Page 74 of Keeping it Real

“This isn’t helping Jackson right now,” Sheridan intervened.“Brad, why don’t you come outside with me, and we’ll get the paperwork signed for the additional testing.”

He sneered at her.“Haven’t you damn WAGs done enough?First, Gus’s wife calls in the cavalry.”He gestured at Lori.“Now you think you’re all high and mighty and can start bossing me around.Well, screw you.I’m not leaving my wife in here with some handsy doctor.And I’m not leaving my son.If you want to be helpful, go find August.”

Brooke shot her a desperate look.“No!I don’t want Brad here.And I don’t want him near August.I’m so done with you, Brad.”She pleaded with Trent.“Does he have to be in here?”

The phone rang before Trent could answer.

“Got it,” the doctor replied, then hung up.“No need for additional testing.Jackson is suffering from an acute THC overdose.”

“Oh God!”Brooke leaned down to snuggle her son.“My sweet boy.”

“That’s impossible.Those things aren’t that potent,” Brad argued.“I would have noticed if he ate the whole bottle.”

“Jackson is one-tenth your size,” Sheridan clapped back.“He’d only have to eat two or three to end up here.”

Brad went still.“What’s going to happen to him?”

“We’re going to admit him to pediatrics,” the doctor explained.“They’ll monitor him and continue flushing out his system with fluids until something changes.”

“But he’ll wake up, right?”Brad asked.

“That’s the hope,” the doctor replied.“We’ll know in about twenty-four hours.”

Brooke’s voice shook.“But will he be ...normal?”

“There haven’t been any definitive studies on kids Jackson’s age to know the answer to that question,” Trent attempted to reassure her.“But I’ve seen quite a few cases where the child has recovered unscathed.”

Please let that be the case here, Sheridan prayed.

The doctor motioned for the security guard to enter the room.“The law requires us to contact Child Protective Services in these cases.”

“Hell, no!”Brad yelled.“This was an accident.”

“Stick to the facts, and you shouldn’t have any problems,” the doctor replied.

“Is there a possibility law enforcement will get involved?”Lori asked him.

Brad was clenching and unclenching his fists.“What the actual fuck!”

“That’s the last thing any of us wants.”He looked between Brad and Brooke.“Right now, Jackson is my immediate concern.What happens from here is up to CPS.My advice?Stop being an ass, Merriweather.It will help your case.”He turned to Sheridan.“I’m going to see about getting him transferred to peds.”

Lori moved to follow him out.“I’ll let the coach know you’re taking family leave tonight,” she told Brad.

“Can I get you anything, Brooke?”Trent asked.

“I’ll take care of my wife.”

So much for Brad behaving.

Brooke ignored him.“If you could call my mother and a divorce lawyer, I’d appreciate it,” she said to Trent.

Twenty

“Pink Pony Club”was blasting throughout the arena when the Mayhem left the ice for the second intermission that night.They were up over the team from Seattle three zip.Coach stopped Alek at the bench before he could join his teammates in the dressing room.

“Calvin’s still got fresh legs,” Coach told him.“He’s doing a good job covering Merriweather’s shifts.Keep an eye on the back door, though.I’m noticing he tends to get jammed up in the corners, which could leave you vulnerable to a five-hole.”

“Sure thing,” Alek replied.“Any update from the hospital?”