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Chapter Thirty-Four

JACKSON

I thought it’d be difficult convincing Izzie to leave her car at the restaurant, but she didn’t object to coming with me. I take that as a good sign. It’ll be pretty obvious where I’m taking her once we get near the arena. They haven’t taken down the hockey set up yet. Maybe we can skate—that is, if she knows how. I don’t want to ask too soon, or she might guess where we’re going.

I want to give Izzie a tour of my second favorite place—the first is my ranch, obviously.

I should keep my eyes on the road, but I can’t help glancing at her from time to time. I don’t know when my obsession with her began, but I’m right in the thick of it now.

“Do you know when the celebration parade will be?” she asks.

“Yes, next Sunday. You’re coming, right?”

“I didn’t know I was invited.” She keeps her face turned toward the road, but there’s a hint of a smile on her lips.

“I want you there,” I blurt out.

She looks at me with an eyebrow raised. “You want me there? Do I have a choice?”

I rub my face. “Sorry. That came out wrong. I’d love it if you came.”

She chuckles. “I was just yanking your chain.”

Her laughter makes me smile, and my chest feels lighter. “Does that mean you’ll come? I mean… if you’re not busy.”

“I have to be at Triana at five. The parade should be over by then, right?”

It sucks that she has to work that day. I’d love to have a private celebration with her after all the festivities. “Yeah, for sure.”

“Then I’ll be there. It bet it’ll be wild.”

“Oh, you’d better believe it.” Now I’m grinning from ear to ear, and my pulse kicks up a notch. What is it about Izzie Bennet that makes me react this way?

“So… where are you taking me?” she asks.

“Patience, woman. You’ll know soon enough.” I smirk.

She snorts, crossing her arms. “Patience is not a virtue I possess.”

I laugh. “Clearly.”

Her phone rings, and I wonder who’s calling her at this hour. A sliver of jealousy pierces my chest. Her mother’s claim that Izzie isn’t dating anyone doesn’t mean she doesn’t have guys interested in her. Wickham was all over her at the Lions’ party. I scowl. Thinking about that asshole puts me in a bad mood.

She takes the device out of her purse and screens the call. “It’s Jane. Do you mind if I answer?”

“Go ahead.”

“Thanks.” She puts the phone to her ear. “Hey.”

I tense when I hear a voice reply to Izzie that’s most definitely not Jane. It sounds like Chad. The only reason he’d be calling her from Jane’s phone is if something happened to Jane.

Izzie’s spine goes rigid. “Which hospital?”

Hell. I wish I was wrong.

“We’re not far. Is she okay?” Another pause. “Did you call our folks?”

I keep glancing at her, trying to guess Chad’s answers from her reaction to them.

“We’ll get there as soon as possible,” she replies, then ends the call.

“What happened?” I ask.

“Jane was sick and complaining about abdominal pain all day, but she only agreed to go to the ER when she got a fever. The doctor believes it’s appendicitis.”

The vise-hold worry had around my heart lessens a bit. Of all the scenarios that would require a visit to the ER, that’s not the worst. “Which hospital?”

“Avery Memorial.” She presses her hand to her stomach. “Poor Jane.”

“She’ll be okay. Avery Memorial is the best hospital in Miami. She’s in good hands.”

“Yeah, I know, but I’m still worried.”

“Understandable. Do you need to call your parents?”

She shakes her head. “Jane doesn’t want them getting on the road at this hour. My father’s eyesight isn’t great anymore to be driving at night, and Mom will be too nervous to drive.”

“I could drop you off and pick them up if you want.”

She looks at me. “You would do that?”

It’s impossible to miss the surprise in her tone.

“Of course I would, Izzie.” I take her hand and squeeze. “Anything you need, just say the word.”

We stop at a red light, and I hold her stare. She doesn’t speak, and with each second that passes, I fall deeper into her warm gaze. Despite the situation, my heart is racing at breakneck speed and I desperately want to kiss her.

“Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me,” she replies softly.

I swallow hard. “You’re welcome.”

She looks away. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with first.”

“Okay.”

* * *

I wish there was more I could do to lessen Izzie’s worries. She didn’t speak much during the fifteen-minute ride to the hospital.

Chad texted us five minutes ago saying they’d moved Jane out of the ER and she was getting prepped for surgery. It is appendicitis after all.

On the walk from the car to the hospital’s entrance, I take Izzie’s hand and realize she’s shaking. “Jane will be fine.”

“I know. But my stomach is twisted into knots, and my heart feels so tight.”

