Chapter 46 Tish
TISH
The words hang in the air between us like a death sentence.
Oncology doctor. Cancer.
The two words that can bring anyone to their knees, and here’s Carl with that stoic expression he wears when he’s trying to protect everyone else from his pain.
“Carl,” I whisper, reaching for him, but he sits up and gets dressed.
“There’s nothing I can do until we get back home.” His voice is steady but I can hear the underlying concern. “Please don’t say anything to anyone. Tonight is our last night on tour, and we’ll head home tomorrow.”
I want to argue, want to demand he call the doctor right now, want to shake him until he realizes that this can’t wait.
But I know Carl well enough to understand that when he makes up his mind about something, there’s no changing it. Still, my heart is breaking for him, for us, for what this could mean.
“The canceled makeup match from our first game when the bus tire blew means we can drive straight back home tomorrow. About a four-hour drive,” he continues, as if discussing the weather instead of potentially life-altering news.
I nod, not trusting my voice as I get dressed.
The irony isn’t lost on me that our tour began with mechanical problems and now it’s ending with this bombshell. Everything feels like it’s coming full circle, but not in the way I’d hoped.
Carl’s hand cups my cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear I didn’t realize had fallen. “Hey, we don’t know anything yet. It could be nothing.”
But his eyes tell a different story. They’re filled with the same fear that’s currently clawing at my chest.
The rest of the day passes in a blur. I go through the motions of packing, of handling the last-minute team logistics, of sending out more press releases because the media won’t drop my ex, of pretending everything is normal.
But every time I look at Carl, my heart clenches.
Every time Jake makes a joke or Ash gives me one of his protective looks, I want to scream that they need to know, that we should all be facing this together.
But I keep Carl’s secret, even as it eats away at me.
As evening approaches, the guys surprise me. “We want to treat you,” Jake announces, that dimpled grin of his lighting up his face. “One last adventure before we head home.”
“What kind of adventure?” I ask suspiciously, though I can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm.
“You’ll see,” Ash says, and there’s something soft in his brown eyes that makes my pulse quicken.
They lead me outside where a horse-drawn sleigh waits, complete with jingling bells and thick wool blankets.
The horses stamp their feet in the snow, their breath creating puffs of steam in the cold air.
“Oh my god,” I breathe, taking in the magical scene. “This is incredible.”
Carl helps me into the sleigh, his hands lingering on my waist longer than necessary.
Even with everything weighing on his mind, he’s still thinking of me, still trying to make this night special. It makes me love him even more, if that’s possible.
Jake climbs in beside me, immediately pulling me close under the blankets. “Can’t have our girl freezing,” he says with a wink, but his arm around me is warm and solid and exactly what I need.
Ash takes the reins, looking completely at home handling the horses.
Of course he does—is there anything this man can’t do?
Carl settles on my other side, and suddenly I’m surrounded by the three men who’ve turned my world upside down in the best possible way.
The sleigh glides through the snow-covered streets, into a nearby park and woods, the only sounds the gentle jingling of the bells and the soft whoosh of the runners cutting through the powder.
Moonlight filters through the bare branches, casting everything in silver and shadow. It’s like something out of a fairy tale.
“This is perfect,” I murmur, snuggling deeper between Jake and Carl.
“You’re perfect,” Jake says softly, pressing a kiss to my temple.
The simple gesture sends warmth spiraling through me, and I turn to look at him.
His green eyes are dark with something that makes my breath catch.
We stop by a frozen pond, the ice gleaming like a mirror under the stars.
Ash secures the horses and joins us, and for a moment we all just stand there, taking in the beauty of the night.
“I can’t believe this is real,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Which part?” Carl asks, moving to stand behind me, his hands resting on my shoulders.
“All of it. This place, this moment…you three.”
Jake steps closer, his hand cupping my face. “Believe it, beautiful. We’re not going anywhere.”
When he kisses me, it’s soft and sweet and filled with promise.
His lips are warm against mine, and I can taste the hint of hot chocolate we shared earlier.
When we break apart, he rests his forehead against mine.
“My turn,” Ash says, his voice rough with emotion. His kiss is different, deeper, more possessive. His hands tangle in my hair, and I can feel the barely leashed control in the way he holds me. When he pulls back, his eyes are blazing.
Carl turns me in his arms, and my heart nearly stops at the intensity in his blue eyes. “Trisha,” he whispers, and then his mouth is on mine.
This kiss is desperate, almost frantic, as if he’s trying to memorize the taste of me. I can feel his fear, his uncertainty about the future, and I pour all my love into kissing him back.
When we finally break apart, we’re all breathing hard. The cold air stings my cheeks, but I’m burning up inside.
“I love you,” I whisper, looking at each of them in turn. “All of you. Whatever happens, I need you to know that.”
The ride back to the hotel is quiet, but it’s a comfortable silence filled with unspoken promises and shared warmth.
I’m tucked between them again, feeling safer and more loved than I ever have in my life.
But that feeling shatters the moment we walk into the hotel lobby.
The babysitter rushes toward us with tears streaming down her face. “Oh, thank god you’re back!” she cries. “I’m so sorry, I don’t know how it happened, I only stepped away into the bathroom for a minute…”
“What’s wrong?” I demand, ice-cold fear replacing the warmth from our magical evening.
“The girls,” Emma sobs. “I can’t find them anywhere. Becky and Krystal. They’re gone!”