14. Lance
Chapter 14
With my heart in my throat and my pulse galloping like the pony express, I made my way from the far end of the parking lot toward the Emergency Department doors.
Hudson needed me. He was strong and he’d make it through no matter what, but I couldn’t fathom leaving him to deal with this on his own. Especially not when he was feeling vulnerable after Casey walked in on us.
Fuck.
The fight seemed a thousand miles away.
But the throbbing bruise on my cheekbone was enough to remind me it was just that morning.
Had finding me with Hudson triggered my best friend’s heart attack?
Fuck.
I told Hudson we weren’t going to play the blame game, so I needed to focus on something else.
The doors slid open, and a blast of cold, antiseptic-heavy air assaulted me.
To my left was the registration desk. Straight ahead were swinging doors. And to my right?—
“Lance,” Henry called out.
Hudson sat slouched in a chair, his head in his hands.
Henry slapped me on the back and motioned for me to sit on the little bench with Hudson. The moment I joined him, Hudson shifted into me. My hand went to his leg, and I squeezed.
“What do you know?” I asked.
Henry shrugged. “Dad came by the bar after he—” He cleared his throat and gestured toward us. “Ranting and raving about trust and sneaking behind his back and playing him for the fool.”
Hudson huffed and ran hands through his hair.
“Anyway, he downed a beer and went home. Later, he texted me and wanted to know what was wrong with my beer because he felt like shit. Said he wanted to nap because he was exhausted and lightheaded, but his stomach hurt, and he couldn’t get a good breath.” Henry shook his head. “I got someone to cover and headed over there. He was sweaty and pale and kept saying it felt like someone was gripping his heart. I ignored his bitching and made him get in the truck. He complained the whole way here, but I think it was mostly out of fear. It’s not like he doesn’t know he’s been on a downhill swing for quite a while. He was alert and answering questions when they took him back. Nurse said they’d do some tests and let us know what’s going on.”
“If you need to head back,” Hudson started.
“No, I’m good.” Henry didn’t leave the bar for much, so it was clear he was concerned for his dad.
We sat silently for a bit as the sounds of the ER filtered through the air around us.
“This isn’t your fault,” Henry said, his words low and firm as he clasped Hudson’s shoulder. “He was heading toward an issue all on his own.”
“He was really upset,” Hudson said. “He punched Lance.”
Henry winced and spared a glance toward my cheek.
“People are upset every day. Punches get thrown all the time. Those things don’t bring on heart attacks. If they did, we’d have a lot more people dying.”
A young man in scrubs came through the door and headed our way, his approach stirring the apprehension around us.
“With Casey Riggs?” His nametag said Craig.
The three of us stood.
Craig looked a bit surprised to be surrounded by three men towering over him like trees, but he kept his composure. “Vitals are stable for now. We’ve got him on a heart monitor and ran an EKG. We’re waiting on his chest x-ray to come back, and the lab is running his bloodwork now.”
“What does that mean?” Henry asked.
Craig gave a soft smile. “It means that nothing is conclusive yet, but based on symptoms and initial tests, Mr. Riggs did have a heart attack.”
Hudson huffed and crossed his arms. “Is he awake?”
“He’s sedated enough to keep him comfortable, but he’s been able to answer our questions.”
“What are the next steps?” I asked.
“Once we have his bloodwork, we’ll know more, but likely a cardiac catheterization with possible stent deployment in the cath lab. Then he’s looking at being here for a few days.”
“Can we see him?” Hudson asked.
“We can let one person go back but only briefly. The ER is extremely busy right now and there’s not enough room for visitors,” Craig explained. “Once he’s done in the cath lab, he’ll be on the fourth floor for monitoring. You’ll be able to see him for a short time once he’s settled, but visiting hours tomorrow will be open.”
Hudson gritted his teeth. “You go,” he told Henry. “Let him know we’re here and we’ll see him once he’s upstairs.”
For a moment, I thought Henry would object, but he just nodded and turned to follow Craig.
“I’m sure he doesn’t want to see me,” Hudson mumbled.
“Hey,” I said, gripping his arm. “Casey Joe loves his family and he’ll be grateful you’re here.” My best friend had been through a lot of shit and his attitude had shown the wear and tear, but there was never a doubt in my mind how much his boys meant to him.
