Page 36 of Hidden Plays (Desert Football #1)
SEVENTEEN
JORDAN (JJ)
I sat on the couch with Nicole and Mom, watching a Hallmark Christmas movie and drinking hot chocolate. I used to think these movies were silly, but now it felt like I was in one. Yeah, Holden made me all gooey inside.
Dad sprawled in his recliner, reading his newspaper again.
His cell phone rang on the side table next to the recliner.
Throwing his paper on the floor, he picked it up.
“Dr. Matthews here.” He nodded once. “I’ll be right in.
” With a glance at us, he pushed out of the recliner and stood. “I’m needed at the hospital.”
Mom sipped her hot chocolate, her gaze on the television. “Okay, honey. I hope it’s not too late of a night.”
Watching the exchange, I said, “What’s up? Can you tell us?” Mom was so used to this. It barely registered with her.
“A car accident victim needs surgery. That’s all I can say.” Dad strode out of the room.
With a shrug and a nod, I returned to the movie, the couple in the middle of the standard breakup over miscommunication while arguing in a Christmas tree lot. Maybe I should take Holden to the Zoo Lights this year. Yeah, that would be a romantic treat .
My phone buzzed on the coffee table in front of me. I stared at it for a moment and then picked it up. Harry Smith scrolled across the screen. Shit, I still hadn’t changed his name in my contacts.
Nicole peered at my phone. “Who is Harry? I thought Holden was your boyfriend?”
“It’s a long story, but this is Holden.” I chuckled. I’d have to tell her what happened after the call. “Hello?”
“JJ?” Holden’s voice wavered. “I need you. Noel’s in the hospital, the one on Shea Boulevard. He’s been in an accident. He’s in the ICU.”
My eyes popped open. Holy fuck, had Dad been called to help Holden’s brother? “Sure, babe. I’ll be right there.” As the call ended, I glanced at Mom and Nicole, both fixated on me.
“What’s going on, Jordan?” Mom drew her brows together.
“I have to go. Holden’s brother…” Fuck, how do I explain this? I gritted my teeth. “Holden needs me. His brother’s in the hospital.”
Mom quirked a brow. “Uh, does he need surgery by any chance?”
Bingo. “I don’t know. Maybe.” And if they were calling Dad, it meant it would be a tough case.
I’d heard enough stories from Dad to know that putting an addict under for surgery was dicey.
“I’ll have to talk to you both later.” My heart pinched.
Poor Holden. The last time we saw his brother, he’d been so upset.
Mom squeezed my forearm. “Jordan, you know he’s in expert hands if your father is in the operating room with him.”
“Yeah, I know, Mom.” I brought my hot chocolate to the sink, rinsed the mug and set it in the dishwasher.
My heart jolted. Holden wasn’t out with his parents.
How would we handle this? My hands trembled as I dried them on a towel.
“Love you both, and I’ll see you later.” I raced back to them, kissed their cheeks and then jogged toward the front door.
After parking in the hospital’s multi-level garage, I jogged to the front doors of the tall squarish building. The sprinklers were on, watering the grassy grounds, trees and palms.
I stepped under the portico covering the rounded drive to the entrance and through an automated sliding door, then tugged my phone from my pants’ pocket and dialed Holden. He’d mentioned the ICU, but he didn’t specify which one. The call rang once.
“JJ?” He huffed a breath.
“Yeah, I’m here, babe. Where are you?” I scanned the reception area, the stone tile floors and high-backed lounge chairs.
A woman sat behind a wooden desk, watching me.
“I’m coming down from the ICU. Are you at the entrance?” Holden asked.
“Yes.” I spun around. Which direction would he come from? We had so much to talk about.
“I’m here.” The call ended, and Holden strode from the elevator behind the reception desk. “JJ?” He ran to me, arms outstretched.
I caught him and wrapped him in a tight embrace. “Babe, are you okay?” I nuzzled his hair. For the moment, no one was around to witness us.
“It doesn’t look good.” Holden’s breath hitched, and a sob wracked his body.
“H-he was in a car accident. He drove off the road on Shea, and his car crashed in a wash.” Clinging more strongly to me, he said, “He has internal bleeding and…” His body shook.
“He might not make it. What am I going to do?”
“I’m sorry, babe.” Stroking the back of his hair, I said, “I’m here for you and your family, and so is my dad.” Surely this was why Dad had left the house. “He got called in for an accident victim.”
With a sniffle, he lifted his head, his wet gaze finding mine. “What? They called your dad in?”
“Yeah.” I set a hand on his cheek and rubbed the traces of tears with my thumb. “If anyone can get your brother through this, it’s my dad.” Would Dad have any idea who he was saving tonight and how much it meant to me?