I release her hand so I can throw my arm around her shoulder and snuggle her to my side. She leans into me, making my pulse race. Even though the situation is grim, warmth spreads across my chest. I kiss the top of her head, and it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Reluctantly, I let her go once we’re inside the hospital, but only because we have to get our visitors’ passes. In the elevator, I take her hand again and squeeze, and I don’t let go even when we meet Chad in the waiting room.

He looks up as we approach, revealing his bloodshot eyes. “Thank God you’re here.”

“Where’s Jane?” Izzie asks.

“She’s already in surgery.”

Izzie sits next to Chad and pats his shoulder. “She’ll be okay.”

“I know.” He rests his elbows on his legs, which he keeps bouncing like crazy.

I sit next to him as well. “Can I get you anything?”

He shakes his head. “No… unless you have a manual on how not to fuck up as a father.”

It takes me a moment for his words to sink in. “What?”

“Wait… is Jane pregnant?” Izzie asks.

Chad keeps looking at the floor. “Yeah. We had no idea.”

Izzie’s eyes are as round as saucers when we lock gazes. I wonder what she’s thinking now.

I turn to Chad. “Will the baby be okay during the surgery?”

“Yes… but…” He runs a shaky hand through his hair.

Izzie narrows her eyes. “But what?”

Oh shit. Does she believe Chad is freaking out because he doesn’t want kids?

He looks at her. “You don’t know me very well, but I’m a fucking mess. I never thought I’d meet someone like your sister who would put up with my peculiarities. What if I screw up being a dad?”

Izzie’s gaze softens. “You’re not going to screw up, Chad. Besides, you have Jane, and I’m sure you’ll be terrific parents.”

“Oh… I know Jane will.”

I pat his shoulder. “You’ll be a great parent too, buddy. And you have me to help.”

“Thank you, Jacks. I’m gonna need all the help I can get.”

I look at Izzie again and find her watching me as if she wants to read my mind. Does she not believe I’m being sincere?

* * *

IZZIE

Knowing it will be a long night, I go in search of coffee and leave Jackson alone with Chad. I’m sure they have a lot to talk about. The way Jackson reacted to the news of Jane’s pregnancy surprised me. He didn’t grimace or have a condemning look in his eyes. He was supportive and, dare I say, even happy about the news.

I don’t know why I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Jackson has been a dream guy since the Stanley Cup finals. Maybe that’s why there’s still a seed of doubt in my mind. His one-eighty change in attitude is nothing short of a miracle.

The cafeteria isn’t open, but I find a coffee machine. As I wait for the coffee to brew, I start to think about my niece or nephew. That baby will be the cutest thing. I grin, staring at nothing.

“What put that smile on your face, gorgeous?” Jackson asks, catching me by surprise.

I shake my head. “It’s nothing.”

“Yeah, it’s not nothing.” He smirks.

“Oh, fine. I was thinking about the baby.”

His browns shoot up. “Oh. So… you like babies?”

I tilt my head. “You don’t?”

His face turns red. “I… well, they’re cute, but also noisy.”

I laugh. “That they are.”

“Your coffee is ready.” Jackson takes the cup and hands it over.

“Thank you. I can’t believe you left Chad alone.”

“I came to ask if you want me to pick your parents. The offer still stands.”

“Oh… we’d better not. It’s late, and they’re probably sleeping. Besides, they might find out about Jane’s pregnancy.” God, I’m blabbering.

Jackson frowns. “Will they have a problem with it?”

“Not my father, but Mom, for sure. She’s super conservative and values tradition above anything else. She’ll make a big deal if Jane has a baby before getting married. I don’t want to burden her with my mother’s nonsense.”

“I see… You know, it might not be an issue.”

“How so?”

“Chad is ready to get hitched. He’ll marry your sister tomorrow, if she agrees.”

“Did he say that?”

Jackson nods. “Oh yeah.”

“And you didn’t try to change his mind?” I ask and immediately regret it.

Jackson’s expression crumbles as hurt shines in his eyes. “You still think I want to sabotage the wedding.”

Izzie, you’re an idiot. “No, I don’t. I’m sorry. It’s just… well, I’m not sure a shotgun wedding is what Jane wants. She’s dreamed about having a big wedding celebration since she was a little girl.”

“Hmm… There’s no reason she can’t have that.”

I put my hand on my hip. “Darcy, be real. They’d have to get married this summer, and there’s no way anyone can throw a big wedding with such short notice.”

The corners of his lips twitch up. “Have you met Chad’s mother and her best friend, Aunt Catherine? I bet they make it happen within a month.”

It’s surreal to see Jackson so keen on helping Chad and Jane get their dream wedding. I don’t have the heart to tell him there’s one big obstacle in his path: my mother. She won’t relinquish the reins of wedding planning so easily.

I guess taming the beast will be my task.