SEVEN REID

S EVEN

R EID

"What?" Reid was certain she hadn't heard Sydney correctly.

"We have a heart, and it's a match," Sydney repeated. "We got the call right when we pulled into the parking lot." Gilbert leaned around and waved at Reid, bringing a tiny bit of humor to a very delicate situation.

"He's going to be okay?" Reid asked as she burst into tears. She stood and went to Sydney, hugging her tightly. "He's going to be okay," she said again, but this time it was more for Grayson's mom than anything else, even though Reid needed the reassurance as well.

As happy as they were that Grayson would get a second chance at life, someone had died. A family, somewhere out there, was going through the unthinkable. They had lost someone they loved and would move forward with their lives without them, while Sydney, Gilbert, and Reid would have endless days with the one they loved.

Reid expected the surgery to be first thing in the morning and was shocked when the staff came in moments later and started prepping Grayson for surgery. They moved like well-trained robots, and within seconds, they were pushing Grayson's hospital bed out of the room before Reid could blink.

"What just happened?"

"They're taking him to surgery," Gilbert told her. "The heart is in transport."

"Just like that?" Reid shook her head. "The doctors drop everything?"

Sydney nodded. "Time is of the essence."

Reid blinked and cleared the fuzziness away. She'd been napping when Sydney startled her with the most amazing yet heartbreaking news. Thoughts of the latter wouldn't do any of them any good, so she pushed them out of her mind. Unsure of what to do, she gathered her things, folded the throw blanket she'd taken from Grayson's bed, and went to put it back, only to see it was gone. She sat in the chair and sighed. "Wow."

"I know, it's a lot to wrap my mind around as well," Sydney said. "Come on, let's go to the atrium. The restaurant there is twenty-four hours. We can at least drink some coffee and eat something while we wait. It's going to be a while."

Reid nodded and stood. She followed Sydney out, with Gilbert trailing behind them. "I just don't understand how doctors are alert at this hour to do surgery."

"They'll be fine," Gilbert said as they stepped into the elevator. "They wouldn't risk anyone's life."

She hoped he was right.

Upon entering the restaurant, they placed an order for food and coffee and found a booth near the window, which Reid was thankful for. Her body welcomed the cushioned bench with a sigh. Finally feeling more relaxed, she pulled out her phone and texted Pearce to give him an update. She expected him to return to the hospital, knowing he'd want to be there, and then she sent one to her dad. Lastly, she sent one to Melanie, letting her know what was going on.

Their food came: pasta for her, and an assortment of cookies and pastries for Sydney and Gilbert.

"You're so calm," Reid said to them both. "How can you eat, knowing your son is ..." Reid couldn't finish her question.

"Idle hands means idle minds," Gilbert told her. "If I'm not doing something, I'm going to sit here and think about what they're doing in the operating room. I'd rather not right now."

Sydney nodded and rested her head on her husband's arm. "I like to think we're having dinner and dessert with a friend." She smiled at Reid, who appreciated Sydney's optimism.

They ate, made idle chitchat, and watched the clock. Time was on their side. The doctors had given Sydney a three-to-five-hour window for surgery—Gilbert guessed it would take four. But everything on the internet told Reid they might end up waiting up to eight hours. That was how long it took for the complicated surgeries—the ones that needed more time—and her gut told her Grayson would need all the time the doctors could muster.

By the time Pearce and Luther arrived an hour after she'd texted, the three of them had been picking at their food for a couple of hours. Melanie had opted to go to Reid's apartment and wait. Reid tried to keep from looking at the clock every ten minutes. Instead, she looked every eleven, fifteen, or twenty minutes.

Luther brought over more coffee and pulled a chair up to the end of the table. Pearce sat next to Reid.

"Should we be doing something?" Pearce asked.

"Like what?" Reid asked.

Pearce looked at each of them and shrugged. "I feel like Grayson would want us playing cards or something."

Reid chuckled. "Playing cards?"

Pearce picked up the wrapper from his straw, rolled it into a ball, and then unraveled it. "My go-to is basketball, but it's too dark," he said. "Besides, I want to be here and there isn't a court, and I don't really want to deal with anyone from work right now."

"Grayson will be happy when he can go back to work," Sydney added.

"Do you know when that'll be?" Pearce asked.

"At least six months," she said. "Unless he can work from home; then he can go back after three. Gilbert and I liquidated some assets to make sure Grayson's rent is paid."

"You did?" Reid asked.

"Yeah, we don't really know his financial situation or how much sick time he has at work," Sydney said.

"We all donated to his sick time," Pearce said before Reid could answer. It was against company policy for her to do or say anything about Grayson's sick time. However, Pearce had taken it upon himself to send out a company-wide email asking people to contribute a day to Grayson's leave.

"He has enough time until medical leave kicks in," Pearce said as he looked at Reid for confirmation. She nodded.

"I've already submitted the paperwork," she told Sydney. "Grayson should be all set until he can return to work."

