Page 180 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

“I… fine.” A frustrated huff escaped her lips as she turned away.

“Sofe?”

“Yeah?” she clipped out.

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I smiled. She knew it was the right call. She wasn’t in this alone, I was here. And I wanted to be here as much as I could be.

It was like Coach had said, football was just a game. But Sofia…

Well, she was the other half of my soul.

* * *

I spentthe next four days shuffling back and forth between the hospital, the Bennets’ house, and school.

Sometimes I visited Sofia alone, sometimes Aaron and I went together. Sometimes Poppy and Ashleigh were with us. While she was allowed plenty of visitors, we all tried to make sure we kept her busy and distracted from the looming result of Aaron’s donor test.

Mr. Bennet started working from home or the hospital as much as he could, and while Mrs. Bennet went back to work at the high school, she was working reduced hours to allow her to travel daily between Rixon and Allentown.

Mom had called me more than once, begging me to come home. It was almost Thanksgiving and she wanted me to be there. But I couldn’t do it, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever go back. I had bigger things to worry about. Like the girl currently asleep in my arms.

She had been tired a lot this week, which is why, with the help of one of the nurses and her parents, I’d arranged something special for tonight.

“Sofia,” I whispered, brushing her cheek. “Wake up, sleepy girl.”

“Hmm, what time is it?”

“Like six. You’ve been asleep an hour.”

“I have?” She yawned, stretching her arms out. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. But I kind of have plans for us and we’re going to be late if we don’t get moving.”

“Plans? What kind of plans?”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

“Cole, what did you do?”

A smile split my lips. “You’ll see. I think Poppy left you some things here.” I climbed off the bed and grabbed the bag Poppy had left behind when she visited yesterday.

Sofia snatched it from me and peered inside. “Why is there a dress in here?”

“Because, Sofia Bennet, we have a date.”

“A date… at the hospital?” She blinked at me as if I’d lost my mind.

And maybe I had.

“I’m sure for one night you can use your imagination.”

“Fine, I’ll go with it.”

“That’s my girl.” I kissed the end of her nose. “Now go and get yourself ready.”

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