Page 63 of Your Biggest Downfall
“Yeah.”
“How was it?” Jeremy asked.
“Stupid,” I said truthfully. “I did it for her. I still don’t think I’m an addict.”
“Me neither. We like to party a little and let loose, especially after losing the Cup.”
“Exactly,” I said. Before I knew it, I was pulling up to the hospital. “I gotta go. I’m here.”
“Hey, man,” Jeremy said. “If you don’t find her, I’ll call Luna and see if she knows where she is.”
“Thanks,” I said, appreciating his offer. I realized I needed to do a better job of showing him I cared about our friendship beyond hockey. “Let’s get together soon.”
“For sure. Good luck with Nova. I’ll call Lune now.”
Lune, huh? They were on a nickname basis? I guess a lot had changed—I could’ve sworn they were just hooking up.
As I approached the front desk, my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might break through my chest. I wiped my palms against my pants before leaning forward slightly, trying to appear more confident than I felt.
I tapped my fingers restlessly on the counter as I demanded, “I’m looking for my fiancée and her mother, Cecilia.” I forced myself to hold eye contact with the front desk lady, hoping my anxiousness didn’t show.
As she searched for the information, a bead of sweat trickled down the back of my neck, and my foot tapped involuntarily against the floor.
“Yes, they’re in Wing Three, room fifty-seven.” She looked at the clock and added, “Visiting hours end in twenty minutes, so please be quick.”
“Thank you,” I said.
I grabbed the visitor badge with slightly trembling hands and practically sprinted toward the elevator, my steps quick and uneven as I rushed to find them. I jabbed the elevator button repeatedly, as if doing so would make it arrive faster.
Once I got inside and took the elevator up to the fifth floor, I closed my eyes. Why did I even come here? Nova pushed me away yesterday, but she needed someone to lean on right now. If anything, I needed to be there for her as a friend.
I reached her mom’s room and paused, my hand hovering over the door handle. Should I knock? Maybe I should barge in—or maybe I should leave entirely because this wasn’t my place. I could go get her dinner and meet her at her apartment, but what if she doesn’t go home?
I knocked.
A flood of doubts overwhelmed me. I should turn back. I shouldn’t be here. I should?—
“Come in.”
Her sweet, soft voice filled my ears like a familiar melody, one I’d known forever. I craved her like I needed air.
My hand met the door handle, and out of pure instinct—driven by the need to be closer to her, to make sure she was okay—I pushed the door open.
“It’s me.”
28
nova
I knew who “me” was without seeing him past the curtain.
“Doctor?” my mother croaked.
I turned toward her and shook my head. “No.” I coughed as his black sneakers came into view. “It’s my friend, Mami.”
“Friend?” she asked, her voice still hoarse from the intubation scope.
“Yeah, friend.” Austin pulled the curtain back slowly, and his blonde hair was matted to his forehead. His blue eyes scanned me up and down. “Hi, Ms. Thatcher.”
