Chapter 15

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

ALEXANDER

“You’re not pushing me out of this hospital like some invalid,” Trevor argues.

“Sit your sorry ass in that wheelchair and quit being difficult. These nurses don’t need to put up with more of your whining.” We have a stare-down, and I win pretty quickly. Yeah, Trevor definitely isn’t himself.

I had barely said goodbye to Dani after our ice cream date when I got the call. Trevor was in the hospital after a horrific motorcycle accident. A medically induced coma, two surgeries, a full-leg cast, and ten days later, I’m taking him home. Thank god for helmets.

In the past week, I’ve spent hours at the hospital, rented equipment for his recovery, and hired a nurse to help with the transition home. It’s been non-stop with minimal sleep.

Trevor Lewis is my best friend, and while we don’t live in the same city, we talk or text daily and see each other regularly. He owns a college summer league baseball team, the Savannah Pajamas, that has bec ome widely popular because of Ashleigh’s phenomenal social media and Trevor’s unique take on baseball as entertainment. That’s actually where Ashleigh met Cole and Matt. Still not sure if I should thank Trevor or kill him for that. I’m not mad. Anymore.

I get Trevor in the house, and we kick back on the sofa. Trevor has his leg propped up on pillows and tries to act like he’s okay. His eyes tell another story.

“How much pain?” I’ve been by his side enough to know how the nurses ask. I also know to add three points to anything he says.

“Five. I’ll be okay. Just give me a minute. That was a lot of jostling around.”

“You sound like a grandpa,” I tease. I’ve been a hard ass to him since I got to the hospital, and the medical team assured me he would be okay. I’m hard on him because that’s our way. And he scared the life out of me, so he deserves it. He has a long recovery ahead, and I’ll be beside him every step of the way.

What I won’t let him see is how much I cried on the drive to Savannah. My insides twisted, thinking I could lose my best friend. We’ve been friends since freshman year at Wake Forest. He learned everything he knows about baseball from me. I’ve learned how to sell tickets from him. Honestly, Trevor taught me how to live life. He was with me when my mom was sick. He taught me how to grieve. Hell, he taught me how to cry. And now, I’d rather not use those life lessons on him.

I hand him his pain medication and a beer to wash it down. He quirks an eyebrow and takes it.

“You need to work on your bedside manner. It sucks.” He takes a long pull on his beer. His normal humor gone.

“You need to be a better patient,” I snap back. Both of us speak the truth.

He looks at me, his eyes glossing over with tears. I’ll ignore them like he ignored mine when he first woke up .

“Thanks, man. You know, for dropping everything.” He’s choked up, the words difficult to get out.

I give him my usual head nod. It conveys everything I can’t say. Of course I’d be here. You’re my best friend and brother. I love you. And we will sue the truck driver that never even slowed down after he turned into you.

The front door bursts open, and the room fills with a delicious aroma that causes my stomach to growl. “Hi, boys. Thought you might be hungry.”

Emma walks through the den and into the kitchen with a large tote. She’s unpacking food before I can even get up.

“Hey there, Em,” Trevor calls from the sofa, a little life in his voice. “I’d get up and help, but well, can’t.”

I greet Emma with a kiss on the top of her head. “Hey. Thanks for this. Why aren’t you at school?”

Emma is Ashleigh’s best friend. She’s a schoolteacher in Savannah and has been with me at the hospital when she’s not working. She’s like another little sister to me and part of our inner circle of friends.

“I took the day off. I figured you needed a proper meal, and our patient over there needs to be well-fed so he won’t abuse his nurse. Besides, if you need anything, I could get it.” She gives me a wink, and I shake my head at her. She may be five foot nothing, but she stands up to us big guys like we’re just bugs she can squish under her heel. Which we are, and she could, but we don’t voice it out loud.

“Thanks. We just got home a few minutes ago. Smells great. What can I do to help?”

“Turn on the oven for the cookies. Everything else should be hot. I’ve got lasagna, salad, garlic bread. Figured you could put a few pounds back on after all that hospital food.” She squeezes my arm and pretends its soft. It’s not. I’ve been in the gym working out my stress when I haven’t been at Trevor’s side.

