Page 51 of Heart Taker

I needed to find a guy to hook up with. Any guy. Anything to take my mind offhim. This weekend, it was happening. Then everything would return to normal.

When we hit the ice again in the afternoon, I had a ton of adrenaline to burn. But I wasn’t as focused as I was in the morning. My gaze tracked Damien’s every move. And because of that, I missed a pass from Ethan and got razzed for being slow on the uptake. At least no one suspected the reason why I was so distracted.

“What do you think of the camp so far?” Dane asked me when we took a breather.

I turned to our captain.

“It’s good. Harder than I expected, but more time on the ice is never a bad thing, right? I’m learning a lot.”

“I think this fall is going to be a banner season for us.”

I nodded. “I feel it too.”

We were halfway through our scrimmage when Damien’s phone rang. He started skating away as he answered it, but he didn’t get far.

“Silas!” Damien called out and motioned for me.

I skated over to the boards and noticed Damien’s tense expression. “What’s up?”

“It’s your brother,” Damien replied and offered me his phone.

A wave of panic washing over me as I frantically pulled my gloves off and reached for the phone.

“Jo?” I answered.

“Sorry to interrupt your practice. I tried your cell but when I couldn’t reach you, I called the office at the rink. Didn’t realize they’d put me directly through to your coach.”

“It’s all right, what’s going on?”

“I had a fainting spell. One moment, I was gathering up the golf balls at the driving range, and the next thing I knew, I woke up in the lounge in the clubhouse with River beside me. Thankfully, he drove me to Burlington General.”

“Shit, are you okay?”

“Still waiting to see a doctor. I’ve been bleeding more than usual, and I went to the bathroom several times today. I think I’m dehydrated. I need you to come down here. River had to head back to work.”

“I’m leaving now. You’re in emergency?”

“Yeah, and thanks. Sorry about this.”

“Stop apologizing, Jo. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

I hung up and passed the phone back to Damien with a shaky hand.

“I’ve got to get to the hospital,” I stated, my voice hoarse. “Jo passed out at work.”

“Is he going to be okay?”

“I think so. I hope so,” I replied with a sigh. “He has Crohn’s disease. Jo had surgery two years ago and he was doing better, much better. But he started a new medication recently and it seems like it’s not working. Or maybe it’s the side effects? I don’t know.”

“That’s a lot to deal with at his age. Fuck, at any age.” Damien stared at me. “Thanks for telling me. We’re almost done today anyway. Go take care of your brother.”

“Thanks, Damien.”

He nodded. “Of course. Let me know how he’s doing. Text me later.”

“I will.”

I made a beeline for the boards, changed in record time, and was back in my truck on the way to the hospital not ten minutes after Jo called. My phone buzzed with notifications, and I tried my best to ignore the guilt that threatened to swamp me every time I thought about missing my brother’s call for help.

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