Page 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
NASH
T he energy in the air is palpable as we come off the ice and head back into the locker room. We just won 5–0 and the entire game was intense. We scored two goals in the first period and after we came back for the second, things started to get pretty physical and chippy. Much to my dismay, I managed to get through the game without getting into any fights, although I did end up shoving one of the defensemen on the other team.
“Good game tonight, boys,” Caleb tells all of us as everyone finds their spots and starts to get undressed. Caleb pulls off his jersey, tossing it onto the bench as he looks around the room at all of us. He goes into his speech, giving a recap and a rundown of the good points. It’s something we do after every game and tonight, he hands the team belt—much like a wrestling belt—to the player of the game, Rowan.
“You played your fucking ass off tonight, Taylor,” Caleb says, clapping his shoulder as he hands him the belt. “I don’t know how you made some of the saves you did, but you were like a goddamn ninja out there.”
Rowan laughs loudly, holding the belt up as he looks around the room at all of us. “Okay, I did play my ass off, but so did the rest of you. I didn’t make any goals tonight and we wouldn’t have won without that too.” He smiles, showing his bright white teeth, his blue eyes filled with happiness. “Great fucking game, boys.”
Everyone starts clapping, some of the guys hooting and hollering as we all cheer him on. Carson jumps up and down, his excitement like that of a little kid. You would think we just won the Cup or something, but no—it was just a regular season game.
Every win, every point helps us keep the number one seed in our division. We’re heading into playoff territory soon enough, so it’s vital that we keep this energy going and keep moving forward like this.
After removing my gear, I grab my phone from my locker, turning it on to check it before heading into the shower. As the screen turns on, I see there are multiple messages from Nova, along with a few voicemails. Panic immediately floods me and my heart stops immediately in my chest as my phone gives me a preview of her messages.
Nova
Nash, I need you to call me as soon as you see this.
Nova
It’s Riley.
Nova
I’m here at the hospital with her. She’s okay right now, but things aren’t good.
Nova
The baby’s in distress and Riley is getting worse.
Nova
FUCKING CALL ME.
I don’t hesitate, tapping on her name immediately. My breath is lodged in my throat and my heart refuses to beat. Time is suspended and it feels like a fucking lifetime when she finally answers on the last ring.
“Nash, you need to get here as soon as you can.”
“What the fuck is going on?” I question her, my voice tense, yet filled with worry. I practically yell the words, my heart immediately kicking into overdrive as it pounds erratically against my rib cage. “Is Riley okay? Is the baby okay?”
Nova is silent for a moment. Caleb appears beside me, Lincoln right behind him. I look at the two of them, seeing Rowan and Carson as they move closer, but I don’t truly see them—not right now. “I don’t know, Nash. Things just started to go downhill so fast.” I can hear the panic in her voice, the emotion consuming her. “They said they needed to get her into surgery immediately and just took her back.” She chokes on a sob. “Please just get here.”
“I’m on my way.”
I end the call, shoving the phone in my pocket as I start to rifle through my locker, looking for my keys. I’m moving in a rush, panic fueling my body as my heart can’t control itself. My breathing is ragged and erratic.
“What’s going on, Nash?”
“They just took Riley back for an emergency C-section,” I bark at whomever spoke. I don’t bother looking at either of them as my fingers finally feel the key fob for my car and my wallet. “I have to go.”
“I’ll drive you,” Caleb interjects, his hand landing on my shoulder. “You’re in no condition to drive right now.”
“I’m fine,” I tell him, turning around to face him. My hands are shaking, my entire body feeling like I’m going to crawl out of my skin from feeling so fucking helpless. “I need to get there now.”
“This isn’t up for debate,” Caleb says, his voice stern as he spins me around, pushing me toward the door.
“I’m coming with you,” Lincoln says without hesitation, his footsteps rushing as he leaves the room with us.
“So are we,” Caleb and Rowan both say at the same time, following after us.
It’s a fucking whirlwind, and I’m lost in my head and feelings as we all pile into Caleb’s car. He drives like he races cars for a living, and I’m not even sure how we get there in one piece. I can’t focus on any of it and the entire ride is a blur before he’s pulling the car to an abrupt halt in front of the hospital.
We’re not even at a full stop as I’m shoving open my door, my feet hitting the ground running. I rush through the automatic sliding glass doors as they part, not stopping until I reach the front desk. “Where is she?” I knock my fist on the counter like a fucking psycho. “Where is Riley?”
