Page 99 of Vegas Heat: The Expansion Team Complete Series

It feels like I’ve been sitting here forever when Cooper walks through the doors, but in reality it’s only been about four hours.

He’s still in a suit from the broadcast, though he’s removed his jacket, and if I were anywhere other than a hospital fretting about my father as he undergoes emergency surgery, I might take the time to appreciate the feast laid out before my eyes.

“How is he?” Cooper asks.

I shake my head as I rush into his open arms, and the moment he folds me into him, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. “Still no update.” My words are lost in his chest, and I feel him lean down to press a kiss to the top of my head.

“The doctor should be out soon,” Joanie says.

I’m not sure anything could draw two people closer than holding hands and praying in a hospital for a successful surgery. We’ve cried together, we’ve shared stories about him, and we’ve discussed ways to help reduce his stress going forward, a seemingly impossible feat.

He lets me go to give Joanie a hug, too.

“Can I get either of you anything?” he asks, and just as I open my mouth to tell him I could use some water, a doctor walks into the waiting room.

“The Bodine family?” he says, and we all turn to face him. He walks us back into a private room. My heart pounds and my mouth goes dry as we wait for the news. I just found him a few years ago. I can’t lose him already. He’s too young at only forty-one. He’s fit and athletic and handsome. He eats a fairly healthy diet with maybe too much sodium but I guess I just don’t understand how this could even happen to him.

Why is the doctor taking us to a private room? Why can’t he tell us out here?

I get it. My dad’s a celebrity. This is for his protection.

Still, it feels ominous, and I don’t like it.

The doctor finally speaks. “We were able to remove the blockages successfully.” Joanie and I both let out loud breaths of relief. “He’s stable and resting now. He’ll need to stay here a few days, and then it’s a four-to-six-week recovery at home.”

“Thank you, doctor. What can we expect at home?” Joanie asks.

“He will need someone with him the first week to ten days after he’s released. He’ll have some pain around the incision as well as his legs from the vein graft. He’ll be tired and weak, but he’ll be okay to take walks and slowly build his strength, and he may have episodes where he feels depressed, so keep an eye on his mental state. He shouldn’t drive or travel for about a month, and he will likely push back on that. If you need any assistance at home, we can recommend some great in-home care.”

“Thank you,” Joanie says.

The doctor pats her shoulder lightly. “He’s going to be fine. He’s young, and he’s otherwise in good health. Keep him on a heart-healthy diet and help him reduce his stress.”

Joanie shakes her head a little. “I’ll do what I can from home, but his career isn’t exactly conducive to a low-stress environment.”

The doctor chuckles. “No, it isn’t. But if he can manage his stress at home from now until he needs to be at the stadium more regularly, he’ll be in better shape when the season comes. The drive for success is hard on the heart.” The doctor pats his chest. “Coaches tend to have irregular sleep and eating habits, and they can’t work it into their schedules to see a doctor. They often wait until it’s past the point of good sense, which is what happened with Troy. I suspect he’s been ignoring symptoms for weeks, even months, and there were enough events colliding into each other at once to trigger tonight’s attack. So do whatever you can to reduce stress. Get him a dog. Make him take walks to build strength back. Have him give something up, or it might cost him more than a night in surgery and a few weeks off work.” He presses his lips together and nods meaningfully, and Joanie nods back.

“Will do,” she says dutifully, and I have no doubt she will try her hardest…but my father can be awfully stubborn when he wants to be.

“I can take one of you back to recovery to see him,” the doctor says.

Joanie looks at me, and I nod.

“You go ahead,” I say.

“Thank you,” she whispers, and she follows the surgeon out of the room.

I practically collapse onto Cooper, and he just barely catches me.

“Whoa,” he grunts quietly. “You okay?”

“I’ve been trying to stay strong for Joanie,” I admit. “But the second she left the room and you were here, I knew you’d catch me.”

“I will always catch you, my Sunshine,” he murmurs against my temple. He sweeps me up into his arms, and I start to cry. I’ve been brave all night for Joanie, but here in Cooper’s arms where it’s just the two of us feels like the comfort of home where I don’t have to put on a facade anymore.

It’s just one more sign pointing in the direction of right for the two of us.

Everything about this feels right .

The only thing that would make it feel wrong is if my dad were to catch us here.

He walks over to some chairs and sits down with me draped across his lap and clinging to his neck, and he quietly holds me as I let it all out.

Eventually the feeling of overwhelm starts to subside. “How’d the draft go?” I ask with a sniffle, and he reaches over to a box on the table beside us and grabs a tissue for me. I wipe my face and blow my nose.

“As expected,” he says, and his tone is clipped.

My brows dip. “Is that a good thing?”

He nods. “It went well. But Mike caught me texting you.”

I blow out a breath. “So now he knows too?”

“I have you in my phone as Sunshine but he thought I was texting Joanie. I either had to let him believe I was committing adultery with my best friend’s fiancée or fess up to the truth.”

“Quite the dilemma,” I say dryly.

“He was another vote in the don’t tell him column, just for the record. And after what the doctor said, I don’t think brunch tomorrow is a great idea.” He presses his lips to my cheek.

“More secrets. More lies. More people involved.”

He nods. “I’m so sorry. Believe me, Gabby, all I want to do is shout from the rooftops about the two of us.”

“I know. And someday, we will.”

We have to…because I don’t even want to consider what the alternative would be.