“I could say the same about you. You okay? You look tired.” I put my hand under her chin and make her look at me. The purple under her eyes peeks through under her makeup.

“I’m fine, Xander,” she whispers. “He just scared me to death, that’s all.”

“Yeah. Me too.” I wrap her in my arms and give her a hug that we both need. I love this girl. She’s been such a blessing to Ash and our family. Even though her last name isn’t Decker, it might as well be. She’s one of us.

A kiss on her head, a deep breath, and it’s back to taking care of Trevor.

We make plates and take them into the den, where Trevor is dozing. Maybe washing the pain pill down with a beer wasn’t the best idea, but he needs to rest.

“Let’s eat at the bar and leave sleeping beauty alone. I’m sure peace and quiet won’t last long,” Emma whispers.

We get settled and tuck into our lunch. “This is so good. I appreciate it.” I’m eating like I haven’t eaten in days, and now that I think about it, I probably haven’t. I’ve been living on wraps from the cafeteria and protein bars. This is my first hot meal in a while, and I’m eating like a teenaged boy with no table manners.

My phone buzzes. Probably Jules or Ash checking in. I’ve been horrible at keeping up with texts and emails. My phone died several times while I was at the hospital because I didn’t have a charger. I’m not the best communicator in normal times, and this situation hasn’t helped.

When I see the message, a spontaneous grin breaks free.

“Oh, this is interesting,” Emma muses. “Do tell, what could make that elusive smile appear, hm?”

I flash my phone at her to share the picture that fills my screen. It’s Joe and Mickey with a sign on their table with a big yellow smiley face that reads, “Thinking about you.” Both hedgehogs are in the picture, one looking at the camera, one looking at the sign. It’s adorable.

“Those are cute. Who’s sending you animal memes, and why do they make you smile? Not something I’d have on my Xander bingo card.”

“It’s from Dani.” I’m not sure what Ash tells Emma, but I assume she knows about Dani.

“Dani, the hot, single mom?”

“Interesting, yet accurate description. She wanted a classroom pet, so I got her two. That’s Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle.”

“Of course you did, you big softie.” She punches me in the arm. “Darcy told us about it during our last virtual girl’s night. We didn’t know you were text buddies.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. It should be cute, but Emma can be scary, and I’m smart enough to stay on alert.

“We aren’t. Not really. I saw her two Tuesdays ago, told her I’d text, and then.” I give her a half-shrug. We both know what happened on Tuesday night.

Not that I don’t think about her. I do. But I failed. I didn’t reach out like I said I would. I couldn’t exactly ask her out when I’m not there. Every day that passes, I figure it’s more sand dropping in my hourglass, my window of time slipping away. The longer it goes, the more I think I’ve missed my moment.

What prompted her to reach out now? My phone buzzes with another text before I’ve decided how to respond to her picture.

SUNSHINE

Luis came to visit my class today. Kids adored him. Told me you were out of town with a family emergency. Just reaching out to say I hope everyone is okay.

Hope Luis behaved himself.

Did she ask Luis about me? How did I come up in conversation? Wait. What was he doing there on a game day? Is he moving in on Dani? She’s gorgeous, but I thought Luis was smarter than that.

Thanks. My best friend was in a bad motorcycle accident last Tuesday. I just brought him home from the hospital today. Him versus truck. Guess who won?

SUNSHINE

That had to be terrifying. Are you okay?

Am I okay? Has anyone asked me that? The fist that was squeezing my chest releases a little. Dani’s sunshine breaks through the darkness from hundreds of miles away. I drop my shield a little. Test the waters.

I am now.

SUNSHINE

Gotta run. Kiddos are coming back from lunch. Let me know if you need anything.

Thanks. I’m glad you reached out. I’m sorry I didn’t. I wanted to.

I wait for the dots to show up, and they don’t. I’m like a teenaged girl waiting for a text response. I sigh and put my phone down.

There might still be hope.