Page 54

Fifty-Four

RHODES

I’ve called her at least a dozen times, and each time, it goes to voicemail.

The hospital got a hold of my manager as soon as Sunny came in because I put myself as her emergency contact from the last time we were there.

There hasn’t been much information since, though, and with each minute that passes, the dread gets heavier.

Knots form in my stomach when the airplane lands. I call Sunny’s phone again, only to be disappointed when she doesn’t answer. I have multiple messages from my teammates, all saying something semi-comforting, with the exception of Emory and Malaki who are demanding information.

Despite the snow, I make it to the hospital in record time.

I slam my truck into park and rush toward the doors, only to stop when I recognize Marco’s car. It isn’t until I round the side of it that my heart falls. It’s banged up on the driver’s side. The window is shattered, and the backseat door is caved in. How did the car get here?

I pull my hood up to hide from the cold and head inside. Embracing the warmth, I go right past the security guard and over to the ER window.

I’m not sure if I’m recognized, and that’s why people are parting to give me a path, or if it's because they see the panic and determination on my face, but regardless, everyone moves out of my way.

“Sunny Edwards.” I tap my fingers on the counter. “Where is she?”

The woman clearly doesn’t care for my demand. She rolls her eyes and flips through a paper. “Sunny?”

Wait.

“Allison. Allison Edwards.”

“Oh. Her.”

I don’t have time for this. “Yes, her. ” If someone doesn’t point me in the direction of Sunny in the next second, I’m going to lose my mind. “Where is she?”

The woman sighs. “She's over there. Can you please convince her to let us take a look at her? She’s stubborn?—”

I turn, and everything around me disappears.

My heart moves behind my ribcage with something I can’t explain.

It takes me seconds to make my way over to them, but an entire lifetime passes.

There, sitting in the corner of a crowded ER, is my daughter curled up on the lap of one of the purest, most kind-hearted women I have ever met, safe and sound.

I stand in front of them and stare for so long people start to murmur.

Ellie is pressed against Sunny’s shoulder, and Sunny’s cheek is smooshed on top of her head. Both of them are sleeping with a coat that I don't recognize draped over their bodies like a blanket.

“I covered them up,” an older woman whispers from a few chairs down.

I glance at her, my mind swimming with thoughts of the future that have no business being there.

“She’s a tough cookie.” She inclines her head to Sunny and Ellie.

I furrow my brow. Which one?

“Is she your wife?”

I open my mouth but say nothing because the answer that wanted to come out was yes, and that’s enough to make my knees weak.

Wife? No.

“She refused to leave your little one. She’s in pain, though. I’ve watched her wince in her sleep a couple of times.”

Your little one.

My throat tightens with emotion.

“See,” she says.

I put my attention back on Sunny, and a line of pain appears in between her eyebrows while her eyes remain closed. Her cheek, caked with dry blood, scrunches. There’s a thin slice beneath her eye that needs bandaged at the very least. For fuck’s sake, there’s a piece of glass in her hair too.

My heart beats hard, and I bend at the knees. I place my hand on the side of her thigh and gently tap her awake. When her eyelashes begin to flutter, I stare up at her and pray that she’s actually okay.

I’m not, though.

I’m far from it.

The thought of losing her makes everything seem so fucking bleak.

“Sunshine,” I whisper, rubbing my thumb against her jean-clad leg.

It takes her a second to come to. She flinches when she picks her head up. I ache in a way I never have before to take her pain away.

“Hey,” I whisper quietly, careful not to wake Ellie. “Look at me, Sunshine.”

“Rhodes?” She blinks through the haze, and as soon as she latches onto me, her eyes widen, and she gasps.

My palm falls to her leg, and I shush her. “You’re okay.”

The beating of my heart is so thunderous it hurts. My blood pressure climbs, and the need to grab onto her face and press my lips to hers is almost too much.

I’m relieved to see them both sitting here, but there’s so much emotion laced to this moment that I can’t think straight. There’s pressure in my chest that can’t be ignored.

“You’re here?” She swallows and winces again.

She needs to get checked out.

“I’m here.” I check out her face again, eyeing the cut.

“Ellie is okay,” she adds, glancing at my sleeping daughter.

I gently reach forward and brush her hair out of her face. I rub the pad of my thumb beneath the cut. “But you’re not,” I remind her. “How did you get here with the car like that?”

“I drove us.”

What?

Sunny’s bottom lip starts to shake, and I could die from the sight. She’s crying? Why does this hurt me so much? It’s like salt being rubbed in a wound.

“I am so sorry, Rhodes.”

My jaw flexes. She’s apologizing to me?

“I didn’t know what to do.”

She’s getting worked up. This is a version of her that I have never seen before, and I have to admit, I don’t fucking like it.

“I lost my phone in the accident, and Marco was hurt. I made sure Ellie was okay, but since there was no way to call an ambulance and the other car had left, I didn’t have a choice. I had to drive us here. I was afraid to waste time and wait for help.” She gasps for air, and I’m frozen with shock.

Did she just say that the other car left?

Once I find out who hit them, they’re dead.

“Sunny.”

Ellie starts to stir.

A tear slips over Sunny’s cheek.

“I’m so sorry?—”

“Stop it,” I blurt.

Her lips clamp shut, and I weave my fingers through her hair, letting the small shard of glass fall to the floor. I grip the side of her face with enough force to get her to focus on me.

“I’m not angry with you,” I say. “How could I be angry with you for worrying about everyone but yourself?”

Sunny bounces her watery eyes all over my face, but I’m pulled away when I hear Ellie.

“Daddy?”

“Printsessa.” I lean forward and press a kiss to her forehead and pull her into my arms. I make no move to stand, though. I refuse to give Sunny any more reason to think I don’t care about her too.

Ellie’s arms wrap around my neck, and I stare at Sunny.

“Here’s what’s going to happen.” I look deep into her eyes and silently ask her to let me take care of her like she’s been doing for us for the last few months. “I’m going to call Scottie, and she’s going to take Ellie home, and then you’re going to go get checked out.”

She opens her mouth, but I keep going.

“I’m going to get information about Marco, and then when you’re cleared, we’re going to go home. Together . Okay?”

Sunny slowly closes her lips, and those glassy eyes turn doe-like. She nods, and I pull out my phone to call Scottie with Ellie safely in my lap and one hand on her.

It may have taken something drastic to wake that thing up in my chest, but Sunny is about to realize that Ellie isn’t the only one I care about as of late.