Page 19 of Milk for His Daddy (The Lactin Brotherhood #21)

LEO

“And do you know what she said?” My mom screeches into the phone.

“No.” I really couldn’t care any less about what she’s going to say, but she continues like she didn’t even hear me.

“She didn’t like my haircut. Can you believe it? I have the best stylist in the city! How dare she insult me with her dollar-store haircut?”

“Mom, it’s really early here, can we please?—”

“Early. Where are you this time?”

“Australia.”

“That sounds nice. Why don’t you bring back a nice Australian man for me? That accent. Yum.”

Gross. This must be what Dad feels like when I talk about men.

“Mom, you can’t just bring men home like a souvenir.”

“I suppose, but I’m tired of all the men around here.”

That’s because you’ve nagged all of them away.

“Sorry to hear that. Perhaps you should try something other than cruising apps.”

“What does that mean?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “When I get back, I’ll explain the difference between apps that are looking to get you laid or find a relationship. Now, can I please get back to sleep?”

“Oh, just one thing. I need to redo my bathroom because it’s terribly dated.” I paid for it to be redone three years ago. “And the sink is just too small. How am I supposed to fit all of my cosmetics?”

“We can talk about it when I get home.”

“Of course, dear, but Bev is going to be coming for a visit, and I want it to be ready for company.”

“Fine, now good night.”

“Oh silly. It’s morning here.” She laughs.

“Right, good morning.” And I hang up.

Ugh, that woman drives me nuts. I mean, I love her and all, but nuts, and now there’s no way I’ll be able to go back to sleep.

I stare up at the ceiling in this gorgeous hotel room, and my thoughts drift back to my boy. Always my boy, and while I want to be annoyed that I’m so gone for him, I can’t be.

He’s so sweet and cute, but also sexy and strong.

Watching him crawl for me and depend on me…

It’s intoxicating.

I’m elbows deep in cables and wires and freezing my balls off in the server room.

I mean, what the hell? Did they take every wire out and switch it before they installed the wrong update?

I’m not normally a violent person, but some days I understand the term “going postal” all too well.

“Leo?”

“Get out,” I growl at whoever the fuck is looking for me.

“Sorry to bother you.” I huff dramatically and turn to him. “But your phone has been ringing, and the number comes up as a hospital.”

Now he has my attention. So I untangle myself, walk out of the room, and pick up my phone. I’ve missed two calls, and there’s a voicemail.

Who leaves a voicemail anymore?

I take a deep breath and pray that it isn’t anything serious.

“This message is for Leo Long. I’m calling from Mercy General Hospital. I have an Izaiah Collins here. There was an accident, and we’re reaching out to inform you he’s here and we’re hoping that you could?—”

She leaves a number, but I zone out.

I’m in fricking Australia.

He’ll be discharged before I even have a chance to get to him.

Unless he’s hurt really bad.

What if it’s serious? What if he did cut his arm off with a chainsaw? I’d never forgive myself.

I need to call.

Shit, what time is it there?

You know what? It doesn’t matter, so I call the number they left.

“Mercy General Hospital, how may I direct?—”

“I’m calling to check on a patient, Izaiah Collins. I’m his emergency contact. Leo Long.”

“Okay, just give me one minute,” she answers, and then the line goes quiet.

It seems like this is taking forever.

“If you could hurry, this is an emergency.” I try for polite.

“I understand that, sir, but?—”

“You need to understand that I’m completely in the dark. The message someone left was vague and unhelpful, and I’m wondering if my best friend got a splinter, or cut his arm off with a chainsaw, or if I need to start planning a funeral.” I might be freaking out a bit.

“Of course. Let me direct you to the nurse’s station in the ER.”

“He’s in the ER? Why wasn’t that in the message?”

“HIPPA—”

“Never mind, just transfer me,” I snip.

I don’t even get offended when she just transfers me without a goodbye or have a nice day.

“Nurses station ER, how?—”

“I’m calling about Izaiah Collins.”

“Can I have your name?”

“I’m his emergency contact, Leo Long.”

“And what’s the patient’s date of birth?” I tell her. “And his address?”

“His name and birthday are enough. Just tell me how my best friend is doing.”

“Let me get his chart pulled up.” I take a few deep breaths and try not to curse this woman straight to hell. “Alright… so it looks like, wait, hold on one minute.”

More deep breaths. No cursing out nurses.

