Page 39 of Secret Love (The Single Dad Playbook #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

WITNESSES

HENLEY

I groan when I wake up. The pain in my leg is screaming, but the nausea overrides everything.

“Oh, shit.” I sit up and look around, fumbling to grab the small wastebasket by the side of the bed.

Tru put it there a week ago in case I needed to throw away Kleenex or wrappers from the fruit snacks and nuts I’ve been eating. Thank God she did.

She rushes to my side as I’m emptying my stomach in the trash. She makes concerned sounds and when I’m done and lean back, she looks at me with such compassion, my heart twists.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” I croak.

“What did I say about no more apologizing?” Her hand is tender as she brushes my hair back.

I don’t remember what she said about apologizing and I feel too wrung out to ask her.

She sets the garbage can down and sits carefully on the bed. I grab one of the wrapped peppermints we keep by the bed and pop one in my mouth to get the foul taste out and so I hopefully don’t gross Tru out any further.

“I’ll take care of that in a sec. After we’re sure you’re not going to throw up again,” she says, tilting her head toward the garbage. “You’re not feeling so good, huh?” She makes a face. “There I go, stating the obvious.”

“I’m okay. I guess I don’t react that great to anesthesia.”

I’d hoped they’d only have to do an epidural nerve block, but due to the extent of the injury, I was completely knocked out.

She studies my face and then bites her lower lip. I reach out and rub my thumb over her lip.

“You slept a while. I almost woke you up to take your meds, but you were sleeping so peacefully, I couldn’t do it.” She seems shy or nervous and when she glances up at me, her head still lowered, I put my hand on her thigh and squeeze.

“Thank you for being here. Where’s my mom though? I thought she’d relieve you by now. It’s a gorgeous day out there. You don’t need to be stuck in this dark, dreary house.”

Hurt flashes over her face. “There’s nowhere I want to be but right here with you, Henley. Stop trying to send me away. I knew the proposal earlier was the drugs talking, but telling me to go out now and enjoy the day when you’ve just gotten out of surgery?” A choked laugh comes out of her and she shakes her head, standing up. “It’s a little extreme.” She picks up the garbage and starts walking to the bathroom. “I wasn’t going to hold you to it anyway, don’t worry.”

She disappears into the bathroom and I stare after her, my head pounding. My eyes close as I try to piece out what she just said. She comes in a few minutes later and hands me the medicine I’m supposed to take with a glass of water.

I take it and look up at her. “Can you explain what you meant just now?”

Her head tilts and she bites the inside of her mouth. “You don’t remember?”

“Remember what exactly?”

She laughs, but it’s as if the humor takes a minute to catch up, and only later turns into a real one. Her eyes meet mine and she laughs again.

“What?” I say, smiling up at her.

“Do you remember anything from right after your surgery?”

“I remember being really happy to see you.”

She snorts. “Yeah, you were. You weren’t trying to get me to go on any outdoor excursions then!” She laughs and this time it’s so hard, she has tears in her eyes.

She sits on the bed, facing me.

“What did I do?” I make a face. Now I’m nervous.

“You were on a love high…thanks to the anesthesia and meds, I’m assuming. Dr. Cermak and the guys got to witness it too.”

“Fuck me. What did I say? They’ll never let me live it down.”

She presses her lips together, fighting her smile. “You confessed that Penn has had all of your heart from day one.”

“ Fuck ,” I say, laughing and then groaning because my head is still not right. I rub my forehead. “What did you mean…when you said you weren’t going to hold me to it? What was that about?”

“I’m not holding you to your post-surgery proposal.” Her eyes are bright now and I’m just so damn happy to see her smiling again, I smile back at her, but I’m still confused.

“What kind of proposal?” My forehead creases between my brows and she reaches out and smooths it.

“Does Tru. Trudi...uh, Trudi…Tru Seymour. Dammit. I wanted to say your middle name. Eloise… ring a bell?”

Now when she laughs, I laugh with her.

“Uh…no. But I’m afraid to ask now.”

She threads her fingers through mine. “It was a very funny and charming marriage proposal in front of your surgeon, who suggested it might not be the right time to propose…but you were having none of that.”

“Shit.” I reach up and slide her long, silky hair between my fingers. “I can’t believe I don’t remember any of that.” My cheeks burn and she puts her hand on my cheek.

I lean into it.

“You were also weirdly attached to getting married on the dock by the water with a candlestick in the library,” she barely manages to get out in one breath.

“That makes no sense. The marrying you part does,” I hurry to add, “but I don’t even have candlesticks in the library. Those things would burn the books in an instant.”

