Chapter 15 Jackson
Now
My legs bounce incessantly as I hold onto Tae’s hand from my spot beside her bed in the post-op recovery room a nurse led me back to moments ago. This room is giving me deja vu to her hospital stay in Paris.
“Hey, sleepyhead. How are you feeling?” I ask as her eyes flutter open.
Tae’s brows crinkle but when she manages to keep her eyes open long enough to focus on me, her face transforms with a radiant smile eclipsing the fog from anesthesia.
“Well, hello handsome,” she rasps, her voice hoarse.
“Hello to you too, gorgeous,” I reply, failing to bite back a chuckle.
“You think I’m gorgeous?!” she squeals like a schoolgirl and it’s honestly one of the most adorable things I’ve ever heard.
“Of course. From the moment I first laid eyes on you to our wedding day to now. You’re the most mesmerizing woman I’ve ever seen.”
“Shut. Up. I’m married to you?!”
Alarm bells go off in my head, I shoot a look at the nurse but she’s too busy laughing at Tae’s animated expressions.
“Don’t worry,” the nurse assures me when she senses my anxiety. “This is totally normal when people are waking from anesthesia. Sometimes patients are groggy and sometimes they practice a little comedy routine for us.”
“Who are you?” Taevin asks the nurse.
“I’m your nurse. My name is Whitney.”
“Whitney. My girl! Do you see him? This sexy man just said he’s my husband. No wonder my stomach hurts so bad. He’s probably packing a weapon down there.”
“Taevin, oh my god.” I don’t manage to bite back my chuckle, instead my cheeks heat and I fall into a fit of laughter.
That is, until I realize she said her stomach hurts. My face falls and I rush to grab her hand. “Are you hurting, baby?”
She hums a sigh of content. “Have I ever told you how sexy it is when you call me that?” she asks, completely ignoring my question. “Makes me putty in your hands.”
“I’m going to go grab her something for the pain. Be right back,” the nurse says, leaving us alone.
I focus back on Tae, giving her a small smile. “You may have mentioned it a few times while we were dating.”
“And then we got married.” She sighs with a smile.
My lip twitches at the corner. “We did.”
“And you told me all about the babies you were gonna give me.”
An ache explodes in my chest. Before I can answer, she continues, “And now, I’m guessing I’ll never be able to do that. Bummer because I would’ve died to have your babies. They woulda been so cute. Your curly hair, my dark eyes. Could you imagine?”
I can. I really can.
“There’s still a chance, baby.”
Now it’s her turn to be interrupted because before she can speak, the surgeon comes in.
“Good morning, Taevin. Jackson, nice to see you,” Dr. Prescott greets us.
“Good morning, Dr. Prescott,” I greet her while Taevin’s eyes close and her head bobs as if she might fall back asleep before her eyes shoot back open and she blinks a few times.
Dr. Prescott stands next to the bed. “Taevin, I realize things may still be a bit foggy for you from the anesthesia, but I wanted to stop in to give you an update on how things went before I head back into the OR for my next surgery.”
“Thank you,” Tae rasps, her eyes fluttering open and closed as she struggles to stay awake.
“As you know, prior to surgery we discussed the plan for a partial hysterectomy, meaning we would leave only your ovaries and we’d remove your uterus, fallopian tubes, and cervix.
Your ovaries were viable and there was no evidence of disease on them.
We did, however, have to remove several lymph nodes near your cervix.
If you choose to do a round of egg retrieval, you can begin the process after your two-week post-op check-up.
Once the egg retrieval surgery is complete, you would then begin chemotherapy treatments. ”
“Well that’s just—” Taevin starts but cuts herself off to puff out a breath before her lip begins to quiver. “Thank you.” Her voice breaks and it’s as if the news has snapped her out of her fogginess.
“If you think of any questions or you have any complications, please be sure to reach out to the care line that will be listed on your discharge paperwork,” Dr. Prescott informs her.
Taevin still looks overcome so I reply for her, “We will. Thank you, Dr. Prescott.”
“You’re welcome. Rest up, and I will see you in two weeks for your next appointment.”
Once Dr. Prescott is out of the room, Taevin’s walls come crumbling down, and for the first time I’m seeing the devastation and fear consume her.
“Baby,” is all I manage to whisper, standing up so I can lean over her and kiss her forehead.
“I-I still h-have a ch-chance. I-I c-can st-ill be a m-mom,” she stammers through the sobs.
My heart fissures down the center for her, and I make a silent vow to do everything in my power to help her egg retrieval be a success.
