Chapter 35 Reagan
THIRTY-FIVE
REAGAN
The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is insane. We have two, sometimes three games per week. Add in studying for finals, and I barely have a minute to myself. I usually thrive in chaos, but this year has been more challenging.
Riggs has been so busy that we hardly see each other. Just a few texts and stolen moments on the team bus. He’s got all the things I’m dealing with, plus trying to spend as much time with his dad as he can.
Speaking of, I see him walking up to me outside the library. He has a gorgeous smile on his face, and I pretend it’s just for me. His breath shows in the cold December air, and all I want to do is warm him up. I don’t know what will happen, but I pray that I get to keep him.
“Hi, Point Guard, how was your last final?” I wrap my arms around his waist, and he squeezes me tight. He’s starting to feel a lot like home. I don’t know if that should scare me or if I should be thrilled. I’m going with the latter.
“Not too bad. Are you happy to be done, Sunshine?” We both finished our exams today, and I’m looking forward to a few weeks of no school.
“I am! You know how much I love Christmas. So now that school is on break, I can focus on all the holiday festivities. What about you?” I wince a little because this has to be brutal, spending the holidays for the last time with his father.
“It’s bittersweet, for sure. I’m grateful for one more holiday with him, but it also feels tainted. That probably doesn’t make any sense.” He takes his beanie off, brushing his hands through his hair, before looking at me.
I don’t know what he sees, but whatever it is, it emboldens me to share my feelings.
I want him to know. I need him to know. We haven’t talked about anything to do with us since Halloween.
Things with the team, his dad, and school have been busy, and I didn’t want to take away from that.
It just hasn’t felt like the right time to push anything more than friendship on him. Even though I desperately want to.
“Hey, Riggs…” I say, and then stop because the words just leave me as he brings his gorgeous green eyes to mine.
A cocky grin forms on his devastatingly handsome face. “Hey, Reagan…” He mocks me, and that eases a little bit of the tension I’m feeling.
Why am I so nervous?
“I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Okay, Sunshine, I’m all ears.” He’s encouraging me, and I need to go for it.
“I really—”
My words are interrupted by Riggs’s phone.
“It’s my mom,” he tells me before answering.
His face pales as soon as I hear his mom respond, and I know that tonight has just taken a turn for the worse.
“Reagan…” I hear Riggs’s raspy, devastated tone as he hangs up the phone.
“Riggs, what’s wrong?” My heart drops into my stomach, and I feel nauseous. It seems like it takes him minutes to answer, but I know it is only seconds.
“My dad. He collapsed, and they had to call an ambulance.” I hear the emotion in his voice, and tears start falling. His worst fears are becoming a reality.
“What do you need?” I am already getting my keys out. I’ll send my family a text to let them know once we arrive at the hospital. I have to get him to his dad.
He doesn’t answer right away, so I lead him to the Jeep. He gets in, and we start the short drive to the hospital. He grabs my hand and holds on to it for dear life.
It takes us about fifteen minutes to get to the hospital, and I drop Riggs at the front entrance while I find a parking spot.
As quickly as I can, I make it into the ER, and I see Riggs waiting for me, body tense and his eyes swimming.
“Riggs.” I get one word out while his arms pull me in, and I hold on to him. He sags, and I feel his whole body shaking as he cries. It only takes a minute before he composes himself, and we go in search of Nora.
We find his mom in the small waiting room. She looks like she’s still in shock. Seeing us, she rushes over and hugs me. Then she pulls Riggs to her, and they both embrace, exchanging quiet words and tears between them.
After a few moments, Riggs looks at his mom. “Has the doctor said anything yet?”
Her face drops as she looks at her son, the spitting image of his father. “Yes, he said we can go to his room in a few minutes. He wants to talk to us after Dad is settled.”
He responds with a nod, but I see the fear in his eyes.
We all sit in the waiting room chairs. It’s just the three of us in here, and the silence is deafening.
Riggs holds my hand on his lap. I squeeze it, and he looks at me with a slight smile on his face.
Those green eyes hold the pain of the world in them, and my heart breaks for him.
“Thank you for bringing me, Sunshine.”
“Always.” I honestly don’t know what to say. I want to take all his pain from him.
It takes a few more minutes before a nurse enters and tells us that Joel is settled and can see visitors. Not sure what to do, I stay in my seat. The last thing I want is to overstep during a sensitive time.
Before I can say anything, Riggs pulls me up and whispers in my ear, “Reagan, please come in with me.”
“Of course. I’ll do whatever you need.” I brace myself for what is behind the door.