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Chapter Forty-Four

Troy

The sound of something crashing pulls me out of a light doze. I sit up, disoriented for a second, until Jamie’s muttered, “What the hell was that?” brings me fully awake.

It came from the bathroom. Jared.

I’m already out of bed, Jamie right behind me. I knock first, calling his name. “Jared? You good?”

Nothing.

“Jared!” Jamie tries, louder this time. Still no answer. My gut tightens.

“Move,” I tell Jamie, shoulder-checking the door hard enough to make it burst open.

Jared’s on the floor, pale and barely conscious, his breathing shallow. The sight knocks the wind out of me.

“Shit.” Jamie drops to his knees beside him, shaking him lightly. “Jared! Hey, wake up.”

I grab a towel off the rack, wet it with cold water, and press it to his face. He stirs, blinking up at us like he doesn’t know where he is.

“W-what...?” His voice is hoarse, barely audible.

“You passed out,” I say, keeping my voice steady even though my chest feels like it’s caving in. “How long’s it been since you’ve slept, man? Or eaten anything?”

Jared doesn’t answer, his gaze unfocused. Jamie shoots me a worried look, and I know he’s thinking the same thing I am. This isn’t just exhaustion—this is everything catching up to him.

“We’re getting you to bed,” I say firmly, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to help him up.

“No…” Jared protests weakly, trying to push me away.

“Shut up,” Jamie snaps, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You’re done running yourself into the ground. Let us help, damn it.”

Between the two of us, we half-carry him back to the bed. Savannah’s already sitting up, her eyes wide with worry.

“What happened?” she asks, her voice trembling.

“He collapsed,” I say, laying Jared down gently. “I think it’s everything—the stress, the lack of sleep.”

Savannah climbs out of bed, her robe slipping off her shoulder as she kneels beside him. “Jared,” she whispers, brushing his hair back from his damp forehead. “Why didn’t you say something?”

He closes his eyes, his jaw tightening. “Didn’t want to...be a burden.”

My chest tightens at his words. I glance at Jamie, who looks just as pissed as I feel.

“You’re not a burden,” Savannah says softly, her hand resting on his cheek. “We’re a team, remember? You don’t have to do this alone.”

“I don’t know how to handle all of it,” Jared admits, his voice cracking. “The merger, the custody battle, the babies...you...all of it. I’m trying, but I’m fucking drowning, Sav.”

Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “You don’t have to handle it all. Let us help you.”

She leans down, pressing her lips to his forehead, then his lips. It’s tender, slow, like she’s trying to pour all her strength into him. Jared relaxes under her touch, his breathing evening out slightly.

Jamie and I exchange a look, silently agreeing to give them space.

“I’ll grab some water,” Jamie mutters, heading for the kitchen. I follow, my chest still tight.

When we come back, Jared looks better—not great, but calm at least. Savannah’s curled up beside him, her hand resting on his chest as she whispers something I can’t hear.

Jamie hands him a glass of water, then gestures for me to step back.

“Let them be,” he says quietly. “She’s got him.”

Reluctantly, I nod. I sit on the edge of the bed, keeping an eye on them as Jared slowly sips the water, his eyes never leaving Savannah’s.

Jamie and I exchange a glance. The silent understanding between us is almost second nature by now. Jared needs her more than us at this moment, and Savannah—God, she’s a rock. She always knows what to say to pull us back from the edge.

“I’ll grab some water too,” Jamie mutters, heading toward the kitchen. I follow, though my chest feels tight, like I’m carrying the weight of all three of us.

“Think he’ll be all right?” Jamie asks, pulling a glass from the cupboard and filling it.

“He has to be,” I reply. “But we’ve got to remind him he doesn’t have to handle everything himself.”

Jamie nods, his jaw tight. “And maybe we need to figure out our shit too. All this stuff with the merger…it’s hitting everyone hard.”

“Tell me about it,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck. “We’ve got to tell her soon. She deserves to know what’s going on.”

Jamie sets the glass down with a thud. “We will. But let’s deal with tonight first.”

“Let me stock the fire in the meantime,” I tell him, walking to the pile of chopped firewood.

Downstairs, Jamie grabs a sleeping Noah from his crib and cradles him gently. “I think he knows,” he says quietly, looking down at the little guy.

I raise an eyebrow. “Knows what?”

“That something’s up. He’s been extra cuddly with her lately, like he’s trying to protect her.”

I huff out a breath. “Probably because she’s carrying three more children. The kid’s going to be a great big brother.”

Jamie smiles faintly, placing Noah back in the bassinet. “We should talk about it soon, though. All of it.”

“Tomorrow,” I say. “Tonight’s about her—and Jared. Let’s not ruin it.”

We head back upstairs, opening the door quietly. I freeze mid-step.

Savannah’s on top of Jared, her body moving with slow, deliberate grace. Jared’s head is thrown back, his face slack with pleasure, and Savannah—she’s beautiful, radiant even. Her belly is round and full, her skin glowing in the dim light.

Jamie lets out a low whistle, and Jared’s eyes flicker open, meeting ours briefly.

I can’t help but smile. My friend looks more relaxed than he’s been in months, and I know she’s the reason why.

When Jared finally comes, Savannah collapses against his chest, her breaths coming in short gasps. Jamie moves in without hesitation, sliding down her body to kiss his way between her thighs. She moans, arching as his tongue meets her slick heat.

I step closer, brushing her hair back from her face. “You okay, sweetheart?”

Her eyes are heavy-lidded, her lips parted. “More than okay,” she whispers.

When she’s finally sated, we all climb back into bed. Jared looks at me and Jamie, his expression more serious now.

“Think we can talk about the team now?” he asks, his voice low.

Savannah blinks, still catching her breath. “What’s going on?”

Jamie takes a deep breath. “The players…they’ve all agreed that if the team goes through with the merger, we’ll resign. All of us.”

Savannah sits up straighter, her eyes wide. “What about your contracts?”

“We’ve got Jade,” Jared says. “She’ll say we have injuries or something. There’s not much the higher-ups can do if we all refuse to play.”

She stares at us, her face pale. “Shit.”

“Shit is right,” Jamie mutters.

Jared sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve been trying to get us out of this deal, but…it’s looking less likely.”

Savannah bites her lip, her eyes flicking between us. “What does this mean for you guys? For the team?”

“It means we’re staring down the barrel of the end of our careers,” I say quietly.

Her expression softens, and she looks at each of us in turn. “Can we just…not think about that tonight?”

“Yeah,” Jamie says, pulling her into his arms. “We’ll figure it out, baby. We always do.”

“Let’s just cuddle,” she whispers, her voice trembling.

We all climb into bed, wrapping her in our arms. It’s not a solution, but for tonight, it’s enough.