4. Julian
Incessant beeping made me pry my eyes open. I groaned as the light hit my retinas.
“Goddamn, I feel like shit.” Had I been run over by a truck? It took a moment for my hazy mind to find some clarity. There had been an accident. I’d been thrown from my motorcycle. From the pain in my left hand and chest, I guess I broke a few things.
“Coach is going to kill me,” I moaned. I wasn’t looking forward to telling him and the rest of my team about my injuries. But maybe things would work out. The season didn’t start for months. I was sure I could start training with the team after a few weeks. I dragged myself into a sitting position and let out a string of expletives.
“Hey, take it easy, Mr. Grayson,” said a young woman wearing soft pink scrubs as she hurried in.
I frowned. “Where’s April?” Why did those words even come out of my mouth?
The nurse smiled. “Her shift ended. She left about an hour ago.”
Was she having coffee with that guy? My frown deepened. Why did I remember that guy hitting on April so clearly? Why did I care? So many questions. Crap. I hit on her too, didn’t I? It was all coming back to me. I called April babe and asked her for a hug. “Oh, God. Kill me now.” Something beeped again, and I jolted. Looking skyward, I said, “Whoa, just kidding, big guy.”
The nurse giggled. “It’s just the blood pressure monitor. I’m Nancy.”
“Nurse Nancy,” I sat back and hit her with my signature charming grin. Her cheeks reddened. Works every time. I studied her for a moment. She looked pretty young, and I didn’t recognize her. “Can you tell me when I’m getting out of here?”
“Good heavens, Julian.”
I stifled a groan at the sound of the high-pitched, anxious voice. Mom. Just who I needed to see to add to the drama...not. The last thing I needed was Faye Grayson bringing her melodramatic energy into the room. I didn’t want the added attention. She parted the curtain and flounced into the cubicle.
“Ma’am...” the nurse began.
“It’s okay. She’s my mother.”
The nurse’s reprimand died, and she busied herself checking monitors and scribbling on my chart before exiting. Left alone with my mother, I gave her a sheepish grin. “Please hold the lecture.”
“Are you crazy? How many times have I warned you about that death trap you like to speed around on? This makes, what, your third accident on that thing?”
“It was all to save a cute furry creature.” I still had no idea which animal had run out onto the road. “Aren’t you proud that I saved a life?” April would be happy. As I recalled, she loved all life forms. My jaw clenched because I hated that I kept thinking about her.
“Oh, shut up, Julian.” She clutched her chest and looked around with wide eyes. I sighed. Seeing me like this must have brought back bad memories. She’d watched Dad waste away in a hospital bed from cancer and two years after, my brother Ryan died on duty. He was a marine, and he died a hero. However, that did nothing to quell Mom’s pain and loss. It didn’t help lessen mine either.
“Where’s Andy?”
Mom snorted and hiked a thumb over her shoulder. “Out there flirting with the nurses.”
I snickered. “That’s my boy.”
My twelve-year-old nephew, who’d lost both his parents, was under our care. Mostly Mom’s since I was always away. He was what we had left of my brother. I loved that kid to death. Unfortunately, he was turning into a mini-me. I wasn’t sure how Mom was going to manage to raise another me. The poor woman.
Rolling her eyes, she huffed and verbalized my thoughts. “He’s just like you. My blood pressure and sanity will suffer for sure.”
My lips twisted in a wry smile. “Why don’t you wait outside?”
Her troubled eyes, almost identical to mine, flickered to my face. “I’m fine.”
“Wait outside, Mom,” I pressed, softly. She hated being in here. I could tell.
* * *
“I’m not leaving this house, Mom. I’m serious.”
“You still have wounds that need tending to, Julian.”
The mention of my injuries brought on stings of pain. Taking a deep breath, I shook my head. “I’ve had worse. Get me some antibiotics and a few pieces of gauze and I’ll clean them up myself.”
She sent me an exasperated look. “Why are you so stubborn?”
“Not stubborn, just trying to avoid a media shit show.”
I shuddered as I remembered the scene at the hospital. After chatting with the doctor about my injuries, he said I was free to go, but there were a few follow-ups that I had to go back for. That wasn’t going to happen. I’d be on my way out of town in two days. I’d spoken with Chief Wilder’s fiancée as promised. Yes, despite being under some heavy meds, I still remembered telling him I’d give Lucy an interview. Truthfully, I’d been hoping April would have come back with her sister or something. I wasn’t even sure why I kept thinking about her or why I wanted to see her. To apologize for ten years ago maybe? Or to apologize for hitting on her and explain that I wasn’t thinking straight because of the meds. Were the meds really to blame for that, though? I mean, April really did look great...better than I remembered actually.
“What media shit show?” Mom threw her hands up. “This is Oakland.”
I scowled. “Oh, so you missed the swarm of people coming at me with their phones?”
“Everyone is excited that you’re here.”
“I’m not a goddamn show pony.”
Mom lifted a brow, and I inhaled deeply. Heat seeped into my face. Maybe she thought I was overreacting. I mean, I should be used to cameras in my face. It’s just that I wanted a sliver of privacy after leaving the hospital. If Nic and Lucy didn’t sneak me out the back door, a few pictures of me in a wheelchair would’ve been sold to the highest bidder. I’d be the hot topic of every entertainment news, and my coach and teammates would find out about my accident before I had the chance to tell them myself.
“You were happy to give Lucy Bennet an interview.”
“The chief saved my ass,” I shrugged. “I owed him one.” Plus, she was April’s sister. I owed April one too. I owned her big time for being a dick growing up. “Let”s just drop it, Mom. I’m not leaving this house until it’s time for me to go.”
She just didn’t get it. I was getting tired of the attention. But how could she get it when I hadn’t said a word? No one knew how much I was resenting fame nowadays. I always put on my charming mask in everyone’s company. To everyone, I was that guy that reveled in the attention.
“We’ll get someone to come in and tend to your wounds then,” Mom announced. “Privately.”
“No, thank you.”
“Don’t be foolish. We’re not risking your health because you’re suddenly camera shy.”
I rolled my eyes but said nothing. “Whatever makes you happy, Mom,” I sighed and laid back down.
The pain meds I’d gotten to take home were kicking in. This wasn’t the visit I’d anticipated back to my hometown. I’d pictured a quiet time with my family, away from the media. I usually flew Mom and Andy out to visit me. I don’t know what brought me here. Perhaps it was that little feeling of nostalgia that had been pricking me lately. I felt like I wanted a change. A different life. One far away from fame and the fast track. I’d been considering retiring and lying low for a while, but I hadn’t breathed a word to anyone.