Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
DEREK
“ I saacs. C’mere.”
The kid looks sick as he jogs off the field and comes to stand in front of me. “Yes, Coach?”
“How’s training been going this offseason?”
He nods. “Good. I’ve been hitting the gym every night.”
“I can tell. You’re getting faster off the line.”
He beams at me. “Thanks. I’ve been working hard to be a starter.”
I clap him on the shoulder. “Keep it up and you’ll get there. Now, why don’t you go work with the freshmen to show them your new spin move.”
“You got it.”
There’s a look of pride on his face as he runs back out onto the field to where the freshman team is gathered.
“He’s come a long way this past season,” Ace tells me.
“He has. He’s got potential to go far.”
Ace smiles at me. The sun is beating down on us. “He could maybe even be the next Derek Hollins.”
I wave him off. “Nah. He’s going to be better. Because he’ll be a better person than I was when I was playing.”
“And he can thank you for that. ”
A JV coach jogs out to meet me where I’m standing.
“Everything okay?” I ask him.
“Derek. Call on the main line for you. They’ve been trying to call you but can’t get a hold of you.”
I pat my pockets for my phone, but come up empty. “Did they say who it was?”
“A hospital? That’s about all I got before they told me to come get you.”
Shit.
Did something happen to Sutton?
Troy? Or Lydia? My parents?
Fuck.
“Go,” Ace tells me. “I’ll take care of the team.”
“Thanks.” I hand him the clipboard and run toward the locker room. The halls are empty since it’s after school. The red light is blinking on the desk phone when I get into my office.
“This is Derek Hollins.” I waste no time answering.
“Hi. This is Linda from the children’s hospital. Your number is the emergency contact for your son.”
“Is he okay?” I ask. My legs go numb as I drop down into my chair.
“He was found in a car by himself?—”
“He what?” I couldn’t have heard her right. “He’s supposed to be with his mom today.”
“A passerby called it in and the paramedics brought him in.”
“But is he okay?” I ask again. Not thinking, I fish around in my desk for my keys and phone. I need to leave now. I can’t imagine how scared he must be.
“So far, yes.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Okay. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I hang up the phone and dash out of the office to my truck .
Glancing at my phone, there are over a dozen missed calls from Sutton. Shit. I know she’s at work right now, so my only hope is that she’s with Troy.
But that leads me to my other questions as I peel out of the parking lot.
What the fuck was Troy doing in a car by himself and where the fuck is Missy?
It seems like every person in the entire city is out as I try to navigate the busy streets to get to the hospital.
My brain is going to every worst-case scenario on what could have possibly happened. Everything was fine when I packed Troy up for his day with Missy today. Shit, shit, shit. I can’t take this. Pulling up to the hospital, I find the closest spot to the ER doors that I can and rush inside. As soon as the glass doors slide open, Sutton is there.
“Thank fuck.” I run into her arms and squeeze her tight. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Troy. He’s?—”
“Is he okay? What happened? Where is he? Can I see him?”
“Take a breath,” Sutton tells me. Worry lines her face, and it does nothing to calm the nerves that have taken over my entire body. “He is okay. Jameson is with him now.”
Thank God he and Sutton work here. I don’t know what I would do if I had to talk to a stranger. “What happened? Someone named Linda called and said they found him in a car?”
Sutton grimaces, and whatever comes next, I know I’m not going to like it. She nods. “Yeah. We’re trying to get the full story of what happened, but he’s okay.”
Taking my hand, Sutton leads me down a hallway. Machines are beeping and people are coming and going. The last time we were here, it was for a broken arm. At least there’s some relief that this isn’t worse.
“He’s in here. ”
Looking through the mint green doors, I’m relieved to see Troy sitting on a gurney with Jameson on a stool next to him. He looks fine. Pushing open the door, Sutton follows me in. Troy’s eyes light up the minute he sees me.
“Daddy! Look what Jameson made me.”
He holds up a hockey stick balloon with a puck attached to the end. Thank fuck. Rushing to the side of the bed, I scoop him into my arms and squeeze him tight.
“He’s okay,” Jameson tells me.
“Don’t squish my hockey stick,” Troy tells me.
“Are you okay, buddy?” I ask him, pulling back and looking him over. There’s an IV attached to his arm, but other than that, he looks okay.
I think I might be in worse shape than he is.
“Mommy was supposed to take me to see a movie, but we had to stop first.”
“And where is she?”
Troy shrugs a shoulder and sits back down on the bed. “I dunno.”
Rubbing a hand over his hair, I press a kiss to the top of his head. He smells like the shampoo I always use for him. It helps soothe my frayed nerves.
“What else can we make?” Troy asks Jameson. “Can we make a hockey stick for Lydia?”
“She would love that,” Sutton tells him.
