.”
I exhaled. I was ready. Ready to get this game over with and take home another win.
As soon as we were on the ground and could unfasten our seatbelts, I stood up to an awkward bent position. None of us could stand in this jet. Wes, the team’s quarterback, was the first to take the steps to the tarmac.
I could hear the press outside the plane hitting him with questions. They loved that guy. He was a champion. He had led the team all the way to San Diego last year. He had earned his place.
One by one, we disembarked. The flight attendant tugged my arm before it was my turn. I looked at her as she tucked a folded piece of paper in my suit jacket.
“I’ve got a twenty-four hour layover,” she whispered.
“Thanks.” I grinned before ducking out of the jet.
“Call me, Sam.”
I ran my hands through my dark hair and shook my head.
I wasn’t going to pretend I couldn’t get any woman I wanted. I knew how they looked at me. How they licked their lips when I walked by. I worked hard for this body. I spent endless hours in the gym lifting weights and working with my cross-fit trainers. It didn’t happen overnight, but I looked like a god when I took the field. There were painful weeks and months of sweat and hard work that went into creating the physical machine I had become. I didn’t care if I was eye-candy to them—the season started tomorrow and they were background noise.
I’d throw her number away as soon as I found a trashcan. No distractions. No women. Tomorrow night the spotlight was on all of us, and I had to show the world Sam Hickson was more than a lucky first-year rookie. I was as much a champion as Wes Blakefield. I had a career ahead of me that would blow all the numbers out of the fucking world.
I smiled at the cameras and walked past Wes. He was still answering questions. There was a bus waiting to take us the hotel. I hopped up the stairs, feeling the coldness of the air conditioning rush over my head. The season opener was all that mattered now.
There were two different playbooks. I stretched my legs on the hotel bed and picked up the one designed for Warriors games. We had our own set of rules when we faced them. I had been over it at least twenty times before tonight, but I wanted to review the plays again.
“Sam, you in there?”
I sat up when I heard Stubbs’ loud voice and his fist pounding on my door. I walked over and opened it.
“Hey, man. What’s going on?”
“We’re going out,” he announced.
“Out?”
He grinned. “Hell, yeah. We need to blow off some steam. You’re coming with us.”
I shook my head. “I’m studying.”
“You sure you’re not still a fucking rookie?”
I glared at him. “Maybe I’m the only one who wants to win tomorrow night.”
He laughed in my face. “No, you’re the only fucker who thinks studying will make a difference. We’ve got this game. So come on. We’re going out.”
“I’ll pass.”
“Do you know where we are?”
I bit the inside of my cheek. It was rhetorical, so I waited for him to answer for me.
“We’re in fucking A
ustin. Where the Warriors live. Where they eat. Where they drink. Where people think they aren’t the biggest dicks on the planet.”
“What’s your point, Stubbs?”
He crossed his arms. “Not only are we going to beat them tomorrow night, but we’re also going to beat them tonight. We’ll drink their liquor. Hit on their women. Party like they could only dream.”
The Wranglers liked to party. No—the Wranglers liked wicked debauchery. We threw the kind of parties you couldn’t mention at Thanksgiving dinner. Last year, as the ring leader of the rookie class, I was responsible for the Dean. It was a tradition to give the veterans a party that satisfied their every sinful need. And I did a pretty damn good job. We had high-stakes poker, strippers, and top-shelf liquor, and no one left without an A-list blowjob. But that didn’t mean I was up for it tonight. Things were different. I wasn’t a rookie anymore. I had to prove myself and I wanted that damn bonus this season.
“Get your ass out here, Sam,” Stubbs ordered.
“I’ll meet you.”
“Like hell you will.” He jammed his foot in the door. “Get your wallet and keys.”
I hung my head. Damn it. This was the last thing I wanted to do right now. Stubbs’ grin said everything when I met him in the hallway. Tonight was going to be Wrangler-level epic.
2
Natalia
I hung the shirt and clipped the tiny skirt to the hanger and scowled at my uniform. I hated it. Sometimes I didn’t want to even look at myself in the mirror when I had it on. Then there were the boots. Who wore gold metallic knee-high boots? I had wiped the scuff marks from them and placed them under the dance ensemble.
Calling it dance was a stretch. It was basically a stripper’s outfit. I didn’t know how anyone could feel Warrior pride wearing that thing, but the other girls on the squad did. They loved it. They loved the W on their chests. They loved the mini stars on their skirts. They didn’t care that half of the shirt was missing and the only reason they got attention was because of their bodies. It didn’t seem to bother any of them. Except me.