The ER waiting room was full of patients standing around in various states of distress. No place we needed to hang out.
“Let’s get out of here. They’re going to move him, so we don’t need to be here.”
Hudson followed me silently out the sliding doors.
“We’ll get some food at the cafeteria and pick something up for Henry. I think they have a nice little patio area outside of the cafeteria. We can sit there until we hear from him.”
We headed toward my truck. Hudson’s shaky breath when he settled next to me hurt my heart. Without a word, I reached for him and pulled him close. His sob reverberated through me and hung thick on the air inside the cab.
I let him cry, glad he was comfortable enough with me to let it out.
Hudson’s breathing eventually evened out, and he sighed. “Sorry?—”
Cutting him off, I gripped his chin and brought his face up to mine. “Don’t you ever apologize for having feelings and sharing them with me.”
Hudson’s stomach growled. “Guess food would be good,” he said with a chuckle.
I pointed the truck toward the main entrance.
“It’s good he’s awake and talking,” Hudson mused as I circled the lot. “I’m sure he’ll be bitching about the food and asking to go home soon enough.”
“The nurses will probably draw straws for who has to deal with him,” I agreed.
“Maybe this will be a turning point for him. That push he needed to get beyond Billy and Mom and take his life back.”
The hopefulness in Hudson’s words buoyed me. “Let’s hope.”
Once inside the hospital, we easily found the cafeteria. Henry texted while we waited in line.
Henry: He’s in the cath lab now. They said 4th floor in a couple hours. Where are you?
Me: Cafeteria. You want anything?
Henry: Yeah, just whatever.
Me: Gonna sit on the cafeteria patio.
Henry: Ok
We skipped the dinner options of Salisbury steak, grilled chicken, and lasagna, and grabbed deli sandwiches, chips, and drinks. Hudson grinned and gave me a thumbs up when he saw the dessert options included peach crumble and ice cream from The Juicy Peach and Dairy Palace.
Henry already had a table for us on the patio near one of the outdoor heaters. Summer was in full swing, but the evening breeze had cooled things down considerably.
“How is he?” Hudson asked.
“Good. Subdued,” Henry said as he took a bite of his sandwich. “Not sure if that’s the drugs or just being tired. He asked about you guys. Wanted to know if you were coming to see him.”
Hudson perked up. “That’s good, right? If he’s asking for us maybe it means he’s not written us off for good.”
Henry scowled. “He was taken off guard. Last time he found someone he loved in bed with another person he loved, it tore his life apart.”
“Fuck,” Hudson mumbled. “Hadn’t thought about that.”
I took Hudson’s hand. “Hindsight’s twenty-twenty, but we maybe should have told him sooner.”
Hudson huffed. “We were telling him over pizza and beer tonight. That was the plan. It wasn’t like either of us knew he’d come walking into my bedroom.”
We ate in silence until Henry cleared his throat. “We’ll see him settled into his room and then head home. Tomorrow, we can take turns sitting with him during visiting hours. Once we know how long he’ll be here, we can figure out shifts. Depending on when he goes home and how he’s doing, we may want to look at getting someone to come to the house.”
Hudson scowled. “We’re all right nearby, we can check on him.”
Henry didn’t look convinced. “We can check on him, and we will, but I was thinking more along the lines of someone to make sure he’s got some healthy meals. Get him up and doing some exercises. There’s got to be someone who could do that.”
“Probably ask one of the nurses, they may know a company that provides that kind of service,” I said.
Hudson nodded. “I guess he’d probably take that kind of thing better from someone else than one of us.”
Henry finished his food and checked his phone. “Gonna move my truck. I’ll see you up on the fourth floor.”
Hudson and I gathered our trash and started wandering toward the elevators. Once on the fourth floor, we noticed the large picture window with a view of the sunset and Haven Grove toward the west.
Taking his hand, I gave it a squeeze. Hudson gripped me like I was a lifeline.
“Hey,” I started. “He’s awake and alert, they’re fixing him up. He’s not gone. We’re gonna get through this.”
Henry exited the elevator and fell into step beside us.
Casey Joe was pale and looked tiny in the hospital bed. Wires trailed from all parts of him, and the oxygen cannula seemed to take up his whole face.