“Can we make a unicorn too?” Troy asks. “I want a unicorn to give to Lydia.”
“Yes. We’ll make both,” Jameson says. He pulls out a fistful of balloons from his pocket and dumps them on the bed. Troy starts fishing through the bright colors and hands them over to Jameson to start creating his next work of art.
I blow out a sigh of relief. All things considered, Troy is fine. If he’s more worried about me squishing his hockey stick balloon than what happened, it’s okay.
Sutton’s hand rubs up and down my back, and it helps settle everything inside of me. Thank God she’s here, but I don’t know what would have happened if she weren’t.
A nurse pops her head into the room we’re in. “Mr. Hollins, a few police officers would like to talk to you. His mother is in with them now.”
“I’ll be right there.” I nod my head at her and turn my attention to Jameson. “Will you stay with him?”
“Of course. I’ve got plenty of balloons we can make.” Jameson pulls a pile out of his scrub pocket. “I’ve got him.”
“Thank you.”
Taking Sutton’s hand in mine, I follow her out the door to another room. When the door opens, two police officers are there with Missy.
Seeing that Troy was okay calmed me down. Seeing this woman now? I’m ready to snap again.
“What the hell is going on, Missy?” I stalk over toward her.
“Sir. If I may…” An older police officer with short, gray hair sticks a hand out between the two of us. “We were called because someone noticed your son in the car, and with the warm temps today, they were concerned for his well-being.”
“Thank God.” I shift my gaze to him before looking back at Missy. “What were you doing? You can’t leave him in the car!”
“It was a quick stop.” She looks at me like this is the most obvious statement. “I had to fix a nail before we went to the movies.”
Sutton squeezes my bicep. I know it’s to try and keep my anger in check, but I don’t know if I can at this point.
“I don’t care!” I snap. “He’s five. He can’t be left alone.”
“I couldn’t take him inside with me.”
I start pacing. I need to rein in my emotions. With the two police officers in here, plus Sutton and her boss, I don’t need to lose my cool and for them to think I’m the problem. “You can’t leave him by himself. ”
“My mom always did when I was little.”
And look how you turned out.
I’m fuming. Whatever goodwill I had in my heart toward Missy is gone. Putting my son in a situation like this is something I don’t think I could ever forgive her for.
“Do you have primary custody, sir?” the younger of the two officers asks me.
I nod. “Yes. We’re supposed to go to court in a few weeks to determine a shared custody arrangement.”
“Child services will likely do a follow-up visit, but since the child was not with you at the time of the incident, he can be released into your care.” He looks between the two of us. “Make sure you reach out to your attorney.”
“I will.”
“Ma’am.” He turns his attention to Missy. “We have a few more questions for you before you go. Mr. Hollins, would you mind giving us the room?”
“Sure.”
The last thing I want is to be in a shared space with Missy. Sutton exchanges a few words with Linda before she takes my hand once again and leads me to a room at the end of the hall that is completely dark.
Sutton pushes me onto the bed, steps between my legs and wraps her arms around my shoulders. Her fingers sink into my back, letting me know she’s here. “What do you need?”
Her quiet, whispered words push me over the edge. Pulling her close, I breathe her in, letting my suppressed emotions take over.
Hot tears start rolling down my face. I couldn’t stop them if I tried. Every bad thought that went through my head today is back. The worst-case scenarios that something might still happen are front and center.
“I can’t believe this is happening. How could she do this?” I squeeze Sutton tighter. I need her more than anything right now .
“Troy is okay. We’re going to take him home, watch a movie, and then read him a book. The doctor cleared him. He’s going to be fine. I promise.”
“I thought it was your night alone?” I turn my face into her neck. Her laughter vibrates against my lips.
“Screw being alone. There’s no place else I’d rather be than with my two favorite guys.”
“God, I love you. I don’t know what I would have done without you today.”
“Hey.” Sutton pulls back, cupping my cheeks. “You are never going to have to find out. I love you. Forever. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Yeah?”
She nods, pressing her lips to my forehead. “You’re stuck with me, Derek.”
“Good.”
“Sorry to interrupt.” Jameson peeks his head inside the room. “The doctor just came to look Troy over and cleared him to be released. He’s asking for pizza and stickers.”
I laugh. Sutton is still holding me, but hearing Troy’s requests, I know he’s okay. “I owe you, Jameson. Thank you.”
He waves me off. “You’re family. I’d do anything for my family.”
Before he can leave, I walk over and give him a hug. “Thank you. For everything.”
“I’m here for you. For all of you. Gunnar too. Whatever you need, just let us know.”
“Thank you.”
My head is cloudy as a headache settles between my eyes.
“Come on.” Sutton holds the door open for me. “Let’s go get Troy and head home together.”
Together. That’s all I ever needed to hear.
The only family I’ll ever need.