18. Noah
noah
. . .
T hank God we won because seeing her baby blues is worth the shit my coach is going to give me for bailing on the press conference after the game. When the clock hit zero, I rushed off the field as fast as I could. It was completely unprofessional of me, and I could’ve easily waited since I asked my dad if I could use the band’s plane, but I wanted to get here. After the conversation with Quinn, this was where I needed to be.
“Sorry for not calling.”
“It’s fine. I get it.” I don’t, but the issues between Peyton and me are for us to figure out. Peyton and Dessie don’t get along, and I foolishly tried to keep them both happy, when I really should’ve focused on Peyton.
“Nah, man. My phone died and these nurses are vicious. They have a strict no phone policy. But anyway, my parents are filing a lawsuit against the doctor who performed Peyton’s surgery. A nurse came forward and backed the claim Peyton wasn’t taken care of properly. Xander is here and he brought some doctor from Los Angeles. My parents have been fighting with the board to give this doc hospital privileges so she can go in and fix everything.”
“What do you mean everything?”
“Shit, Noah. Peyton’s arm’s shattered. Her leg is busted up. There’s still glass in her side and the bastard didn’t sew her up right after they cracked open her chest. Mom is really worried about infections because we haven’t been wearing gowns and we touched her, and that’s another thing. We kept moving her arm. Who knows how much pain we’ve caused or the damage we’ve done.”
My mind goes blank, listening to Quinn. I definitely picked up her arm. I kissed the top of her hand and held it to my face. I didn’t want to let her go.
“Son of a bitch.”
Quinn sighs. “Anyway, she’s heading back into surgery on Sunday. It’s the only day the hospital would give the doctor.”
Sunday, while I’m playing in a game. I push the palm of my hand into my forehead and groan. For the first time in my career, I wish I had chosen baseball. I’d be off right now. I could be sitting next to her, watching games on my iPad or filling in crossword puzzles. I don’t care if we sit and stare at each other as long as I’m spending time with her. I feel like I have so much to make up for, but don’t even know where to start, assuming that I can. The one thing I do know is I want my friend back, and with Dessie and I no longer together, it can happen.
“Do you know what time her surgery is?”
“I don’t, but shit, Noah…”
“I know, Quinn. We have to think she’ll be okay. Better than ever when she gets out. I’ll be there after the game. Can you pick me up?”
“Yeah, of course. You gonna get into trouble?”
I sigh. “I have permission to miss practice if we win today.”
“You better win.”
“I will.” We hang up and I send a text to my dad, asking if I can use the private plane. It would be one thing if it were a jet, but considering the size of our family, the band opted for a full-size aircraft to haul us around when we’re all together. It’s a complete waste of airspace and fuel to cart one person. He, of course, says yes, saving me from having to depend on an airline to get me to Chicago quickly.
Kissing her though, while completely unplanned, is worth it. It’s been two years and some odd months since prom night. I was a nervous wreck while she was calm and collected. You would’ve thought I was the one about to lose my virginity, and part of me wishes I was, but I spent years fighting my attraction to her simply because our families wouldn’t approve.
But now I don’t care. I hate that it’s taken her accident and the threat of her dying for me to admit my true feelings for her. Surely, I’m not the first man to have a moment of clarity when he’s staring at the woman he’s loved for as long as he can remember. Those feelings for her, the ones I’ve buried deep down, hit me like a ton of bricks when I saw her in bed, barely hanging on. Waiting is no longer an option for me unless Peyton doesn’t feel the same way. If she tells me I’m crazy or we can never be together, I’ll tuck my tail between my legs and move on.
As luck would have it, Peyton was still sleeping when I arrived. I somehow encouraged the Powell-James family to take the nurses up on their offer and use their lounge to get some sleep because even she knew they weren’t leaving Peyton in this hospital by herself, especially under the circumstances and the likely soon-to-be lawsuit.
This time when I looked at her, I saw my future. I saw the woman I want to kiss after I win the Super Bowl, the one who will give me children, who will bear my name, lie next to me at night, listen to me complain about my aches and pains, and take every compliment I throw at her. I saw the woman who is going to keep me on my toes, call me out on my bullshit, and love me unconditionally. And I couldn’t wait to tell her.
Except spilling my guts the moment she woke up, was not going to get me very far. She was groggy and could barely keep her eyes open, but she knew I was there, waiting for her. And waiting for her is exactly what I’m doing.
“Here,” Harrison says, handing me a cup of coffee. “It’s from the corner coffee shop, not that nasty shit you and Quinn have been making everyone drink.”
I smile and thank him. “We didn’t want to leave the hospital.”
“I know. Me neither. But Ben’s here so I make him do all my errands.”
“When’s Elle going to come clean and tell everyone they’re dating?”
Harrison shrugs and motions for me to follow him. I glance into Peyton’s room, relieved to find she’s still sleeping. Katelyn is in there, reading to her, likely some sappy romance story about true love and second chances… a story about us more or less.