With a hard swallow, he said, “Oh my God, I can’t believe it.” His gaze darted across my face. “I think it’s time for you to meet my parents.” The side of his mouth ticked.
“Are you sure?” I studied him. “You’re going through enough. You don’t have to?—”
“There’s no fucking way I’m getting through this without you. I can’t hide what you mean to me for another second.” His brows wrinkled. “I love you, and if Dad can’t handle it, then he can go to hell.”
“Holden?” Leah stood by the elevator, a tissue in her hand, and her mouth dropped open. She stepped toward us, blinking a few times. “What’s this?” She glanced toward the woman at the desk. “Come with me and let’s talk.” Grabbing Holden’s elbow, she led us into a hallway.
“Mom, this is JJ. He’s a wide receiver for ASU’s football team and he’s my uh…” He hooked an arm around my waist. “He’s my boyfriend.”
Holy fuck, what a way to come out. Worrying my lip, I forced my gaze to hers. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Cox.” I extended my hand to her. “I’m sorry for the situation here.”
She stared at my hand as if it were on fire.
Maybe it would help if she knew my father was here, trying to save her son. “My father’s an anesthesiologist, and I’m pretty sure he’s in the operating room with Noel.” I pushed my hand closer.
She gave a quick shake of her head. “You, you know Noel?” Her gaze crept to mine.
“Shake his hand, Mom.” With a huff, Holden put her icy hand in mine.
With her brows wrinkling, she shook my hand. “Pleased to meet you. JJ was it?”
Did she know what was going on? “Holden, I think she’s in shock.” I released her hand. What was the protocol for that ?
“Mom, look at me.” Holden grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Are you okay? Do you know where you are?”
Her unwavering stare softened, and then her expression brightened. “Holden Cox, are you gay?” The edge of her lips twitched.
“No, Mom, I’m bisexual. But JJ is my boyfriend. I love him. I’m…” He snuck a peek at me. “He’s the love of my life.”
Leah’s gaze softened, and she cupped his cheek. “I love you, Holden, and I support you.” She blew out a long breath and shook her head. “I’m just uh, I’m stunned.”
“I’m sorry it went down like this, Mrs. Cox.” I stepped closer to them. Thank God, she hadn’t reacted badly. “Holden needed me, and my dad?—”
“Is helping to save Noel.” She tilted her head. “JJ, what’s your last name?”
“Matthews.” I held my breath. Would she put it all together?
Her brows snapped up, and she covered her open mouth with her fingers. “Oh my, you’re Dan and Kelly’s son. They come into the bar for happy hour every other Friday.”
“I am.” I gave her my best smile as warmth threaded through my chest. “They love you, you know. They say great things about you. In fact, Dad won’t let any other bartender in the entire valley make him a Manhattan.” Goddamn, it was a small world.
“Come here.” She threw her arms around me for a perfect mom hug. “They’re both good people.” She freed me. “They talk about you nonstop. Your father is so proud of you.” She tapped my chest.
Holden’s eyes glittered as a grin tugged at his lips. “Mom, you don’t know how scared I was of this moment. But having this out in the open is making the bullshit with Noel bearable.”
“Oh, honey.” She side-hugged Holden. “We’ll get through this somehow.” She hooked an arm in mine and one in Holden’s. “Let’s go find your father. He was staring out a window and drinking coffee when I left him.” She guided us toward the elevator.
“Mom, how will Dad react to JJ and me?” Holden tensed his jaw.
“He’ll experience the same shock I did, but he’ll be supportive.” The elevator door slid open, and she led us inside and then unhooked our arms.
“Are you sure? Noel thought Dad would cut me off financially.” Holden stepped to my side, threaded his fingers in mine and rested his head on my shoulder.
“Your father is not like that, and you know it.” She faced him, her gaze growing hard. “Why do you listen to your brother? I love him to death, but he thrives on drama. You know that.” Her expression fell flat. “God, how can I badmouth him when he’s fighting for his life?”
“I don’t know, Mom. But the state he’s in is a consequence of his own actions. Maybe now he’ll be open to treatment?” Holden frowned.
“I hope so.” She huffed as the elevator doors slid open. Walking out, she said, “You know your father started looking into rehab facilities.”
“He did?” Keeping his hand in mine, Holden guided me from the elevator and into the hallway.
No one had mentioned what was wrong with Noel. Should I bring it up? “Um, Holden, what’s your brother’s diagnosis?” I tugged on his hand to stop him. It might help to know what we were facing.
“Hang on, Mom.” Holden faced me. “He has a broken kneecap, a broken sternum and some broken ribs, but the biggest problem is he was bleeding internally. That’s why they had to get him into surgery right away.”
“Oh.” I nodded. “What drugs were in his system?” I glanced at Leah, who waited for us a few feet down the hallway.