Chapter 25
twenty-five
“I’m so glad you were able to make it today. I know it means a lot to Wyatt,” Cora says as we take our seats.
If you would have asked me when we started this thing if Wyatt cared if I was here, I would have doubted it, but now? Things have changed. We have grown closer.
We still haven’t discussed the whole fake part of our relationship, really, or where this could realistically go, but that’s okay with me. I’m scared to find out the answer. What future do we even have? If he is drafted far away, will that be the end to it all? That makes my heart hurt.
I don’t know when, but I have fallen for Wyatt Scott.
“Oh, here they come.” Cora nudges me excitedly.
We watch as the team comes out. Kellan skates over as usual and blows a kiss to Cora. The crowd is rowdy, but they only have eyes for one another.
That’s the kind of love I want.
The thought enters my head unbidden as Wyatt skates up behind Kellan.
He gives me a smile, making my heart beat faster.
He doesn’t blow a kiss like Kellan, but he does put his hand over his heart.
My cheeks hurt from how big I’m smiling.
Wyatt winks at me before he and Kellan skate away to do their warm-ups.
“Our guys are so romantic,” Cora gushes from next to me. “I never thought I would see Wyatt like this, though. He is a different person with you. I like it.”
My cheeks heat at her words. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I think Wyatt is the same man he always was.”
“Maybe, but he was closed off. He didn’t smile nearly as much as he has since you came into his life. That’s all you. Take that.”
Before I can respond, I hear a voice from behind me.
“She is such a skank. I don’t know why Wyatt even likes her.”
Glancing over, I see Macy a few rows behind us. She’s practically shouting for me to hear her. I roll my eyes at her and focus back forward.
“Want me to punch her? I don’t go to school with you, so I could probably get away with it,” Cora offers.
“She’s jealous because she coveted what I had before, and now that she has it, she realizes it wasn’t as good as she thought. Now she wants what I have now, and that’s not going to happen. Wyatt is miles smarter than Kyle ever was,” I admit to her.
She lets out a rambunctious laugh. “Oh god, that is so true. I think his teacher must pass him because of his position on the team. He was in my freshman English class…and he was a junior.”
I wince. “Yeah. He claimed the teacher didn’t like him, and that’s why he failed his freshman year, but it was because he isn’t very good at writing. I had to help him with all of his papers.”
“You are a saint, girl. Oh look, the game is starting.”
Leaving thoughts of my ex behind me, I focus on my present. I can’t take my eyes off of Wyatt even when the puck ends up at the other end of the ice. I feel like a lovesick puppy, but I don’t want to look away. I don’t want to miss even a second of Wyatt Scott.
When he stops his second attempt at a goal on his net, he looks over at me and points. It’s as if he is dedicating that save to me. The way it feeds my soul should be illegal.
They reset and start again, but my phone ringing finally draws my attention away. When I see it’s Will, my stomach drops. I put the phone to my ear, plugging my other one.
“Will? What’s wrong?” I yell into the phone.
“I’m so sorry, Lyla. You need to come to the hospital right away.”
My heart stops. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Dad. You need to get here.”
I swallow hard. “I’m on my way.”
I hang up the phone and turn to Cora.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, her eyes full of concern.
Tears prickle my eyes, but I try to hold them back. Whatever happened isn’t good. I could tell by the tightness in Will’s voice that he was holding back emotion as much as I am now.
“I have to go. I’ll go find a ride. I’m sorry,” I tell her.
She shakes her head as she grabs her bag. “No way. You rode with me. I’ll take you.”
She stands, following me. I should tell her to stay and watch the game, but my mind only has one focus: getting to my father.
She doesn’t say anything until we are in the car. “Where am I going?” she asks.
I look over at her. “Franklin Hospital.”
She nods before putting on the music low for background noise.
Neither of us speaks on the hour ride back to town. I stare out the window bargaining with God to not take my dad. I’m not ready to lose him yet.
I haven’t gotten enough time with him. He hasn’t walked me down the aisle. He needs to hold his grandchildren. To be the grandpa to them that I always imagined my own grandfather would have been had he not died from heart disease when I was a baby.
I don’t know how to live a life without the most important man to me in it. How will I survive?
After an agonizing hour, Cora pulls up to the hospital.
“You don’t have to wait,” I tell her.
“Nonsense. I’ll park and be in. You are part of our family now. That means you have all of us.”
“I’m serious. If you leave now, you might catch the tail end of the game.”
Cora rolls her eyes. “Girl, don’t make me punch you. Get out so I can go park. I’ll be in as soon as I can.”
I nod, not sure how to feel about that right now. There are too many conflicting emotions inside of me, but the only one I can focus on is the dread weighing me down.
Whatever happens, I know stepping through these emergency room doors will change everything.
I take a deep breath, walking through them like ripping a Band-Aid off.
I don’t see Will right away, so I walk up to the desk.
“Hello, I am here to see Jerry Wayne.”
The woman gives me a sympathetic look. “Let me take you back.”
“I have a friend coming in behind me. Her name is Cora James. Can you send her back when she gets here?” I ask her.
“Of course.”
She doesn’t lead me to a hospital room. Instead, she leads me to a small room with several chairs. Inside, Will sits with his head in his hands.
“Will?” My voice cracks.
Then he looks at me, and I know.
