Page 78 of Just One Kiss

Carly nodded.

Another smile from the doctor. “Why don’t I get you both some coffee and show you to the waiting room? You’ll get regular updates on your pager.”

Carly glanced down at the device in her hand. It looked like a restaurant pager, but it would be their connection to Jaden while he was in surgery.

Finally, she tossed a look in Josh’s direction. He held her gaze, wondering if she was thinking of the way he’d held her that very morning, wondering if it was his arms she sought comfort in.

But no. That moment between them had passed, and Carly had gone back to despising him.

She looked away, back toward the doctor, who led her out of the room. Josh drew in a deep breath. It was going to be a very long day.

20

About half an hour after they took Jaden back, Carly’s family showed up in the waiting room. It wasn’t the first time they’d been in the hospital for Jaden—in a way, they all fussed over him as if he were their own.

The television quietly played aGolden Girlsrerun, and the tension ofnot knowing anythinghad dissipated. They watched the pager with quiet intensity, until it finally beeped to inform them Jaden had been fully prepped and was heading into surgery soon.

“I thought he was already prepped,” Quinn had said.

“I guess he was sort of pre-prepped,” Carly explained. “There are more things to do once they take him back—give him anesthesia, insert the catheter, that sort of thing.”

Quinn nodded and pulled a deck of cards from her bag. “Euchre?”

Carly shook her head briefly. “Not for me, thanks.”

Quinn tucked the cards back in her purse. “Wedding planning?”

Carly smiled at her little sister. “That sounds like a good way to pass the time.”

Grady slid into the seat next to Quinn, eyes focused on Carly. “How you holding up?”

She nodded.

“He’s been pretty upset lately,” Grady said. “All this talk of not skiing.”

“His doctor said he’s done,” Carly said.

“Jaden doesn’t think so,” Grady said. “He’s been reading all these articles about athletes with those implantable devices. He’s convinced he’s coming back.”

Carly wasn’t surprised. And she was both terrified and proud at the thought. Her kid was no quitter. And yet, what if Dr. Roby was right?

She told Quinn and Grady about Elizabeth Maney. She’d already decided if the swimmer didn’t email her back this week, she’d email again. Or find another athlete with Long QT. Elizabeth and Jaden couldn’t be the only ones.

“I think it’s smart to get another opinion,” Quinn said. “You don’t want to count him out if you don’t have to.”

“Yeah, even though the new ski coach has.”

Quinn jabbed Grady in the side.

“What did you say?” Carly asked.

“It’s nothing,” Quinn said.

“Obviously it’s not nothing.”

Her little sister sighed. “It’s not something to be thinking about today.” An annoyed look at her fiancé.

Grady’s face apologized.

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