Page 79 of Broken Ice, Mended Hearts

“I’ve read about people who can hear even after they’ve been put to sleep. Even if you think he won’t know, tell him to stay strong and keep fighting. Let him know Pip is on the way. Make sure you say ‘Pip,’ okay? Please?”

“Yes, Mr. Gagné. I’ll make sure of it.”

Chapter 22

Gags

Since there were no moreflights to DC until morning, Nick called the Barracudas’ owner, Allen Friedlander, who agreed to send his private jet to pick me up in the middle of the night. Although the plane would have to fly from Washington to get me, I’d still reach Sven hours before I could on a commercial flight.

As soon as the game was over—we beat Detroit—Stick told the boys what had happened. With my permission, he also told them about Sven and me. Everyone had an encouraging word, and after we showered, several guys announced they were going to the airport to keep me company until the plane arrived.

“You don’t have to do that,” I said. “You need your rest.”

But there was no talking them out of it, especially when Shuford jumped in and said I shouldn’t be alone.

“Jacob will be waiting when you land,” Nick said. “He’ll stay with you as long as you want him to.”

“Thank you, but are you sure that’s okay? It’s a big imposition.”

Nick shook his head. “You’re a friend, so it’s no imposition. Do you want me to fly to DC with you? I can get a commercial flight back first thing tomorrow.”

“No. I’ll be okay, but thanks.”

“Come on, guys,” Blake called out. “The van’s waiting outside.”

It was three hours until Friedlander’s plane arrived. The boys did their best to keep me positive, telling stories that brought back good memories and made me laugh. We all exchanged hugs before I boarded.

“Don’t worry about us,” Stick said. “Feel free to call any time, but you don’t have to. Jacob will keep us updated.”

As soon as we were in the air, I wished I’d asked Stick to come along. I was miserable, and the luxury of using a private jet did nothing to ease my anxiety. The flight attendant brought me coffee, but I declined his offer of food. Even if I’d gotten something down, it would have come right back up.

My mind raced, full of agonizing fear. What was happening in DC? Had Sven’s heart stopped again?Holy shit—if it had, were they able to restart it? Why hadn’t I pretended to be sick yesterday afternoon? I could have skipped the game and talked to Sven all night. If I had done that, he’d be safe now.

Why the fuck had he been driving around, anyway? He told me he’d watch the game, and he couldn’t have done that from his SUV.

Mon Dieu, s’il te plaît, aide-le. Ne me le prends pas.Trying to cover all my bases, I repeated in English, “God, please help him. Don’t take him from me.”

Looking out the window at the darkness below, I wondered where we were. City lights were visible on the horizon, and I was getting ready to ask the flight attendant for an ETA when my phone buzzed.

JACOB: Hey Gags. I’m at National Airport. They’re bringing you here because it’s closer to the hospital. Friedlander got in touch with someone he knows who’s on the hospital board, and they called the doctors treating Sven. He’s out of surgery and in the ICU. Let me know if I can do anything before you get here.

Thank God! If Sven’s in the ICU, he’s alive.I asked the attendant how much longer it would be until we arrived, then replied to Jacob.

GAGS: Thanks. Sorry to keep you up all night. They say we’ll be there in about forty minutes.

JACOB: No worries. I’ll be here.

I reclined the seat and closed my eyes. Sleep was out of the question, but if I could rest a little, I’d be in better shape at the hospital. Images of Sven floated endlessly through my mind, but he wasn’t himself. Sometimes his eyes were closed, and other times, he was bloody.

I sat up with a start, breathing hard and wiping sweat off my brow.Is Sven okay?I needed to see him looking normal, so I opened the photo app on my phone and scrolled through pictures we had taken last summer. There we were, grinning while we hiked in Catoctin Mountain Park. Another selfie had us by my pool; Sven was kissing my cheek, and I looked so happy I hardly recognized myself. Scrolling down, I found a photo I’d taken of him when we went to the National Harbor. He hadn’t known I was taking the picture, and he was looking to the side. His beautiful smile made tears run down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry to bother you, Mr. Gagné, but we’re about to land. Please make sure you’re buckled in.”

The attendant left, and I looked out the window, surprised to see DC below. We were flying in over the Potomac River, and as the plane approached the airport, the National Mall was visible on the left. The brightly lit monuments were massive, and I hoped their sturdiness was a sign of Sven’s resilience.

Jacob, waiting inside the terminal, caught me in a surprisingly powerful hug. He was a smaller guy with brown hair, fair skin, and an irresistible personality. It was easy to see why Stick fell in love with him when they were in college. They’d been married for years now, and I’d often watched them together and hoped I could find what they had someday.

When he let me go, Jacob put a hand on my back. “Do you have any luggage?”

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