“He’s gone, Lyla. I’m so sorry.” He breaks down, sobbing.
I run over to him, dropping to my knees in front of him. My own tears fall freely as I hug his head.
My entire body grows weak as his words truly set in.
He’s gone.
My father is gone.
I didn’t even get to say goodbye.
The pressure in my chest grows painful as I attempt to suck in a breath. My own sobs echoing those of Will’s. This room they brought me to is one filled with sadness and heartbreak. It’s the room where they tell the family their loved one won’t be coming home.
I hate this room.
I hate God. I hate dementia. I hate everything.
As we fall apart together, all I can do is cling to my older brother. The only person I have left in my life.
Something is wrong.
Somewhere between the first and second periods, Cora and Lyla disappeared. It’s now the third period, and they still haven’t made it back.
I’m trying to focus on the game, but my intuition is telling me something is terribly wrong. I need to find her.
Coach motions for me to come in, so I do. I watch as Pender replaces me.
“Where is your head at?” Coach yells at me.
“Something is wrong, Coach. I can’t explain it,” I tell him.
He frowns. “Get checked out after the game.”
There are only five minutes left, but it feels like an eternity. Thankfully we win, but I can’t celebrate with everyone else. As soon as I can, I beeline for the locker room. I don’t bother to shower or take any of my pads off. Instead, I grab my phone.
There are no messages.
I growl, sitting on the bench as I type one out to Lyla.
Me
Where’d you go, baby?
I wait for a response, but there is none.
“Get changed. Cora took her home,” Kellan tells me.
“Why?” I ask.
“Get changed.”
I don’t like the look on his face, but I start to strip.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” I demand.
“I don’t know. Cora doesn’t either. She took her to the hospital. She didn’t want to impose, so she’s waiting in the waiting room.”
My stomach sours.
Jerry.
I tear off my pads, leaving them on the floor with my skates. I smell like ass, but I can’t afford to shower right now. Lyla needs me. I know it. I pull on my sweats and a T-shirt, slipping my feet into my shoes without bothering with socks.
“I need to get to her.”
I don’t bother waiting for a response. I hear Kellan yell to one of the guys to grab my things and take them home. Then he is jogging behind me.
“Where are you going?” I ask him.
“Where you go, I go, buddy. Let’s get us a ride.”
He jogs up to a group of guys. They talk a moment before he waves me forward.
“They are headed back and will drop us at the hospital,” Kellan tells me.
I nod once to them before I follow them to their truck. I pile into the back, looking out the window. I check my phone every few seconds, needing to see her name on the screen, but it never appears.
I can hear Kellan chatting with the fans about the game, but I can’t be bothered. All I can do is worry about Lyla and her dad.
When the hospital comes into view, I start to feel anxious. I have no idea what I am going to find behind these doors, but I hope to God that it is a false alarm. That Lyla will be smiling with her father on the other side.
“Thank you,” I grunt out as I leave the vehicle.
I don’t wait around as I rush into the emergency room.
“I’m here for Jerry Wayne.”
“Are you family?” she asks.
No. I’m not, but I know what will happen if I say that. I’ll be told to wait out here. No way am I doing that when my girl is back there dealing with something unknown to me. No way.
“I’m his son-in-law. My wife is already back there,” I lie without a second thought.
She gives me a sad look. “I’ll take you back then.”
She leads me back through some halls until we come to a stop outside of a door.
“This is where the family is. Take your time, and I’m sorry for your loss.”
She pats my arm before she leaves.
I’m sorry for your loss.
My hands start to shake as the words set in. He’s gone. Lyla has to be an absolute wreck. Hell, I barely got to know the guy, and I feel like someone punched me in the gut. Jerry Wayne was one hell of a man. The world is a darker place without him in it.
Taking a deep breath to get my emotions in check, I open the door. Lyla needs me to be strong right now. She needs me to be her rock.
Stepping in the room, I freeze. Lyla is in here, but she’s in Kyle’s arms. She is sobbing as he holds her. Will sits in a chair, silent, as he hangs his head.
Part of me wants to step back outside. I don’t want to cause a scene. She needs peace right now.
Then she looks up, eyes locked on me.
As soon as she sees me, she pushes out of Kyle’s arms and rushes to mine. I damn near fall at how hard she crashes into me. I hold her head to my chest, feeling her shaking against me. I run my hands through her hair as I whisper to her.
“I’m here now. I’m so sorry. He was a great man. He loved you so much. He is so proud of you. I’ll be here for you. Whatever you need.”
I repeat the words over and over.
Kyle clears his throat. “Lyla…”
I look up at him with a glare. “It’s not the time.”
He swallows hard, looking down at Lyla. Then he nods. “I’ll be around if she needs me.”
I want to tell him to fuck off. She won’t need him, but like I told him, now isn’t the time for that. So I nod instead, waiting for him to leave. As soon as he does, Lyla pulls back, her tears starting to wane.
“His mom works here. She called him when she heard,” she whispers.
“You don’t owe me an explanation. What can I do for you?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I don’t know. I think you are already doing it.”
I nod, pulling her closer. “Then I will keep doing it. Whatever you need, baby.”
Losing a parent is the hardest thing for a child to go through. I know from firsthand experience.
I was young when I lost my parents. It hit me a little differently. I have no idea how to comfort her, but I know I will do everything in my power to help her through this.