Page 87 of Second Shot

I take a step into the room, and my knees give out slightly when I see my father’s hulking form spread out on the small bed, tubes and machineseverywhere.

Kane is there holding my elbow, and I lean into him, using his body to keep meupright.

Time is something I’ve always thought I had a lot of. It plays tricks on us. Sometimes slowing down, making us think that we have eternity. Sometimes speeding up, making us wonder where we wasted all those preciousminutes.

And then there are moments when time freezes altogether. Moments of clarity, moments that change us. That make us realize how short this life really is. How wrong we were to waste even a second in resentment andblame.

I suck in a shaky breath. “Helooks…”

“I know.” Kane kisses the top of my head. “But you heard what the nurse said. He’s stable. He’s going to be fine. Sit with him,Brynne.”

“I don’t know. Maybe he wouldn’t want mehere.”

“He wants you here.” Kane cups my chin, forcing me to look at him. “There’s no one else in this world he’d rather have at his side when he wakes up thanyou.”

The way he says it, I almost believe him. Maybe I want to believehim.

“Okay.” I chew on my bottom lip and sit down beside the bed, hesitating before reaching through the metal bars to take my father’shand.

His lids flutter slightly, but they only partially open, and only for a brief moment before closing again. He makes a small, strangled sound, and the machines beepirregularly.

“Hi,Daddy.”

“B-” he murmurs incoherently. “Bry-”

“You’re going to be all right.” I squeeze his hand, and his fingers attempt to squeeze mine back, but there’s no strength in them. He opens his mouth to say something, but I shake my head. “Just rest. We can talk when you’rebetter.”

He closes his eyes, but before he drifts back to sleep, he mutters three words I haven’t heard from him in a very long time. “I…love…you.”

Chapter 28

Kane

“Ihate leaving you,”I murmur into Brynne’s hair, holding her against mychest.

“You’re only gone for a few days. We’ll be okay.” Her hands rest on my waist, and despite how exhausted I know she is, she smiles up at me, eyes bright with something I haven’t seen in a long time –hope.

It’s been three days since Coach had his heart attack. Three long, tiring days that Brynne refused to leave the hospital. She’s home now, but I know she won’t be forlong.

I know she’s struggling with the guilt of almost losing him when they’d been at odds with each other. And I swear she’s trying to make up for all those years by being there for him now. But I’m worried she’s going to burnout.

I tangle my fingers in her hair and tug gently to make her look up at me. “If you needanything-”

“I’ll be fine. I was going to take Noah to the hospital today. It’s time he finally meets hisgrandfather.”

I sigh. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait until I can be there withyou?”

“No. There are things I need to say…” More guilt flutters across her beautifulface.

“Okay.” I cup her chin, then kiss her hard, wishing I could pour all my strength intoher.

“I just hate that you have to deal with all thisalone.”

She gives a small shrug. “At least I don’t have to worry about the art exhibitanymore.”

I pull back slightly and frown. “Your show. With everything that’s been going on, I forgot aboutit.”

“Apparently, so did I. I lost my spot because I didn’t get my pieces to the gallery ontime.”

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