The woman at the desk lifts her gaze to mine, her forehead creasing. “I’m sorry?—”
“WHERE IS MY FUCKING WIFE?!”
I hear Rowan’s voice behind me. “His wife?” he half whispers to one of the guys.
“I don’t know,” I hear another voice, but I don’t pay attention to who it is.
“May I have her name, please?”
My lips part as I go to tell her, when I see a flurry of wild blonde curly hair to my right.
“Oh my god, Nash.” Nova breathes a sigh of relief as she reaches for my arm. I turn to look at her, watching her face crumble as soon as she sees me. “Thank God you’re here.”
I pull my sister into my arms, holding her as sobs rack her body. I swallow back my own emotions, knowing I can’t break right now too. “What’s going on? Where is she?”
“She’s in surgery right now. I’ve been waiting for someone to come back and give me an update.”
My eyes are wild as I spin back to the woman at the front desk. “Why hasn’t the doctor come out? I need to speak to whomever is in charge of her care.”
Her eyes widen, filling with concern as she glances at her two colleagues who are now standing behind her, most likely because of the chaos I’m causing out here.
“Sir, we’re going to have to ask you to calm down or we will have to have you escorted out of here.”
“I’ll calm down when someone tells me where the hell my wife is and what’s going on with her and the baby.”
The double doors behind Nova are pushed open and a man walks out dressed in surgical scrubs and gown. The top of his head is covered using a cap and a mask is pulled down beneath his chin. “Are you Riley Harris’s husband?”
“Yes.”
Nova gasps and murmurs erupt from the guys behind me. “What?”
I glance at my sister. “I will explain later.”
“Are all of you family too?” he asks my sister and the guys.
“Yes,” they all say in unison without a second thought.
“Very well,” he says, nodding as he motions for us to follow him. “We have a private family waiting room you can all come to.” He looks at me as we reach the door. I go to step inside, but his hand darts out to stop me. “Not you. You can come with me.”
Dread rolls in the pit of my stomach and I fold my lips between my teeth, nodding at him before looking at my sister. Her teary eyes are filled with fear. I pull her in for a quick hug, releasing her as Lincoln steps up behind her. “I’ll update you as soon as I know what’s going on.”
Nova gives me a quick nod, and I leave them all behind as I follow the doctor through the double doors. We walk through the hallway, and he leads me into a separate waiting room outside of the surgical unit.
He motions for me to take a seat, but I shake my head, insisting on standing. He gives me a knowing look. “You can sit down. They’re both okay.”
Relief floods me and I instantly feel like I can breathe. I’m reluctant to sit but I do.
He takes a seat across from me. “Surgery went well. We were able to deliver the baby without any issues. He was a little sluggish initially at birth due to the medications Riley received, but with a little support with his breathing, he quickly rebounded, and is happy and healthy.”
“Thank God,” I breathe the words, my throat constricting as my eyes begin to burn. “What about Riley? Is she okay?”
“They’re moving her to the recovery unit where she will wake up from the anesthesia.” He pauses, his facial expression stoic. “Her blood pressure is still high, which we are hoping will come down over the next few days. Her kidneys were severely affected by the condition but that is another thing that should resolve since we delivered the baby.”
“What happens now?”
“I will take you to the nursery so you can see the baby. Since we will be transferring your wife soon, one of the nurses can take you and the baby to her room.”
None of this feels real. “Okay,” I tell him, nodding as I pull my phone out to text Nova. The doctor rises to his feet and I follow him out of the room as he leads me away from the surgical unit. I give Nova an update on everything, tucking my phone back into my pocket as I follow him through the postpartum unit.
We round a corner and there’s a nursery in the center, surrounded by three glass walls so you can see inside. From what I read, babies go directly to the rooms with their mothers unless there are issues preventing that from happening.
I follow him into the room, looking at the nurses who are moving about, although I don’t really see them. The past hour has been a blur, I’m not sure what my brain has really registered because I don’t have a single memory of the panic and chaos that has ensued.
The doctor stops as we reach the only bassinet that is occupied in the room. I look down, my heart stumbling over itself as my breath catches in my throat. He’s wrapped tightly in a pastel blue blanket with a pink-and-blue striped hat covering his head. My eyes burn as my gaze travels over his perfect little face, his plump lips, and little round nose. His dark lashes rest against the tops of his full cheeks.
“Here’s your little guy,” the doctor says, the smile evident in his voice as he looks up at me with his eyes shining from the fluorescent lights above. “Congrats, Dad.”