Page 96 of Hidden Plays
As I swallowed through a lump, I nodded. “Okay. Let’s see what this bastard has in store for us now.” With JJ by my side, I could face anything. Puffing my chest, I strode into the room, clutching his hand. “Noel, I’m here.” My heart thudded against my ribs.
Mom and Dad followed us in.
Noel shifted his head on the pillow, his brows wrinkling. “Holden…” His attention drew behind me, toward Mom and Dad. “Mom, Dad.” He tensed his jaw and said, “Sitting in this fucking room has made me do a lot of thinking, and I’ve come to a decision.”
I braced myself, fisting my free hand. Here it came. He was either leaving town, cutting us all off from his life, or some shit. “Okay, what is it?”
Tears welled in his puffy eyes, and he sniffled. “You all are right. I’m a fucking mess and I need help.” In a cracking voice, he said, “I didn’t know how bad off you were, Holden. Fuck, I should have been there for you.” A tear tumbled down his cheek. “What sort of shit brother am I? How did I not see your pain?” His lower lip trembled. “When you told me about it, it…I don’t know, woke me up.” He hung his head, folding the thin hospital blanket between his fingers. “Maybe it’s because I haven’t had a drink in a few days.” He nodded slowly as tears fell onto his chest, wetting spots on his gown. “Do you know how long it’s been since I went a day without drinking?” His throat dipped. “I can’t even remember.”
“Noel.” As heat grew behind my eyes and my heart ripped open for him, I stepped to the bed and grabbed the metal rail. “Are you saying you’ll get help? You’ll agree to a treatment facility?” My heart drummed in my ears. Was I hearing this right? Was he just saying this so we wouldn’t perform the intervention? Addicts lied, right?
JJ’s body warmed my back, and he snaked his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder.
With his wet gaze crawling to mine, Noel said, “I am. I’ll go. I’ll stay as long as it takes.” He swallowed hard. “I want to be the brother you deserve.” His gaze flicked to Mom, standing next to me with her palms pressed together over her mouth, tears falling down her cheeks. “I want to be the son I should have been all along.”
“Oh, Noel.” Mom sniffled, wiped her face and kissed his forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.” His gaze swept the room. “All of you. You stood behind me even when I was an asshole to you. I don’t deserve you.” He dipped his head and sucked in a breath. “But someday I will.”
Dad walked around Noel’s bed and slid his arm over his shoulders. “Son, we can’t wait to see the new you. We’ll help you however we can.”
Noel leaned into Dad’s side. “I researched while I sat here, so I’d know what I was in for. I’m ready.” He peered into Dad’s face. “I assume you have some places picked out?”
“I do.” A soft smile graced Dad’s lips. “I can show them to you, and you can pick one. Any of them will take you on Sunday, when they release you from here.”
Nodding, Noel said, “Okay.” His gaze cut to mine. “Holden, I want you to know how sorry I am for what you went through.” He bit his lower lip. “You know what? I’d boasted to all my friends about how my brother was going to Penn State and how he’d be a great NFL player someday.” With a weak huff, he shook his head. “I was so fucking self-absorbed, I was more worried about what my friends thought than how it affected you. Fuck, I’m an asshole.” He covered his face with his hands and wept gently.
“Noel, it’s over now.” I placed a hand on his shaking shoulder and my cheek against his head. “Let’s put it behind us and start anew.”
Sniffling, Noel breathed in a tattered breath. “Yeah, let’s start anew.” He grabbed my hand from his shoulder and squeezed it. “I promise I won’t let you down.”
I gritted my teeth, holding back the emotions threatening to erupt. God, I hoped he could pull this off and keep his promise. It would be a tough road for all of us. “You’ve already started.” I stepped backward into JJ’s arms. Was it possible to have Noel in my lifeandJJ in the same city? Only time would tell.
After sittingwith Noel and talking with him about the logistics of his treatment program and lighter subjects, I left the hospital with JJ and returned to my apartment. The game, the drive, and my brother’s announcement had exhausted me.
I swung the door open to my place, and stepped inside, combing my long bangs off my face.
“Beer?” JJ strolled into my kitchen. “I mean, we beat the living shit out of U of A, and your brother finally came to his senses.” He opened the refrigerator. “If that isn’t cause for celebration, I don’t know what is.”
“Hell yes.” I fell onto the end of the couch and stared at the coffee table. I was emotionally and physically drained, no doubt about it. The memory of my conversation with Coach pushed through my brain. Fuck, I had to tell JJ about it.
JJ rounded the end of the couch with two open beer bottles. “Here.” He handed me one and sank in beside me. “Talk?”
As I sipped the beer, the cool bubbles slid down my throat. “I’m a little talked out, but there is something I need to tell you.” I wedged the beer between my thighs and angled to face him. “At the game tonight, Coach Bowden asked me to stay on as a student trainer for next year.” I gauged his reaction.
His brows ticked up. “He did?” He drank some beer. “That’s good, isn’t it?”
I nodded once. “It is, but he also said the Cardinals come to him for recommendations on student trainers for internships at their training camp.” I gnawed my lower lip. Fuck, I’d agreed to follow JJ to whatever city he’d end up in, but this was a chance that could make or break my career.
“Training camp for the Cardinals is in Flagstaff.” His gaze fell to his beer, and he picked at the label. “You need to go, Holden.” He gave me a thin-lipped grin. “You can’t pass up this opportunity, and I guess this means I’ll have to ask my agent and uncleto let the Cardinals know I’m interested in playing with them.” His grin widened.
Backroom deals happened all the time in the draft, but it was still a long shot. I placed my hand on his thigh. “Are you sure?”
“Dead sure, Holden. Let’s be real here. If your brother gets sober, he’s going to need you, and I know damn well you won’t want to leave here when you’ll finally be getting him back in your life.” He drew a deep inhale. “The Cardinals’ poor season improves my draft position. It’s a no-brainer.” He flung his arm around my shoulders. “My uncle said the Cardinals are looking to build a powerhouse, and I want to be a part of it.” He shrugged and smirked. “Who knows? Maybe I can bring the team to the Super Bowl.”
Shaking my head and huffing a laugh, I said, “JJ, you can be so cocky sometimes…” I gazed into his gorgeous blue eyes, lighting up for me. “But I think if anyone can bring them to the Super Bowl, it’s you.”
“With you at my side, I can do anything, babe.” Leaning in, he pressed a hard kiss on my mouth.
