Page 36 of The Winning Hat Trick (The Steel City Knights #1)

Celeste

" H ey, gorgeous." Mac's voice is rough, his eyes glistening as they stare up at me.

"Hey, yourself," I croak, emotion and pain clogging my throat.

"Please don't ever fucking scare me like that again," Mac begs, his hand still gripping mine.

Waking in the hospital was a shock. Looking down to see Maclan asleep beside me, his hand clasped in mine, even more so. It's been years since I've had a migraine take me out like this one did, but I'm not surprised I ended up here. I am confused as hell how I got here, though.

Shame fills me at the realization that I have no recollection of what happened last night after we got home from Mac's game.

I vaguely remember feeding the kids and getting them into bed, but the pain from my migraine was so excruciating that it's all a bit foggy.

I don't know when or how I got to the hospital, if Maclan came to my house or if someone else showed up, or who is with my kids.

I let my pride cloud my senses. I should've called Ezra or Maclan. Ezra would've left the gala, and despite being angry with me, Maclan would've come to help, which is obvious since he's sitting here in the hospital with me, even though he had one hell of a day and played a grueling hockey game.

"I'm sorry you're here," I mumble as tears roll down my face. "You should be at ho—"

"No, baby. I'm sorry you're here, " he cuts me off, his eyes anguished.

I look away, unable to stand the hurt I see, but Mac leans in to cup my face and bring my eyes back to his.

"I'm so fucking sorry I let my wounded pride keep me from you and the kids.

You wanted to talk, but my ego wasn't ready to listen to what you had to say.

" He runs a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Then when you needed me, you didn't feel as if you could reach out, which fucking crushes me—that you couldn't count on me.

I fucked up tonight, gorgeous, not you."

Tears run down my face as I shake my head no, but he's not having it.

Mac leans in and places a gentle kiss to my lips.

"You're not the only one to blame. What I said to you was uncalled for.

I know in my heart that you would never abandon your child, Maclan.

I let my shitty past with Chad sneak in and sow a seed of doubt that wasn't yours to bear.

I regretted it as soon as I asked you. If I could, I would take it back, but I can't. All I can do is apologize and hope you'll forgive me. I'm so sorry."

"Thanks, Cel. I'll forgive you if you forgive me for letting you down tonight. For making you doubt that, for even a second, I would be there to help you when you were in pain and needed me."

"Of course I forgive you." I smile.

"Thank fuck." Mac kisses me. It's deep and slow as we forgive each other.

Unsurprisingly, the kiss turns hot as our longing to reconnect after a horrible day builds.

But like the kiss that's skyrocketing, so is my heart and the obnoxious monitor that's beeping incessantly now.

I try to ignore it, too hungry for more of Maclan, but we're forced apart when a throat clears in the room.

"Ahem." Landon stands in the doorway, a smirk on his face. "Someone's heart monitor was going crazy, so I thought I better come check on her. Glad to see you're feeling a little better." He smiles conspiratorially at me.

"Shit. Sorry, gorgeous." Mac's cheek's flush with embarrassment, and it's absolutely adorable. "I didn't even ask how you're feeling."

I try to hide my giggle with my hand, but both men catch me. Landon winks while Mac narrows his eyes at me.

"Sorry, but your blush from being caught making out with me at the hospital was just too cute," I tease Mac. "I feel so much better. My head still hurts, but it's more the equivalent to a 'normal headache' than a migraine. Plus, I'm not nauseous at all, which is a huge win."

"Damn, whatever they gave you worked fast," Mac muses.

"Yeah, the migraine cocktail is pretty potent, but it usually gets the job done," Landon explains since this is Mac's first time experiencing this. "The doc will want you to finish your IV, Celeste, but then I'll be able to get your discharge paperwork ready and get you out of here."

"Thanks, Landon. I really appreciate your help."

"Of course, babe. I'll be back in a few." Landon blows me a kiss then flits out of my room.

"So, how did we end up here anyway?" I ask Mac but avoid his eyes.

"What's the last thing you remember from last night?" His brows furrow in concern.

"Hmm, I remember my migraine symptoms coming on fast as Brooks was helping me get the kids in the car to head home from the arena.

I took one of my rescue meds, but I knew I got to it too late.

I had to pull over a few times on the way home because I was sick, but we eventually made it home safely.

