Page 30

Pope

T wo hours after we arrived at the hospital, I sat in the waiting room with Thierry’s parents and Wes, waiting for word from Dr. Jay about Thierry’s knee.

During that time, I became reacquainted with Thierry’s parents.

When we were kids, I used to love coming to their house.

Mrs. Thomas always had fresh-baked cookies and hot chocolate waiting for us when we got back from a game.

If we won, she’d make something special for dinner, then we’d replay all our best moments while sitting at the table.

For a little while, I’d been jealous of Thierry.

He had the most supportive parents who wanted to know everything about their son and me.

Sometimes I wished my dad would’ve been like them.

Rumor had it Mr. Thomas got cancer between Thierry going to college and entering the draft.

A pang of guilt lanced my heart. I knew none of this was about me.

But I wish I could have helped Thierry and his parents.

Sure, Wes stopped by with the guys and did all the things, but I was supposed to be Thierry’s best friend.

I fucked all this up so royally. Don’t do this.

Not right now. The downward spiral of thoughts did no one any good, especially when nothing I did, or Thierry could do, would change the past.

Shit went sideways.

Period.

All that mattered now was showing up like I had and being where when it mattered most.

I was sure they all had questions, but I didn’t have the answers.

The limp Thierry had hadn’t worried me. He said it was part of the healing process and learning how to walk again.

Who was I to doubt him? As for what happened at the arena, I couldn’t say anything.

Thierry had a way of hiding everything. Like always.

So, I did what I always did. I got everyone coffee and breakfast when the sun came up.

Seemed like we’d been there forever when the door opened and Dr. Jay strode toward us, a look of concern mixed with relief on his face.

Exhaustion too.

“That took longer than I hoped,” Dr. Jay started. “I’m sorry I couldn’t provide more updates through the night.”

Mr. Thomas stood and shook the doctor’s hand while I held Mrs. Thomas, afraid to let her go or maybe she was afraid to let me go. “Can you tell us what happened?”

“Let’s sit,” Dr. Jay said. “I could use a breather.” The man had the best bedside manner I’d ever encountered.

His affable smile and gentle demeanor drained some of the tension between my shoulders.

When he was ready, he glanced at us. “Six months ago, when I did his replacement surgery, I believed what I found within the bone and tissue surrounding the joint was an aggressive infection that antibiotics couldn’t touch.

So, I did what I thought was best. I cleaned everything out and replaced his knee then placed him on three weeks’ worth of full spectrum intravenous antibiotics. ”

Why did I have a sinking feeling about what Dr. Jay was going to say next?

“Unfortunately,” he said on an exhale. “None of the cultures for the infection told us what was happening within the site or why it kept coming back, until last night. It was apparent upon arrival; Thierry had contracted a staph infection, and the blood test confirmed as much, along with the beginning stages of sepsis. The small red and white bumps along the scar was the outward manifestation of the contagion. Inside, the disease spread to the surrounding healthy tissues and corrupted the joint. I’m sure you’ve all seen him limping and wondered if that was his new gait or something else. ”

I had. Several times, but I hadn’t said a word because it wasn’t my place. Plus, one night spent together didn’t really give me the authority to point anything out.

“I asked him the day he came home if he was okay,” Mrs. Thomas said. “He told us he was fine.”

“He’s stubborn,” Wes muttered. “I don’t think Thierry would complain even if he couldn’t stand.”

“Sounds about right,” I agreed. “I asked him the night of the party. He said his knee ached, but it was nothing new.”

Dr. Jay nodded. “So, here’s what I did to hopefully get Thierry back on track.

I excised as much of the infection and affected tissue as possible.

Cleaned and replaced the joint to be sure none of the Staph could hide within the mechanics of his prosthetic, and I placed a drain as well.

He’s sedated right now and will be for the next couple of days.

I want his body to heal without the added stress of movement or his fever since it was almost a hundred and three when he came in.

He’s on a full spectrum antibiotic again, along with pain medication, and a saline drip to rehydrate him.

Between the fever and staph, he depleted his electrolytes and dehydrated himself. ”

Hence why he passed out.

“Visiting is limited for now,” Dr. Jay said as he stood. “Figure out who you’d like to go first, and I’ll make it happen. If someone is going to stay the night, let the nurses know.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Thomas should go first,” I said. “They’re his parents.” I could wait forever if that’s what it took.

