Celeste #2
“Jay just took a hit. I can’t get in touch with anyone in the medical room to find out what’s happening, but he was unconscious when they took him off the ice.”
She gasps. “Unconscious?”
My heart sinks. It’s an awful phone call to have to make, and I’m not even there to hold her.
“It was a hard hit, babe. Someone checked him into the boards.”
“Wait, I’m getting another call. Let me go, and I’ll call you right back.”
Kourtney hangs up, and all I can do is pace.
Maybe he just had the wind knocked out of him.
Maybe he’ll come back in the game.
Players take hard hits all the time, and they can still play.
The medical staff will run their tests and follow protocol, and Jason will be fine.
My phone buzzes again, and I answer it on the first ring. “Kourt, what’s happening?”
She sniffles. “They’re taking him to the hospital. Can you meet me there?”
“I’m on my way.”
I bolt through the stadium, out the doors, and through the parking lot as fast as my legs will carry me.
I’m closer to the hospital than Kourtney is, so I make it there before her. I run into the emergency entrance, and my chest heaves as I try to catch my breath before reaching the counter.
“Hi, I’m here for Jason Stamos. He’s the professional hockey player who just got brought in from the game. His wife is on her way.”
The woman behind the counter nods, barely looking up at me as she slides a clipboard my way. “Have a seat, and his wife can fill out these forms when she gets here.”
My stomach clenches. “Are you able to give me any information on his status? Is he conscious?”
“I can speak with his wife when she arrives.”
Immediate family only.
Of course.
I slump into a seat and fill out as much of the information as I can while I wait, but it isn’t much. I don’t know his social security number or medical information.
I know as much as a friend would, because that’s all I am.
Tears spring into my eyes, but I will them away. I need to be strong for Kourtney when she gets here.
Within ten minutes, Kourtney arrives, eyes wide as she rushes through the giant revolving door.
She leaps into my arms as I stand. “Have you heard anything?”
I shake my head. “They won’t tell me anything because I’m not immediate family. I tried filling out the paperwork as much as I can.”
She digs into her purse and pulls out her insurance card before taking the clipboard from me. “Thank you.”
Kourtney scribbles the missing information onto the paperwork and takes it to the woman at the counter.
Jason slamming into the boards replays in my mind over and over while I wait. The sound of the hit, the way his body fell to the ice, the way his arms and legs went limp. Bile rises in my throat as my thoughts lead me to all the worst-case scenarios.
Kourtney gets ushered through the doors, but looks back at me over her shoulder. “Can she come with me?”
The nurse shakes her head. “Only one person at a time, immediate family only.”
She flashes me an apologetic look, and I shake my head as I try to force a smile. “Go.”
Then the doors close behind them.
Jason
“Anything else I can get you?”
“Actually, there is one thing you can do for me, Nancy.” I flash my most charming smile up at the nurse. “Our friend is in the waiting room. They wouldn’t let her in because she isn’t immediate family. Can you pull some strings and get her back here?”
The nurse purses her lips, and she glances at Kourtney. “Does he use that smile on you?”
Kourtney laughs. “He sure does.”
“And you give him anything he asks for, don’t you?”
“I do.”
Nancy shakes her head and turns her attention to me. “There’s a limit to one guest per room, Mr. Stamos.”
“We’ll be quiet, Nancy.” I hold out my pinky. “I promise.”
She glares at my finger.
“Please? My friend is really upset. She was at the game and saw me get knocked out. I don’t want her to be out there all alone, and I don’t want to have to send my wife out into the waiting room either. Do you think you could make an exception for me, just this once?”
Nancy heaves a sigh. “Fine, but you’re signing an autograph for my husband and my son.”
“Deal.”
“What’s your friend’s name?”
“Celeste. Tall with red hair. You won’t miss her.”
“All right, give me five minutes.”
I shoot her a wink. “You’re the best, Nancy.”
She rolls her eyes as she makes her way into the hallway. “Yeah, yeah.”
Kourtney runs her fingertips over my forearm. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay? The doctor rattled off a lot of side effects.”
“I’ve had concussions before. I’ll be fine.”
“But this is the first one you were knocked unconscious for.”
“I’m good.” I reach out and cup her face. “The only pain I feel is the pang in my heart when I see you worrying like this.”
Tears brim over her eyelids. “I can’t help it. I don’t ever want to get a phone call like this again.”
“It’s okay, baby. I’m okay.”
I press my forehead against hers and run my fingers through her hair.
Celeste’s voice booms into the room. “Oh, God. Is he dying?”
Kourtney wipes her cheeks as she chuckles. “No, no. He’s fine. Come in.”
Celeste stands frozen in the doorway, her wide eyes raking over the wires and tubes attached to me. “Hey, boss man. Did you enjoy your little nap?”
She’s making jokes because she’s nervous. I can see it in her expression. She’s putting on a brave face for Kourtney, but I can see past it. She needs reassurance.
I hold my palm out, face up. “Come here.”
She steps into the room and slips her hand into mine. “How do you feel?”
“Better now.” I tug her arm, bringing her closer to me, until her shins hit the side of the bed. “Now that I’ve got both of my girls with me.”
Before Kourtney and I invited Celeste into our marriage, I never felt incomplete.
There was never anything missing. So many people assume that your marriage must be lacking if you’re looking to add a third partner into the mix.
But Celeste wasn’t meant to fill a void.
She enhanced our lives—our relationship—in a way that no one else could have.
The three of us were inseparable in high school, and it’s no different now. She’s a part of us.
She feels it too. If only she could admit it.
Celeste looks between the two of us. “Well, the good news is: The Goldfinches won, and that asshole got ejected from the game. They ruled it a check from behind.”
“How do you know?” Kourtney asks.
“I didn’t know what to do with myself while I was in the waiting room, so I searched up the details of the rest of the game.” She shakes her head. “That was a dirty hit. He’s lucky I don’t follow him after a game and Nancy Kerrigan his ass.”
“Easy, Tanya.” I smooth my thumb over the top of her hand. “I don’t need you getting into trouble for me. I just need you to kiss it all better.”
“He should get fined, you know,” she continues. “Players can’t go around making illegal hits and get a slap on the wrist. I think—”
“Celeste.” I cut her off and squeeze her hand. “Kiss me.”
She leans down and presses her lips to mine. I run my fingers through her hair and hold the back of her head as I deepen the kiss. Her tongue wraps around mine as she sighs into my mouth, and I feel her body relax.
“How are we doing in here?” Dr. Patel’s voice startles us from the doorway, and Celeste jumps a foot away from me before he steps into the room. “I see we have a guest.”
Redness creeps into Celeste’s cheeks. “Hey, Doc.”
“I hope we’re not having too much fun in here. The hockey star needs his rest.”
Kourtney and I exchange glances, and I try not to laugh when I say, “Only a little fun.”
Dr. Patel smiles. “Well, your scans came back, and everything looks normal. You can go home, but make sure you take it easy over the next few days. You might experience side effects like dizziness, headaches, or vomiting. If you experience confusion or memory loss, please come back immediately.”
“Memory loss,” Kourtney echoes. “Does that happen often?”
“Every patient is different, and your husband took a significant hit.” Dr. Patel turns his attention back to me.
“I just want you to know the importance of rest so you don’t overdo it.
I know you have a big game coming up this weekend.
I think you should be fine to play as long as you don’t have any side effects this week. ”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” I stick out my hand. “Thank you, Doctor.”
He clasps my hand in a firm shake. “You ladies take care of him.”
Kourtney smirks. “Oh, we will.”