From there, it's a little foggy. I vaguely remember getting the kids' food and putting them to bed before crawling into my own. "

"That's it? You don't remember me coming over?" Mac's hand squeezes mine absentmindedly as the tension in him ebbs.

"No, I don't." I bite my bottom lip as worry, embarrassment, and shame flood me.

"Fucking hell, Celeste." He drops his head to the bed beside our joined hands.

I wait patiently, unsure of what he's feeling.

"I've never been more scared in my life than I was when Brooks called me tonight." His eyes are glassy as he tips his head up to look at me, his chin resting on the bed.

"Brooks?" Why would his brother calling him scare him?

"Yes. You were supposed to call him to let him know you made it home alright, but you never did.

That alone wouldn't have set me off, but Brooks passed you when you were getting sick.

By the time he turned around to come check on you, you were already gone.

He tried calling and texting you several times, but you never answered. "

"Oh, poor Brooks." I gasp as my hand covers my mouth.

"I had my phone on silent because it was blowing up with reporters and nosy people wanting the gossip from the press release, so he couldn't get in contact with me.

He tried getting ahold of Ezra and Daphne, but they were at the gala and had their phones on silent.

He was worried sick and was going to come check on you, but didn't know where you lived.

When I finally checked my phone and saw all the missed calls and texts, I knew something was up.

"I felt fucking awful when Brooks told me about your migraine and that you didn't want to bother me because I'd told you I was going to go home for the night.

You were respecting my wishes even though you were in so much pain, and really it was all because of my wounded pride.

" His eyes shutter closed for a second, then he takes a deep breath, exhales, and continues.

"As soon as I knew what was going on, I raced over to your house and knew that things were bad.

"Your car was crooked as hell in the garage, and the rear passenger side door was still open.

Inside the house, the kitchen was a wreck with kids' shoes and clothes everywhere, and dinner plates and spilled milk on the table.

When I ran upstairs, relief washed over me as I saw all the kids tucked safely in their beds, but that relief was short lived.

"I found you curled in a ball on the bathroom floor. You were drenched in sweat, one arm thrown over your eyes, with an icepack clutched in your hand. You didn't even register that I was there until I had you in my arms and carried you to bed."

My eyes close as I imagine how terrifying that must've been for Maclan. I know how bad my migraines can get and have witnessed my mother having them. He had no warning.

"How did we end up here?" I whisper, my eyes still closed.

"I was finally able to talk to Ezra. He told me what meds to give you but said that, in the state you were in, the best place for you was the hospital.

I swear my heart sank to my stomach when I heard that.

He and Daphne came over to stay with the kids, and I rushed you here, where Landon and the doctors took care of you. "

"Thank you for coming to check on me. I-I swear I know how to take care of myself better than how I did tonight. I'm not usually so reckless. I would never intentionally put the kids in danger li—" My words get faster as my panic increases, and my breaths come in short, fast spurts.

"Shh, gorgeous." Mac smooths my hair. "I know you would never endanger the kids. From what you just described, it sounds like this migraine came on fast and fierce. You got the kids safely home, fed them dinner, and tucked them all away in bed. They are all safe. You did your job, mama."

Tears spill down my face at the grace this man is giving me.

Sure, I got them home, but I shouldn't have been so damn stubborn.

I should've let Brooks drive us. I knew this was going to be a bad migraine, but instead of sucking up my pride and asking for help, I fell back on my belief that I am alone and need to take care of my kids on my own, which simply isn't true.

Sure, the dick left us, but I've got an amazing family, a wonderful boyfriend, and a great group of friends to lean on.

I need to stop letting my pride, the fear that my children and I are a burden, and every other lie Chad dick filled my head with go.

"Maclan?"

"Yeah, gorgeous." He looks up at me from where he's sitting by my bed.

"Can you please come hold me?"

"Umm…"

He looks at the bed as if trying to figure out how he's going to squeeze his big frame in with me, so I slide on my side to make room for him.

His answering smile is everything.

"Come here." He pulls me into his arms, tucking my head under his chin, as our legs tangle together.

Tilting my head back, I wait until his eyes meet mine. "I love you, Maclan." He sucks in a breath, then heat floods his face. "I love you too, Celeste. So fucking much." He seals his lips over mine in a slow, toe-curling kiss.