“Right?” she agrees. “I don’t know where the candlesticks in the library came in…with the dock by the water. Sounds like two totally different backdrops.” She frowns. “You didn’t marry Bree by the water or in the library, did you?”

“No, we got married in a church.”

She wipes her forehead in exaggerated relief. “Whew. That earns you some points. Hey, how’s your stomach feeling? Do you think you could eat something yet? Ginger ale, maybe?”

“Tru…are we…okay? I can’t believe I proposed and don’t even remember. I’m so?—”

“ No apologies. ” She leans in and I hope to God I smell like peppermint and not vomit.

This whole being knocked on my ass business is already doing a number on me. I don’t want to disgust my girlfriend too. Or wait.

“Did you say yes?” I ask.

She smirks. “You wish. No, I did not say yes, you sexy, hot fool.”

My lips form into a pout without me even trying. “Well, that stings.”

“If we ever get to that place, it’ll be when you remember asking, and you’ll have to see what I say then.” She pokes me in the chest and I take her finger and bite it, which makes her yelp.

My mom knocks on the door then and walks in with a tray of soup and crackers.

“I thought I heard you awake in here,” she says. “How’s my boy?”

“Apparently I am making all kinds of declarations in my addled state,” I say. “But otherwise, I’m doing all right.”

“He threw up when he woke up,” Tru tells my mom, which causes a round of Mom tutting and fussing and babying. Tru widens her eyes when I frown at her. “What? She’d want to know.”

“Of course, I do. My poor baby,” Mom coos. “Should we call the doctor?”

I lean my head back, groaning. Mom insisted on coming to help and I agreed so Tru wouldn’t feel pressured to do anything, but she took off a few days of work anyway. I adore my mom and love the way she and Tru have bonded, but the two of them nursing me might send me over the edge. Especially when I feel like such shit company.

“No. I’m fine. You don’t need to fuss over me, okay?” I tell my mom as she places the tray on the bed. “Dr. Grinstead will be stopping by later…in fact, I’ll be bombarded with all kinds of help from the medical team over the next couple of weeks.” I put my hand on Mom’s arm. “I love you. Don’t worry.”

Her chin wobbles and she pats my hand. “How can I not? You scared us to death when you were clobbered by that player.” She frowns. “Actually, I’ve been fearful every single game I’ve watched you play. This just feels like our worst fears are coming true. I know you love that game so much and it’s been incredible, all that you’ve accomplished, but haven’t you had enough now?”

I gape at her. “Whether I’ve had enough or not, I may not have a choice.” She winces and I grab her when she starts to pull away. “I’m sorry, Mom. You’re right. I’m just…I don’t know what to say about it right now.”

She nods. “I know, honey. It’s a lot to take in. You’ve had such an amazing run. I just hate the toll it takes on your body.” She lifts her hand when I start to say something. “I know you act like you don’t bleed, but you do . There’s no way your body can get bashed countless times and you not live with untold pain, day in and day out.” Her chin wobbles again and I feel like shit for making my mom cry. “You do a really good job of hiding it and not ever complaining, but I’m your mother. I know you, and I’m ready for you to take care of yourself.”

She pats my cheek and turns to go.

“Let me know if something besides soup sounds good. I’ve got oatmeal raisin cookies in the oven that I should go check on.”

“I can never resist your oatmeal raisin cookies. I love you, Mom.”

She smiles at me. “I know you do. And I love you .”

I eat a little bit of soup and Tru helps me into the bathroom. I think she can tell I need some time alone after that conversation with my mom. She sets out my toiletries where they’re easier to reach and walks to the door. I’m not supposed to shower yet, so I won’t be in here long, but I start by grabbing the toothpaste.

“I’ll just be right in there if you need me,” she says, motioning toward the bedroom.

“It’s like I’m grieving the me I’ve been.” It comes rushing out and Tru steps back in. “I’m not taking what my mom said lightly. Regardless of what anyone is saying about my future, I know that I’m either done now or I will be soon. I’ve gone longer than most players do at this level. I’m just not sure who I am without football.”

She comes and stands behind me, wrapping her arms around me, as we stare at each other in the mirror.

“You’re the man I fell in love with. You’re the best dad I’ve ever known. You’re the friend everyone can count on. You’re smart and funny and successful because you’re Henley Ward, and Henley Ward is a good person.”

She kisses my shoulder and I kiss her hair.

“You’re going to figure the rest out. Your life isn’t over, even if your football career might be. There’s a lot more you’re meant to do.” She smiles up at me and I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tight.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, tiny dancer.”

“Think about all the things I just told you. I’m the lucky one.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that.”