"That's such a relief." She smiled kindly at Pearce and Reid.

Luther cleared his throat. "Anything I can do to help, you'll let me know?" He directed his question at the group of them.

"Of course," Gilbert said. "This is definitely going to be one of those village moments where we all pitch in."

"We can work out his physical therapy schedule as well," Reid added. "There's a site near our office—if we can book him there, Pearce and I can help out most days. We'll just have to get him there." It dawned on her that none of them had cars, except for the parents in the group. Living in the city, everything they needed was either within walking distance or could be accessed by train. She could get any big purchases delivered.

"I can borrow my sister's car, if need be," Pearce told the group. "She runs an at-home day care and doesn't leave during the day. I don't think she'll mind, as long as I give it a good wash every now and again. Plus, it's one of those minivans, so super easy to get in and out of."

Sydney put her hand over her heart and closed her eyes for a moment. "Grayson truly has the best friends and support system."

Reid thought the same, even though she had a barrage of questions for Grayson. As much as she loved him, she was angry with him for hiding this situation from her. She would've made sure he took his meds and watched his diet. Was that why he never told her?

She could've been more prepared when he collapsed, instead of thinking he was faking it. What would've happened if she'd walked away from him? Would he have died? Surely, someone would've stepped up and aided him, but then what? Where would she be now? Riddled with guilt.

The more she thought about the situation, the angrier she became. So much of what was happening now could've easily been avoided if Grayson had been honest.

Reid moved her empty cup of coffee back and forth in her hands and stared at the carpet until her vision blurred. Rampant thoughts filtered through her mind, about Grayson, her, and the two of them together. Every day she worked to remind herself they were friends—the best of friends—despite their mutual attraction to each other. He could tell her until he was blue in the face that he didn't feel anything for her, but she knew that wasn't true. His feelings for her were evident in how he acted around her, especially when other men were interested. "Machismo" didn't even scratch the surface of his personality when other men entered the picture.

With her thoughts taking her in a direction she didn't want to go, she tried to focus on the conversation going on around her. Pearce filled everyone in about how one of their coworkers had suggested that people either plan a dinner for him or donate to a fund to buy groceries.

"That's really nice of them," Reid said and wondered why she hadn't heard of it. Although it wasn't uncommon for the people at the Wold Collective to leave Human Resources out of things. The company employees often looked at HR as the gatekeepers—and people didn't appreciate that.

Reid looked at the time on the clock and sighed. "Three hours in," she said to the group.

Sydney tapped the screen on her phone. "They're going to call when he's out of surgery. They'll take him to recovery and begin weaning him off the anesthesia."

"Will he regain consciousness?" Pearce asked.

"Yes, if all goes as planned, Grayson will be coherent by the afternoon," Gilbert said.

"Great," Pearce said with a half chuckle. "He's going to be pissed he missed March Madness."

Reid and Gilbert groaned.

"Let's not tell him right away," Gilbert suggested.

"Makes me appreciate the lack of television in the ICU," Reid added.

Luther chuckled. "He's going to be pissed off, that's for sure, but he's neither a UConn nor San Diego State fan, so maybe he won't be that mad."

"That's what we'll say when he figures out that he's missed some time," Gilbert said. "We'll play it off like the game wasn't worth watching."

"I like the way you think," Pearce added.

They sat there another hour, watching the clock and Sydney's phone. When the screen finally lit up, she waited for a couple of rings, the fear of not knowing clear in her wide brown eyes. With a shaky hand, she picked up the phone and answered. Everyone at the table waited with bated breath for her to show some sort of recognition on her face. When she hung up, she had four sets of eyes studying her.

"Well?" Gilbert said before Sydney could open her mouth.

"Surgery was successful."

Everyone exhaled in relief.

"The new heart started beating as soon as the arteries and veins joined. It was like this heart was meant for Grayson." Sydney sobbed at the end, and Gilbert brought his wife into his arms. He held her and shed his own tears.

Reid, Pearce, and Luther found that they were crying as well. Reid would never admit this to anyone, but there was a time when she thought this day would never come, or it would be too late. The longer Grayson needed the machines to stay alive, the more his body deteriorated.

They cleaned their space, thanked the overnight workers for accommodating them for hours, and headed toward the ICU. Once Grayson was out of recovery and back in his room, Sydney and Gilbert would stay with him until he woke; then Reid and Pearce could go in. Luther said his goodbyes, kissed his daughter, and headed home to get a nap in before he had to go to work. He told them he expected a text later, letting him know Grayson had woken up, and said he'd happily share the March Madness news when the time was right.

Now, they waited.

Back on the floor, they sat in the waiting room, with the television muted and next to other family members who were waiting for visiting hours to start. There was an unwritten rule that you didn't ask about others in the unit, but after being there for so long, it was nice to talk to people. Reid had learned about a couple of the others staying on the floor. One woman had had a kidney transplant. Her daughter, who didn't have a great relationship with her mother, was the donor. Reid thought the situation was a bit odd but kept her thoughts to herself. Another woman had severe pneumonia and needed constant monitoring.