But he was telling a nurse he wasn’t going to stay in the hospital more than a day or two when we walked in. The older nurse huffed and said he’d have to prove he was ready to go home and get himself back in better health if he thought he was leaving on his timeline.
She winked at us as she bustled to the corner to type on a computer. “These must be the sons. Mr. Riggs has given permission for you to know his medical information. The doctor can answer more questions for you tomorrow, but he’s had a heart catheterization and a stent deployment. We expect him here for monitoring for two or three days.”
Casey Joe yanked back the curtain as she spoke. He caught sight of us and scowled. “Well, drag your sorry asses over here.”
Hudson made his way to the far side of Casey’s bed and pulled up a chair.
I followed suit.
Henry moved to stand behind us.
“Don’t suppose I could ask the Judas to leave,” Casey Joe drawled.
“Dad,” Hudson warned.
Henry cleared his throat.
“Just not sure I’ve got much to say to him right now.” Casey’s eyes flicked my way, but he looked away quickly.
“If you ask him to leave, I go with him,” Hudson said, his voice pained but strong.
Casey Joe yanked off the oxygen and rubbed at his nose as he glanced between the two of us. Eventually, he huffed and stuck the prongs back up his nose. “Whatever. Visiting time is almost over.”
“We’re gonna take turns sitting with you until you’re out of here,” I said.
“Don’t need a damn babysitter,” Casey muttered.
“Then it’s good we’re family,” Hudson said with a challenging grin.
“Guess this means I have to stop smoking,” my best friend griped.
“Probably for the best,” I agreed.
“Fuck.”
“Maybe listen to what the doctors say about improving your diet,” Henry said.
“Next thing you’ll be telling me to stop drinkin’,” Casey griped.
“Let’s commit to light beer as a starting point,” I offered.
Casey shot me a look and rolled his eyes. “Not drinkin’ with a backstabber.”
Hudson stood up. “Dad, that’s enough. We’ll be back tomorrow. Don’t give the nurses a hard time, they’re here to help and get you home sooner rather than later.”
“You can come alone,” Casey Joe mumbled, exhaustion settling over his features.
“You want me here?” Hudson asked.
“’Course I want my kid here.”
“Then we will be here.”
Casey Joe glared at me, his eyes softening when he glanced at Hudson who stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Henry looming behind his brother, always the protector.
Casey grumbled and waved us away. “Go on, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As we made toward the door, Casey Joe called out, “Lance.”
Giving Hudson’s hand a squeeze, I nodded toward the door and waited until he’d closed it behind him and Henry before walking to Casey’s bedside.
“You love him?” he rasped out, the day and his condition definitely catching up to him.
“More than you could ever understand.”
Casey worked his jaw. “Not feeling very understanding right now.”
“I get that.”
“So, you’re gay?”
I hooked my thumbs in my jeans pockets and took a deep breath. “Not sure on a label that really works for me. Bi, pan, something else…but I fell hard for Hudson and we’re really good together.”
Casey’s nostrils flared and it had nothing to do with the oxygen flowing through the cannula. “Think I’m done talkin’ for tonight,” he grumbled and pulled the sheet up to his chest. “Guess I’ll see y’all tomorrow.”
I placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m really glad we’re not saying goodbye to you. The boys need you.”
He scoffed and I gave a squeeze.
“Maybe not the way they needed you way back then, but you three have always been a team even when the game wasn’t going your way. They’re grown and independent, but no one is ever ready to say goodbye to their parent. They need you to stick around; you all have some healing to do.”
Casey’s eyes shimmered as he covered my hand with his. “This doesn’t mean I forgive you.”
“I know.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m not gonna kick your ass when you least expect it.”
“Understood.”
He yawned. “Get out of here. I had a fuckin’ heart attack and I need to rest.”
Chuckling, I squeezed his shoulder once more and headed toward the door.
Hudson turned worried eyes my way when I found him alone in the hallway. “What did he say?”
I shrugged. “He asked if I loved you.”
Hudson studied my face, waiting.
“I told him I loved you more than he’d ever understand.”
Hudson’s eyes softened and he bit his lip. “So, he’s okay with things?”
I barked out a laugh. “Wouldn’t say that. But I think we’ll get there.”