Page 71 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“Dad?” I answered.

“Hey, Son. Now I don’t want you to panic, but I wanted to let you know, we’re at the hospital. Sofia collapsed at home so we brought her in.”

The world contracted around me.

Collapsed?

“What? Is she okay? Is she there? Can I speak to her?”

“She’s okay,” he said, but I heard the strain there. “She can’t talk right now because the doctor is checking her over. But I wanted to let—”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Aaron, Son, you don’t need to do that. She’s okay.”

“I’m coming. See you soon.” I hung up and Cole asked, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Sofia… she collapsed.”

“What?” The blood drained from his face. “Is she okay?”

“Dad said so, but I’m going to the hospital.”

“Yeah, man, of course. Do you want me to—”

“No, no. It’s fine. We probably shouldn’t all turn up.” Sofia would kick my ass as it was for making a fuss, but she’d do the same for me. Besides, I needed to see with my own two eyes that she was okay.

“Oh, Aaron, sweetheart, you didn’t need—”

“How is she?” I glanced past Mom into the hospital room where my sister and Dad were talking to a man I assumed was the doctor.

“She’s okay. They think it’s anemia. Hopefully we can take her home soon.”

“Mya,” Coach’s voice filled the hall.

“Jase, you didn’t have to come. She’s fine.”

“Poppy wouldn’t take no for an answer.” He glanced down at her and she smiled.

“How is she?”

“Okay. Her vitals are good, but her iron levels are low, so they’re treating her for anemia.”

“Can I see her?” Poppy asked, refusing to look at me.

“Of course, sweetheart. Go on in. We’ll be right there.”

Poppy passed the doctor as he left the room and slipped inside. Sofia’s smile widened as the two of them hugged.

“Are you going to ask for a second opinion?” Coach asked, and I frowned.

“We hadn’t planned on it, why?” Mom asked.

“Because you can never be too careful, Mya.”

Mom gnawed the end of her thumb, tears brimming in her eyes.

“Come on, let’s go see her,” I suggested, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, our argument from earlier long forgotten.

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