Page 159 of The Illicit Play

CHAPTER 55

GRADY

It takes me a good long minute to help calm Mrs. Rogers down. She’s distraught, and for some reason, she’s clinging to me and not her irate husband, who is still pacing behind us, muttering foul-mouthed insults about Finn Macalister.

Okay, maybe I do know why she wants to hold me instead.

She eventually stops blubbering, leaving a massive tearstain on my shirt, then tells me I should go sit with Teah for a bit.

Patting my arm, she ushers me into the room, ignoring my offers to get her coffee.

“Colin will look after me. You go. Be with our girl.” The vulnerable look on her face makes it impossible to argue, and if I’m honest, I don’t want to.

I just need to see Teah properly, with my own two eyes, and assure myself that she’s going to make it.

Quietly stepping into the room, I move around thebed, watching her face carefully and trying not to disturb her. It kills me to see her like this. She may not be my girlfriend anymore, but I’ll always care about her. We shared nearly a whole year together. The intensity of the summer after we got together was like a year in two months, and by the time we got back to college, we were already into the settled stage. Shit, if she’d asked me to move in with her, I would have said yes in a heartbeat. But she wanted to stay with her sorority girls, and I love Football Frat.

So we spent nights at each other’s places. We met up most days for a coffee or a meal together. When I wasn’t caught up with football, I was with her. We’d study together, party together… I thought we were endgame.

But that was never in the cards for her.

I wasn’t her one.

And maybe she’s not yours.

As I take a seat beside her and gently brush my fingers down her arm, I think of Blake.

She left while I was hugging Mrs. Rogers. I’m assuming she’s just gone to the bathroom, or maybe she’s hunting down some drinks for us. It was good of her to come with me. I’m grateful for her support, and as soon as I’m done with Teah, I’ll go and find her.

Just a few minutes to gather myself, and then I’ll check on Blake and figure out what to do. It’s probably best that we leave. Now that Mac’s gone, Teah’s parents can relax. I’ll check with security again before I go, make sure he doesn’t try and come back to her room again. I’m hoping he’s left the hospital altogether. Maybe he’s walking the streets, hopefully berating himself and finding the guts to break up with her. For her own good.

“Mm-hmm.” Teah makes a soft noise, and I glance up to see her eyes fluttering open.

She winces, touching her forehead with trembling fingers.

“Hey,” I whisper. “You okay? Do you need more pain meds or…?”

With a confused frown, she turns to me and blinks like she’s trying to clear her vision. “Grady? What are you doing here?”

“I heard what happened. Had to come make sure you were okay.” I reach for her hand, but she recoils from my touch, looking around the room.

“Where’s Mac?”

“He left.”

“What?” Her eyes flood, her lips trembling as she sucks in a breath. “He left?”

Aw man, I so wish I could play this off that it was his choice. She can do so much better than him.

But I can’t lie to her.

So, against my better judgment, I softly explain, “He was asked to leave. Your parents didn’t want him here.”

“That’s not their decision.” She tries to sit up, causing herself obvious pain.

Lurching from my chair, I gently lower her back to the pillow. “Take it easy.”

“I want Mac. I need Mac!” she shouts at me. “Why’d you make him leave?”