Page 70 of Cross Check My Heart
“Garrett. As much as I want the details, right now I need you to tell me where Lilly is.”
“We’re at the hospital. Listen man, you’re right, we can fill you in on the details when you get here. To make a long story short, her ex showed up as she was leaving.” I feel the blood drain from my face.
“Paige, Eva, and I are here with her now. But Paige asked if you could bring her dad though.”
“Bring her…dad? What do you expect me to say? ‘Hey man, your daughter is in the hospital, wanna share a ride? Oh, why am I going? Yeah, I fell in love with your daughter, so I sure as shit am not waiting around until she’s out.’ I’m sure that will go over wonderfully.”
Greyson chokes on a cough next to me as I realize what I just said. Garrett isn’t even remotely phased as he half-heartedly chuckles in my ear.
“I mean if you want to tell him you love her before telling her, then sure. But I was thinking maybe something along the lines of telling him I need you to drive my car home.”
“Well, shit, yeah that’s probably a better plan. Got it, we’ll be there soon.” I don’t wait for him to respond as I hang up and begin removing the rest of my gear. Greyson sits next to me, following suit. The sound of the team making their way down the tunnel hits my ears just as I finish changing.
“You know you’re gonna have to update me?” He questions. I nod stiffly. “And you’re gonna have to fill me in on how you and her…”
“Aw, you wanna gossip and talk about all the juicy details with me?” I chuckle half-heartedly. He shakes his head, a small smirk resting on his lips. With a shake of his head, he wipes a hand over his mouth.
“Apparently.”
“I didn’t plan this, or to feel like this. But… I don’t know, man. She snuck up on me and just cross checked my heart.” Standing up, I finish changing into gym shorts and a plain black shirt, cringing at the fact I need a shower, but also don’t want to be held up even longer.
Coach James walks in, eyes already on Greyson and I as he heads toward us while the rest of the team fills in the locker room. When he’s almost in front of us, I throw my bag over my shoulder and motion toward the door that leads toward the offices.
“I need to talk to you about something.” His brows crunch together, but he nods his head toward the door.
“Give me a minute.” As he turns to hand his clipboard to Coach Marcus, I say goodbye to Greyson and let him know that I’ll keep him updated.
When I make it out the door, I pace the hall while I wait for Coach. He doesn’t get a chance to even open his office up before I’m speaking.
“Lilly’s in the hospital.” He turns on his heel faster than I would have thought possible.
“Excuse me?” He says quietly. I suck in a breath, needing to make sure I don’t accidentally say the wrong thing.
“Paige and my friend Garrett were supposed to come to tonight’s game with Lilly. I don’t know what happened yet, Garrett and Paige don’t have your number. So, he called me to come grab his car and you…” I trail off, hoping that just made sense as I fight the urge to leave him behind and go now. Coach stands frozen for a heartbeat before snapping into action.
“I’ll meet you at the doors, give me a minute to tell Marcus I’m leaving and then we’ll go.”
He’s heading back toward the locker room before I can say anything else, and I’m left pacing the hallway while I wait for him.
When we’re in the car and heading to the hospital, I send a text to Garrett asking for room details to speed us up when we get there. Coach and I both remain silent the entire way there and it’s not until we’re walking in that he finally speaks.
“I’ll go find out what room—” I cut him off and motion to the elevators.
“Already got that from Garrett.” Leading the way, I fight to stay calm and not show just how on edge I am. By the time the elevator doors open, I’m five seconds away from telling Coach that I’m with Lilly. The only thing that stops me is seeing Garrett and that girl from the beach day a while back as we step off the elevator. Tapping coach’s arm as he turns toward the nurse’s desk, I motion for him to follow me and head toward Garrett.
“Hey, you must be Mr. Matthews. I’m Garrett, Paige’s boss, and this guy’s bestie.” Garrett extends a hand out to him andglances at me from the corner of his eye while pointing his thumb at me.
“Please, call me James.” How he’s being so calm is beyond me, but he shifts his stance as he looks past Garrett.
“She’s right in there. They had to give Lilly some pain meds a bit ago and the nurse said she’d swing by in twenty minutes or so but for now, Paige is with her.” James nods and finally moves to go around him. It takes all of my self-control to not go barreling into the room after him.
Stepping toward the door, I keep my voice low.
“What happened?” It’s the girl from the beach, Eva, who answers.
“I don’t know his name, but her ex showed up as she was leaving.”
Mother. Fucker.