The next day, I take off at a sprint toward the front door, opening it and placing my pointer finger in front of my mouth in a hushing motion.
If I didn’t know she was coming to stay here, I wouldn’t recognize the woman with the bright pink pixie cut standing in front of me as Taevin’s best friend, Ryan.
Though recognition would soon set in because when she sees it’s me who answers the door, she says, “Oh, hello, hockey boy. Did you miss me?”
Shaking my head, I gesture for her to come inside while I grab her suitcases. Yes, suitcases being plural, as in she packed three large ones. “Ryan, good to see you. Thanks for coming.”
“Thanks for letting me stay here a few days while Taevin’s getting up and going.”
Shutting the door, I scratch the side of my face before gesturing to her luggage. “Of course. But are you sure you’re only staying for a few days? Seems like you’ve got enough baggage to stay indefinitely.”
“Pretty sure you’re the one with all the baggage.” She waves me off over her shoulder. “If you just show me around quickly and let me know which room is Taevin’s, you can get back to whatever team training or puck bunnies are waiting for you. I’ve got my girl.”
Yeah, that’s not going to fly. Like, at all. Knowing I need to set her straight, I inform her, “I don’t have any plans or training, and I’ve never hooked up with a puck bunny. And like I said, thanks for coming to help take care of our girl.”
That’s right. She’s not just Ryan’s girl; she’s mine too.
Ryan scoffs and rolls her eyes. What’s with these women and rolling their goddamn eyes? “Never say never, Jackson. I may have seen you in a compromising position one night in Boston when my girl was coming to get you.”
All color drains from my face when I realize the night she’s talking about.
“You were there with her?” I ask and when she simply nods in reply, I can’t stop myself from wishing I could punch Enzo Calvetti in the face right now.
“So then tell me you stuck around long enough to realize I was drunk out of my mind, and even in my inebriated state, I practically tossed her off of me.”
A slight frown appears on Ryan’s face. “Unfortunately, no. I left the party with Taevin, and then everything went to hell after that.”
“What do you mean?” I question.
Now her frown turns to, I don’t know, panic maybe?
It’s been so long since I’ve seen her, I can’t get a good read on the emotions playing across her face.
“Nothing. She was just brokenhearted and in a city she thought she’d be living out this epic love story with you, and instead her heart shattered on the pavement. ”
“I’m so fucking confused right now. Taevin’s the one who changed all of our plans to take her record deal. And instead of letting me come with her or attempt a long distance relationship, she’s the one who broke my heart.”
“Is that how you remember it? It was so long ago, by now it’s all so fuzzy, I guess.” Ryan hums before shrugging as if me having my heart broken by Tae was no big deal. And I don’t know why I let it get to me, but the condescending little hum she did sends me damn near over the edge.
“Not long enough ago for you to still send me bags of dicks monthly,” I mutter under my breath, but she must hear me because she breaks out into a shrill fit of laughter.
“Oh, fuck. I almost forgot about that. I’ve had it on subscription since you purchased this house.”
“One, how the hell did you know I purchased this house?”
“Property records, duh. You should’ve put it under an LLC or something if you didn’t want people to find your home address.”
“Noted. I’ll look into changing that immediately,” I growl out.
“You should, otherwise the paps will be out here sniffing around after they saw the two of you together at Summer Stampede. I’m surprised they haven’t already found you.”
I sigh in frustration just thinking about those vultures closing in on us.
I can’t let that happen. Maybe I should look into upping my security systems too.
Fuck, maybe Taevin should look into Braidy staying here while I’m on the road for away games.
I kind of hate the fact that Kyle hired him though.
Maybe I can convince Taevin to let me hire someone else to be her bodyguard while she’s in Minnesota.
“I’ll get right on it,” I say gruffly, mentally adding things to my to-do list.
Ryan huffs out a breath. “You do that. But could you show me where I’ll be staying and bring my bags with you while you’re at it?”
“Did Boston take all the manners outta you?”
“No, I just lose them from time to time when I’m dealing with my best friend’s estranged husband.”
“Nothing estranged about me—I’m right here, aren’t I?” I ask, holding my arms out wide.
She shrugs. “For now. Jury’s still out as to whether or not you manage to win her back. My money’s on you making a complete fool of yourself a time or two before that happens.”
“You know, I almost forgot what a joy you are to be around,” I deadpan.
“I’ve been told I’m a real fucking ray of sunshine,” she retorts.
“What a stretch that is,” I murmur as I grab two of her suitcases and march up the stairs to show her to her room.