We sit down in the waiting room, where the television is on, but the sound is muted. I look quickly to see what’s on, hoping it’s ESPN, but it’s some home makeover show that is probably all the rage right now.
“I don’t think they’re dating.” Harrison takes a drink of his coffee and sighs. “Which is a shame because I really like the kid. And if they are, she’s hiding it really well.”
“From the outside, it looks obvious. I mean, he’s here, right? What friend would come spend time in the ICU of a hospital?”
“You,” Harrison points out. I want to respond with, “it’s because I love your daughter,” but I don’t.
“I think my relationship with Peyton is a bit beyond what Elle and Ben have going on. I’ve known Peyton since she was a baby.”
“True. So… what’s new?”
Nice change of subject, Harrison. “Not much. We won, but it won’t be enough for the playoffs.” I shrug. Harrison wasn’t really into my sports scene when I was growing up. Sure, he came to games, but I think most of that was because Elle was a cheerleader and Peyton was on the sidelines. I know things would be different if Mason were across from me. We’d probably talk sports to pass the time, but Harrison’s life is music.
“Your dad is really proud of you.”
“Thanks, his support means a lot.”
“I remember the day he came back from Beaumont. Hell, he didn’t even tell JD or I he was leaving, but he comes back with these songs and I’m thinking ‘this bastard went and fell in love.’ It was days before I got it out of him, but man once your dad started talking he didn’t shut up. Not about you or your mom.”
“Is that why you came to Beaumont?”
Harrison finishes off his coffee and sets the paper cup down on the table. “Your dad invited Quinn and I to spend the holidays there. He thought that if you met Quinn, he could help you understand the lives we lead. What it’s like to have your picture taken all the time or to have people follow your every move.”
“You fell in love with Katelyn that day.”
“Best damn day of my life.”
“Mine too,” I mutter. Quinn is one of my best friends and I can’t imagine not knowing him. Even if Harrison and Katelyn weren’t together, I’d know Quinn, but I don’t know if we’d be as close as we are.
“What do you know about this Zimmerman kid?”
I shake my head and wonder if I should tell him about the conversation I had with Kyle or not. “Not much. I think he came into the league either a year before or after me. I don’t really remember. Why?”
Harrison runs his hands down his legs. The dude is wearing shorts and it’s freaking cold outside. Thinking back, I think the only time I’ve ever seen him in pants was for my parents’ wedding. Even for Quinn and the twins’ graduation, he wore shorts.
“Lawyer thinks we should sue him.”
“Mira said no charges would be pressed, right?” I must’ve watched the news conference over and over again after I found out about it. I was shocked to find out the police weren’t pursuing charges against Zimmerman, but they were against the other driver. Deeper research brought me to a few articles stating the driver was speeding.
“Yeah the police said he’s not at fault, but?—”
“But Peyton suffered.”
“Exactly. So what about you? How are things with…? I’m sorry, I’ve spaced on her name.”
“Dessie,” I say, shaking my head. “We’re not together anymore. It’s pretty damn complicated,” I tell him before he can ask why.
“Noah!” Elle comes in with Ben following behind. She gives me a hug, acting as if she hasn’t seen me in months.
Ben stops and motions to the bags he’s carrying. “Here, take one.” I do, and as soon as I open it, my stomach growls.
“Thanks, Ben.”
“No problem. It’s what I’m good for.”
Harrison grabs a bag and Ben sets the rest down on the small table. I watch as he takes a seat next to Elle and she leans into him. He kisses the top of her head and sighs and I find myself wondering again whether there’s something going on between them.
“What are you up to these days, Ben?”
“School and work,” he says.
“And being Elle’s personal slave?” I ask.
Elle slaps me in the arm and gives me a dirty look. I can joke like this with her, but I can’t with Peyton. I see them so differently. “That’s rude, Noah.”
“It’s the truth. Right, Ben?”
Elle turns and looks at him. It’s mushy as shit. If they’re not dating, they’re messing around between the sheets.
“I don’t mind,” he says, looking deep into her eyes. The sight makes me want to gag, but honestly, I’m probably not much better when it comes to Peyton.
“Noah!” I stand as my aunt Katelyn comes toward me. “Thank you so much for sitting with Peyton. We really needed a couple of hours of shut-eye.”
“My pleasure.” And fully for my benefit. I was there when she opened her eyes. I got to kiss her, and I’m praying she remembers it when she wakes fully.
“The nurse is with her now. They’re going to try and wean her off the morphine a little, hoping she’ll stay awake longer. I don’t know though, I don’t want her in pain.”
“She’ll be fine,” Harrison says as he reaches for Katelyn. “She has her family to help and guide her.”
And me. She’ll have me because once the season’s over, I’m not leaving her side.
“Quinn said Xander is going to take over her treatment?”
Katelyn nods. “I’m not sure if Peyton realizes this or not, but she’ll be coming home with us when she’s discharged.”
Which means I’ll be living in Los Angeles during the off-season, hopefully somewhere near where the Powell-James live because I need to be close to Peyton. I don’t want to let her out of my sight, and if that means I have to work out with her everyday, so be it.