Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cam woke up with a splitting headache, a dry mouth, and the awful taste of antiseptic in his mouth. The last thing he remembered smelling was dirt mixed with manure as he went down on the arena floor, so that meant he was in a medical place somewhere, dammit.
He tried to open his eyes, but the light was so damn bright he squeezed them shut, groaning.
“Shh…you just keep those pretty eyes closed. You want some ice chips?”
Oh.
Oh, Mitch.
Thank fucking God.
He tried for a smile, knowing it probably looked like something out of horror movie. “Please. Hey, baby.”
“Hey, you. You worried me. I was half afraid you wouldn’t know who I was when you woke up.” Ice chips slipped in his dry lips.
Now he frowned instead, blinking hard because he wanted to see Mitch’s face. “How long was I out?”
“A day and a half. The girls are here in the hotel. I have a dozen videos for you. They can’t wait to see you.”
“Who’s with them?” There was no way Mitch would leave those girls alone in a hotel, but he needed to know. Last he’d heard, everyone was down with the flu at his mom’s camp.
“Mark. He flew in, and he’s spoiling and occupying, so I can be here with you.” Mitch’s hand was solid, warm against his thigh.
“Oh, that’s cool. I’m glad. Is he okay?”
Mitch chuckled. “Yeah, he and the girls are having a little mini-vacation at the hotel. It’s kind of a boutique place and they have a hot tub and stuff. I have to admit, I’m a little more worried about you.” Mitch patted his hand, the one that didn’t have the IV in it.
Cam shook his head, then cried out. “What the fuck was that? You’d better tell me what is wrong with me, honey.” His eyes popped open then and stayed open, gaze on Mitch’s face. That had fucking hurt.
“Bad concussion. Broke collarbone and wrist. Some road rash. Now that you’re awake, and you know who you are, it’ll move faster.”
“Shit. That’ll make a mess of the holidays, huh?”
“Nah. We did a lot before you left. The house is decorated. We intend to make you the official cookie tester and Christmas cartoon chooser.” Mitch didn’t sound worried at all.
“Well, I can do that, but—”
“Nope. The girls are anxious to take care of you, and Mark is coming to help.” Mitch held up a hand when he opened his mouth again. “He needs a place to come for the holidays too, babe. He’s really down. I think your people will be just what he needs.”
“Huh.” Cam tried to relax, because his head was throbbing. “Well, as long it’s helping him too.” He didn’t want to ruin anyone’s holiday.
“He’s…I’ve never seen him so sad. Close your eyes, babe. Let me play some messages for you.”
First there was Rachel with, “Cam. We love you. Please don’t die. I told Granny Halley I would pray for you!”
Then Bekka’s message was more…her. “Hey, Cam. Breathe. We’re here to help. I’m going to make sure the little girls are good.”
“Listen, you have to suck it up. I’m going to have Uncle Mark take me to see Fire. He needs love. Rosie is ready for us to come home, so heal. Call me if you need me.”
He had to laugh—he had to, even if it hurt.
“They’re something else, aren’t they?” Mitch stroked his leg. “I’m going to play the ones from Mark, too. I want your opinion.”
He closed his eyes and tried not to drift off to sleep, and yeah. Wow. Those messages from Mark were… pretty flat and a little dire. “Okay, you’re right. He needs to come home with us.”
“See, I thought so too. So he’s going to drive your trailer. Don’t worry, he grew up with horses. And I’ll have you and the girls in the Suburban.”
“Has the doc said when I can go?”
“Well, he said he would have to wait until you woke up. You ready for me to call the nurse?”
“Hell, yeah. If it will get us on the road home, I’m ready.” He knew it would mean a flurry of activity, and that Mitch would have to stand back for a bit… “You need to hit the head or get some food?”
“I’ll hang out until they can say when the doc might come by.”
Relief filled him. “Sounds great.”
“Of course. You’re not on your own, here. We’re here for our cowboy.”
“I know. I can’t believe you got here so fast.” A day and a half was nuts with three kids and all. “Who’s watching Rosie?”
“Your brother has him, and he’s feeding for me. Your people are all still recovering from the stomach bug.”
“Lord. I bet they keep passing it back and forth.” He sighed. “Okay, baby. I’m ready for the onslaught.”
“All right. I love you. I’m going to grab the nurse and let her know you’re awake.”
“Love you too.” He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He was going to have to be able to fool them into letting him go home as soon as possible so he needed to get his shit together.
He wasn’t going to mess up anything for his family by being in the hospital leading up to Christmas.
It was a miracle that Mitch was here and not Momma, for fuck’s sake. But he would bet Momma would have come anyway, if not for the flu.
But he was grateful to have Mitch then, especially when the nurses came in to check all his vitals and press on things that hurt and make notes for the doc. He was glad Mitch hadn’t run off to pee.
When the nurses cleared out, Mitch was still there, making sure his pillows were right, that he got another chunk of ice, and sending proof of life to his family.
“I can’t believe you came out here with the girls,” he said.
“You needed me, and I would much rather be stuck in the car for six hours with my children than listen to them throw up.”
Cam chuckled and fuck, that hurt his collarbone, but it was still funny. “Not a fan of the barfing, are you?”
“God no. Is anyone really a fan of barfing? Because if they are, there’s a deep-seated problem there.
” Mitch shook his head, mock-gagged. “The girls are having a ball. There’s a hot tub, there’s a lobby where they can get books and play games, there’s a Walmart a couple of blocks away.
They’ve been to the Lego store twice. They haven’t even been here two whole days, and they managed to go more than once.
They’ve been shopping and doing makeup. They’re having a great time.
” Mitch rolled his eyes. “Mark has more money than sense, and he loves them.”
That made him a little growly. Maybe more than a little. “Well, I’m glad you’ve got him. Maybe you’d have been better off if you’d hooked up with him.”
Mitch blinked at him as if he’d lost his damn mind and shook his head. “Oh, God, no. No, no, no. Mark is my friend, my brother from another mother, and I love him dearly, but no. I have never so much as thought maybe we could just get each other off in the dark. Hell, honey, you’ve met him.”
Cam frowned. “Why do you say that?”
“Well, you know how you’re like this tough cowboy, and I’m like this grumpy old dad guy?”
Cam tilted his head. “Yeah…I mean, I guess.”
Mitch wasn’t that old.
Mitch grinned at him. “You know, when you see the stereotypical gay men on the television, like with the flippy wrist and fashion sense and manscaping? That whole kit and caboodle? That’s Mark.
Except he’s also tiny. Like itty bitty. You would know that Mark was queer from a thousand yards away.
What is it he calls himself? ‘Swishy’, I think that’s the word he uses.
” Mitch chuckled. “Obviously, I have a type. Allison was pretty damn manly, and well, you know, you’re it for me. So, me and Mark? Nope.”
He grinned. “Well, that’s okay, then. I was fixing to be jealous.”
“No need, babe.”
Cam nodded, smiling, even as his eyelids felt heavy as hell.
“Get some rest, huh?” Mitch bent to kiss his forehead. “I’ll call Mark and get them to bring the girls over. We can all have lunch together, okay?”
“Mmmhmm.” Mitch was here. He was okay. Just tired. He would rest a bit, and then he would set about going home.
He was ready to get out of this hospital already.