“I’m going to have to put you on hold for just a moment.”

“Why?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“So we can verify that the patient wants to share the information with you.”

“I’m his emergency contact. You already called me. Just tell me, is he okay?”

“I’m going to put you on a brief hold?—”

I growl in frustration. “Fine.”

A brief hold ends up being six minutes and seventeen seconds, and I probably could have just hacked into their system and gotten the answers faster by myself.

“So sorry for the hold, but his other emergency contact showed up, and I needed to make sure it was fine with him to share with you.”

“So? How is he?”

“He’s got a broken arm?—”

“Fuck,” I mutter.

“They are taking some X-rays, so he isn’t in his room, but you can leave a message.”

“No, it’s fine.” Now that I know he’s conscious, I’ll call his cell. “Wait, who’s there with him?”

“I’m sorry, sir?—”

I hang up. Fucking useless hospital staff.

I call Izzy’s cell, and he doesn’t answer. She did say that he was getting some X-rays, so I’ll wait a few minutes and try again.

I set my phone down and tap my knee impatiently. I make it all of thirty seconds before I call again. No answer.

Ugh. He’s got to be so scared and in so much pain. He’s strong, but?—

I call again, and again no answer.

Maybe I should call the person he’s with? The only person that I can think of is his boss, or maybe my dad. It’s got to be my dad, so I call him.

Thankfully he answers. “Hey, Le?—”

“Where is he? Is he okay? He didn’t answer his phone, and I just know he’s in pain. Are you with him?” Izzy chuckles, and I sigh in relief. “Oh, thank fuck. You’re conscious and not dead.” He giggles again. “And on the good drugs, I see.”

“Not dead.”

“What happened, though?”

“It was cold, and I tripped, my shoulder and arm.” Izzy sounds like he’s regressing, and I’m worried my dad won’t be able to handle a Middle Izzy.

“He tripped over a chainsaw, broke his arm, and had to get nine stitches on his shoulder,” Dad says.

“No fucking way you tripped over a chainsaw! You’re making that shit up.”

“Language, Leo, you’re on speaker,” Dad scolds me, and I roll my eyes.

“Then shut the fucking door or turn the volume down, old man.” He’s such a nun sometimes.

“I’m going to hang up.” Shit, I know that tone, and he means it.

I take a deep breath. “Alright, alright, fine. Tell me how it happened.”

“That’s it,” Dad grumbles.

“You’re no help. Tell me what happened, boo.”

“I broke and it hurts.” He sounds so sad, and I can’t believe I’m not there for him.

“Do you need surgery?”

“No, we’re just waiting to see if the bone is back in place before they put on his cast.”

“What’s the plan after?”

“It’s supposed to snow tonight but just a few inches, so I’m going to take him back to the cabin.”

“Damn right you are. He shouldn’t have to sit in your huge-ass truck for an hour and a half while in pain.”

“I’m worried we might get stuck up there,” Dad says softly.

“The cabin is totally stocked with everything you and Iz would need for the next year.”

“Yeah, but the plows don’t come through until after the main roads are clear.”

“So enjoy the time off,” I tell him. He needs it.

Izzy yawns loudly, and my dad announces sternly, “Okay. We’re going to go. Izzy needs to rest.”

“I’ll call tomorrow, you or where’s my phone?” I can picture Izzy looking around the room for his phone.

“Right there,” Dad says.

“I’ll be waiting for your call. Love you, boo. I’ll be there to take care of you as soon as I can.” And I mean it. I’m going to text my boss and tell him I’m out of here.

“Love boo.” Izzy giggles again. “Love you.”

Damn, I love him so fucking much.

I’m glad that my dad was able to get to him. Izzy isn’t great with important choices but my dad is. Too bad he sucks at communicating and I’ll have to get the whole story from Izzy once he’s not on the drugs.

I should really be there for him.

He needs me, and I’m halfway across the fucking world.

Damn, I’ve really had it with this travel, but Izzy needs me.

So I open my phone to start looking for flights, but then I remember how rude I was to the nurses, and they are taking care of my best friend, so I order them pizzas and coffee.

I might be a bitch, but I’m a thoughtful one.

Okay, time to find a flight home, which turns out to be easier said than done.

It looks like there are delays everywhere. The whole Midwest and eastern seaboard are covered in snow. Even Atlanta, and they aren’t equipped to deal with that. It looks like I’m grounded.

Fuck.