When Sydney and Gilbert finally got the call, they were out of there like their asses were on fire, leaving Pearce and Reid to wait. Anxious, she ran her hands over her pants and told Pearce she couldn't sit there any longer.

He followed her out of the room and directed her to the coffee station, even though they'd drunk enough through the night and really didn't need any more. Pearce guided her to the end of the hallway, where a large picture window and bench were. They sat and stared out the window.

Clouds covered the sky and blocked the sun from shining through as it rose. Reid focused on the orange ball of fire and tried to recall the last time she'd watched the sunrise. She needed the sun, and wanted to feel its warmth on her face. Reid leaned forward and cast her eyes upward, in hopes of seeing a ray or two.

Nothing.

Resigned, she rested against the wall and sipped the stale coffee. "You know, someone should man the coffee station."

"I'm sure they have someone who's supposed to do it, when they aren't covering a million other things," Pearce said as he leaned against the glass. "Freaking clouds," he muttered.

"At least it'll be somewhat warm out."

"As much as I'm ready for summer, I'm not ready for the humidity."

"Nope," Reid agreed. "Not to mention, summer's going to look a lot different this year. Grayson won't be able to go to the lake. I mean, I guess he can go to the lake, but he won't be able to go out on the boat or in the water."

"I'll probably stay in town during vacation this year," Pearce said.

"He won't want you to."

"I know, but it's the right thing to do."

Reid nodded. She, too, would change her plans to stay with Grayson. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"You said earlier that he was in love with—"

Before she could finish her question, Pearce began nodding.

"If he is, why not say something? Why does he keep me at arm's length?"

Pearce looked from her, out the window, and then at the ground. "I don't know, Reid. I do know he's in love with you. He's said as much. Each time I'd ask why you guys weren't together, he'd brush me off. For the longest time, I thought it was because you didn't want to date a coworker, but I know that's not true."

"That's what I thought about him," she said. "It's not a policy. I mean, they definitely don't like it, but there isn't anything enforceable in our handbook."

"You could always ask him."

Reid shook her head. "Doesn't change anything," she told him. "I still want to date and find the one I'm supposed to be with. I used to think that was Grayson, but he's made it clear over the years we're nothing more than friends."

"With benefits," Pearce pointed out.

She opened her mouth and then closed it quickly. "Absolutely not. We've been together one time," she told him. "And the next day, he told me it would never happen again."

Pearce's mouth dropped open. "Yeah, he's led us all to believe you're in a benefits situation."

"What an asshole," she muttered. "You know he said that so no one would pursue me."

Pearce nodded. "Without a doubt. Damn. I know there's a handful of guys who would've asked you out."

Reid rolled her eyes. "Jerk. I have half a mind to tell him I'm seeing someone since he's been out of it for so long."

Pearce laughed. "Can you imagine? I think you should totally play it up. Do the whole ‘I didn't know if you'd make it' thing. He'd crap himself."

Reid grimaced. "I told him I was going to start dating—that's how we ended up here." She ran her hand over her face. "I'm so stupid."

"You're not," he told her. "I think we've all been there at one point in our lives. You just gotta move forward with your life and let him do his thing. He'll realize he messed up sooner or later."

"Yeah, maybe." She felt guilty about wanting to date and Grayson's reaction, even though she knew she wasn't at fault.

Gilbert found them at the end of the hall. He had a beaming smile on his face. "Reid, if you want, you can go in. Grayson's asking for you."

"He is?" She stood and took a shaky step toward Gilbert, who nodded.

"After he asked what happened, he asked where you were."

Reid glanced at Pearce. "I told you."

Okay, so maybe Grayson was in love with her, and it had taken this colossal moment for him to realize it.

"Wow, okay." Reid had tunnel vision. She dumped her coffee cup in the nearest trash can and walked briskly toward the double doors. Once she was in, the nurse helped her scrub her hands and put on a gown, which would be necessary until the sutures healed.

Reid paused at the door. Grayson was awake, and gone were the machines that kept him alive. He still had oxygen, but now the tubes rested along his cheeks and pushed air through his nostrils. She cleared her throat, and Sydney looked over. She smiled.

"Grayson, Reid's here now."

"Yeah?" His eyes opened slightly, and he smiled. "Hey," he said as he tried to lift his hand toward her. Reid rushed to his side and gripped his hand in hers. Tears she thought had long dried up streamed down her face.

"Hey," she said.

"I'm going to give you guys a few minutes." Sydney left the room.

"I've never been so happy to see those brown eyes of yours." She brushed her hand through his hair, like she had done many times during his stay.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"Don't be," she told him. "Everything's good now."

"Yeah," he said as he started to fall back to sleep.

Reid sat next to him and refused to let go of his hand.

"I should've told her that I love her," he said softly.

"Told who?" Reid asked. She waited for him to respond. When he said nothing, she prodded. "Who do you love, Grayson?"

"Sully."