Mrs. Thomas patted my hand. “Pope will stay the night. It’ll be easier on us. We’re only a phone call away.”

I stared at them, shocked by their proposal. “Um...”

“We know everything, son,” Mr. Thomas said. “I think he’d be happy to see you when he woke up. Don’t you?”

I wouldn’t get my hopes up, but I’d wished he would. “What about Derrick?” I winced saying his name. I hadn’t heard a peep out of him since we exited the arena, however if I knew the guy like I thought I did, he’d show up making a production out of the situation.

“Don’t worry about him,” Wes said. “Colbi made sure he can’t get onto the floor or into the hospital for that matter”

“Then it's settled,” Dr. Jay said. “Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, if you'd like to follow me back, I’ll take you to Thierry.”

The rest of the day, I made phone calls and had Lily-Mae help me gather some things up for Thierry, since none of us knew exactly how long he’d be in the hospital.

The apartment he leased in the newer part of Murfreesboro was nice.

Probably not as cool as the million-dollar home he had in Nashville.

The gated penthouse-style residence boasted three bedrooms, a balcony retreat, and access to a fitness center, spa, and luxury parking.

Only the best for Thierry. Then I thought about Derrick and his persistence, and it was probably for the best. No one could get in without a passcode or a fob for the gate and at night when the regular staff went home, a guard was on duty to keep the area safe.

Swanky for our neck of the woods.

Although, in the last few years, Murfreesboro had become a hip new suburban area to Nashville. With the AHL team, the sports complex that came with it and the jobs, people needed nice, affordable places to call home.

Though, for Thierry and me, we’d always be good ole boys from the Holler.

Two days later, I got out of Lily-Mae’s SUV and grabbed the bag I packed for Thierry while she gathered the food, we'd picked up for everyone who stuck around. According to Dr. Jay, this morning he’d wean Thierry off the medication keeping him sedated since he’d been rushed to the hospital.

If everything went right, Thierry could be on his way home before the weekend.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t return to work until next season.

I knew hearing the news would break his heart, but with how no one even suspected the staph infection, the next incident could rightly result in him losing the leg whether he wanted to hear that tidbit of information or not.

Upside, even with the distraction of Thierry passing out on the bench, the Mountaineers went on to win the game three to one. If they won the last two regular season games, they’d earn a bye-week for the playoffs and play on home ice.

I couldn’t wait to tell him.

“Do you know who you’re talking to?” The unmistakable screech of Derrick’s voice had me turning my head as we passed through security. “Him! You should be stopping him.”

“Get him out of here,” Lily-Mae said, lifting her chin. “He’s been placed on a do not enter list for Thierry.”

“You did this!” Derrick tried to grab my arm.

I glanced back at him. “You did this to yourself.” I looked at the guard. “If you have any issues, call Cobi Mayson.”

“Already have,” the guard said. “Have a great day, Mr. Ellis.”

I nodded then followed Lily-Mae to the elevator. Once the doors closed and the car began to move, she exhaled. “Can you believe him?” She shook her head. “He’s a real piece of shit.”

“I feel like I should be apologizing for him,” I said, guilt snaking around my throat.

“Pfft,” she snorted. “This was Thierry. He got set up by a friend of a friend, or better yet a snake of a friend of a friend.”

“The pop star?” I quirked a brow.

“No,” she said with a shake of her head and a muffled chuckle. “Tabby isn’t like that. You’ll see when you meet her. No, this was the wife of an actor who set them up. Witches and bitches stick together. You know how that goes.”

Honestly, I did.

“We’ve been trying to end this cursed relationship for six years. Thierry finding Derrick cheating was the last straw.” She made an exasperated sound. “Can you believe that asshole tried to blame Thierry? I swear people like Derrick are always trying to get ahead of the publicity.”

“They’re not back together?” I hedged as the doors to the elevator opened on Thierry’s floor.

Lily-Mae wrinkled her nose. “No. Derrick was trying to get back together with Thierry. Somehow, someone told him where Thierry was working and where he lived—just not the apartment complex, thank God.”

Guess I’d made an ass of myself again. “Oh.”