Page 39

January

A fter Bennett’s morning skate and team meeting, I decided to leave the office for the day and get lunch with him since tonight is a game night. We then went straight home hoping to get some alone time before the kids got home from school and completed his pregame routine.

Bennett hangs up our coats in the mudroom before scooping me into his arms, and then takes off in a mad dash for the steps to our bedroom.

“What’s gotten into you?” I ask through my fit of laughter.

“I’ve got plans for you, Red.”

“Is that so? Do share,” I quip as he kicks the door shut behind him.

Setting me on the edge of our bed, he steps back to pull his shirt over his head just as my phone begins to vibrate in my back pocket. I fish my phone from my jeans and see Gemma’s name flashing on my screen, which is weird because she should still be in school.

“Gemma’s calling me, hold that thought,” I tell Bennett and he freezes with his hands on the waistband of his sweats.

“Hello? Scarlett?” My stomach sinks when I hear a younger man’s voice instead of Gemma’s, and I’m immediately put on alert.

“Yes, this is Scarlett. Is this Colton? Are you with Gemma?”

“No.” There’s a clearing of a throat. “This is, uh, Nathan. Nathan Connelly. ”

“Oh, hi . . . What’s going on? Where’s Gemma?”

“I’m with her at Maven West Hospital. We—we were skating and she just had a diabetic emergency.

The paramedics were calling it ketoacidosis.

Her phone was dead and I didn’t have your number, and Bennett’s went straight to voicemail.

I couldn’t get a hold of you until they gave me a charger.

We just got to the hospital. I’m so sorry—” he cuts off, frantic and clearly choked up.

“We’re on our way. Can you please put my phone number in your phone? And then text me what room number she’s in?”

“I will, but they won’t let me back there with her now. I-I kind of lied when we were in the ambulance. They thought I was her brother and I didn’t correct them—I was just too worried about her.”

“We should be there in about fifteen minutes. Hang tight,” I tell him as I gesture to Bennett to go start the car.

Minutes later, I sprint through the doors of the hospital and get a visitor’s pass from security before making my way to the third floor. I don’t bother waiting for the elevator, instead I sprint up the steps.

When I get to the third floor, the pediatric intermediate care unit, I find Nathan standing by the nurse’s station asking for an update on Gemma that they’re unable to give.

“Hi, I’m Gemma Carlisle’s guardian, Scarlett Carlisle. She just arrived by ambulance for a diabetic emergency. Do you have any updates? Is she in a room yet?”

“Hello, Miss Carlisle. Yes, Gemma is in room 318. She’s stable, but they’re still running tests and waiting for her bloodwork to come back.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” I tell her looking for her badge but it’s backward.

“Jennie,” she replies.

“Thank you, Jennie. Can you please add Nathan Connelly and Bennett Wilson to Gemma’s approved visitor list when you get a moment? ”

“Of course.”

“Um, thanks,” Nathan says to her before turning to face me. “Scarlett, I don’t need to be on the list. I just wanted to stay with her until one of you got here. I didn’t want her to be alone, even if they wouldn’t let me in her room.”

“I’ve got some questions for you first. Besides, you’ll need a ride back to your vehicle.”

Nathan drags his hand across his jaw and blows out a deep breath. “I can get an Uber.”

I let out a tired sigh. “Still doesn’t answer my questions.”

“I’ll answer anything I’m able to,” he assures me, and sincerity shines in his eyes mixed with a hint of what might be regret.

Bennett comes rushing down the hallway where we’re still standing beside the nurse’s station.

“Any news? How is she?” It’s just then that he notices who I’m talking to. I hadn’t told him all the details on the way here, only that I got a call that Gemma was in the hospital.

“Connelly? What are you doing here?” Bennett questions, his brows scrunching in confusion.

“That was going to be my first question. What were the two of you doing, Nathan?” I ask him in a calm voice I’m surprised I’m able to keep, given the circumstances.

“Gems and I skate sometimes. Well, we kind of started out fighting over ice time before we realized we could share if we just kept to our own ends,” he explains, and then takes a deep breath.

“I’m not even sure what I was doing there today.

Typically I don’t skate with her on game days.

But she seemed a little off when I saw her this morning before she and Eva left for school.

She had mentioned she was going to skate after school since they had early release.

I guess I just had this gut feeling I should be at the rink, and I’m glad I was because when I got there, Gemma was already puking into a bucket on the bench and she looked pale as a ghost. She said she left her backpack in her car with her insulin, but her Dexcom was alerting her of a high reading.

And it was super high. Like 600s. Her eyes started rolling back in her head and I didn’t know what else to do besides call the ambulance.

Thankfully we were at the rink and there was someone from the medical staff that came and helped her until the paramedics arrived.

She just looked so . . . helpless. God, I’m so sorry, Scarlett. ”

My brows pinch together. “Why is this the first I’m hearing about her skating again? I mean, I knew she skated at the two family skates, but I had no idea she’d been skating regularly.”

Nathan looks between the two of us, looking unsure of himself.

“She started renting ice time a few days after the preseason family skate. She would sometimes take a bus there before she got her license. I’d drive her home sometimes when I was at the rink at the same time as her, but she’s been skating multiple times a week for months.

Do you think that’s what made this happen? ”

“No, skating is something she’s able to do safely when she listens to her body and stays on top of managing her sugars. I don’t get it, she’d been doing so good. That’s the only reason I felt okay sending her to school,” I tell them.

Bennett cuts in, “Why didn’t you tell me anything, Connelly? It sounds like this has been going on for months.”

“It wasn’t my story to tell. And I honestly didn’t realize she’d kept it from you,” he admits. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Cap.” Nathan looks so remorseful, and it throws me off because this is nothing he should apologize for. If anything I should be thanking him.

“Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle?” A woman with light blonde hair in navy scrubs approaches us.

We look at each other, but neither of us corrects her. “Yes? ”

“Hi, I’m Dr. Frederick, I’m the doctor overseeing Gemma’s care. I’m working with our endocrinology team as well. Can we talk in here?” she asks, pointing to a small conference room.”

“Sure,” I respond before turning to Nathan. “Nathan, would you mind sitting in the room with Gemma while Bennett and I talk to the doctor?”

Looking uncomfortable, he nods reluctantly.

Once the door is shut behind us, the three of us take a seat at the small table. Bennett gives my hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze and I welcome his silent gesture of solidarity.

“I spoke with Gemma to try to see what caused her to go into ketoacidosis so quickly. After looking at her blood sugar readings over the past week, there was a very obvious shift a few days ago where Gemma had to adjust by taking more insulin due to higher readings. She stated there had been no dietary changes and that her lifestyle habits and physical activity had been the same as previous months. However, she did tell me about a new medication she is taking.”

When I stare back blankly, not registering what she’s meaning, I tell her, “I’m not aware of any new medications.”

“I figured as much. Gemma gave me permission to discuss this with you, as she is protected by law in Minnesota to not have her medical history disclosed to you without her consent.”

“Doesn’t that law only pertain to things like mental health, STIs and birth control?” I question.

The doctor nods and my breath hitches. “Yes, which is why Gemma consented for me to inform you that she’d been prescribed and began taking birth control pills for the past two weeks.”

“I don’t understand,” I start, but pause, trying to think of subtle changes to her moods the past few months. Things had started to get better, but now that I think about it, she started getting moodier the past week or so, which could’ve been due to her sugar levels fluctuating.

I should’ve known—should’ve been paying better attention.

“I think it’s best if you talk to her. Starting any new medication can impact blood sugar levels, but there is a greater potential for her levels to be impacted from birth control. Typically for my diabetic patients, I recommend a non-hormonal birth control or condoms.”

Bennett chokes out a cough beside me and he looks so uncomfortable but also like he might punch a hole through the wall.

“I think maybe we should go in there and you can talk to Gems while Connelly and I have a little chat,” Bennett suggests as he chances a glance at me.

“Okay, but don’t lose your temper,” I warn him.

“No promises,” he grunts in response.

When we walk into her hospital room, Nathan is sitting beside Gemma’s hospital bed, running his fingers through his hair before placing his stocking cap back on his head.

I place my hand across Bennett’s chest to halt him from making our presence known, and when he looks at me in confusion I just shake my head.

Placing my finger over my mouth, I signal for him to be quiet.

“I don’t get it, Gems. Why take the risk if you knew that it could affect your blood sugars?” Nathan asks her in a gruff tone.

She scoffs. “You don’t get it. Can you please just drop it? Thank you for saving me. Now, let it go and move on.”

“Move on? You were being reckless with your life. And for what? Some high school boy who’s trying to get in your pants?”

“I’m not talking to you about my sex life or lack thereof with your brother!” she shouts at him.

Bennett turns to look at me with wide eyes. Well, that clears up a lot of the confusion. Colton .

Nathan looks like he’s going to be sick and like he’s ready to punch a wall of his own at the same time.

Bennett leans in to whisper in my ear, “I knew I didn’t like that little fucker the moment I saw him with her.”

“There’s such a thing as condoms for fuck’s sake,” Nathan tells her. “And unless you’re allergic, they won’t kill you.”

“It wasn’t for sex!” she nearly screams. “How many times do I have to explain myself? As I already told the doctor, I have acne and a few girls at school said it helped them. You don’t understand.”

“So? I’ve got acne too, it doesn’t make you any less beautiful, Gems.”

“Cut the shit and be real for once, Nathan.”

“You want real? I’m pissed at you right now. In fact, I’m furious that you were so completely reckless and you drew me into your web of lies. Why didn’t you tell anyone about your skating or your decision to go on freaking birth control?”

“It’s none. Of. Your. Business.”

He lets out a menacing chuckle as he shakes his head. “You’re right. You’ve made that abundantly clear, and yet I can’t seem to take the hint.” He stands from the chair and grabs his jacket. “I should go.”

That’s when he notices the two of us standing by the door and his face falls. “I’m heading out. Sorry again, Scarlett. Bennett,” he says and nods as he passes by us into the hallway where Bennett starts to follow him, but I grab onto his arm.

“You heard the same thing I did. He was just being a friend to her. Go easy on him. In fact, please thank him for me.”

“I will, Red. I’ve got a favor to ask of him, but then I’ll thank him for us.

” He leans in and kisses my forehead before he says in a hushed voice, “I’m not going to play the game tonight.

I want to make sure both you and Gemma are okay and then I’ll go pick up Gunner from your grandparents’ house. ”

My eyes widen in shock. “Bennett, you don’t need to do that. We’ll be fine. You have to play.”

“I know you’re strong, Scar, but we’re a family.

And the moment you agreed to marry me, that meant you agreed to have me there to lean on in good times and bad too.

Things might not be official yet, but Gemma and Gunner are mine just the same as you are mine.

” He pulls me in for a hug and when his lips touch my forehead again, my eyes well with unshed tears.

“Okay. I love you, I’ll see you in a bit,” I tell him before he turns and walks into the hallway.

Clearing my throat, I take the seat Nathan just occupied and grab Gemma’s hand in mine.

“Hey, Gems.”

Gemma’s face falls the moment the greeting leaves my lips, and silent sobs wrack her body.

“So it sounds like it’s time for the birds and the bees talk after all. With you being homeschooled, it kind of slipped my mind. But, here we are.”

Her lip wobbles and she takes a deep breath. “Can we not? I’ve taken health class. Which is why I knew to be on the pill before doing anything with anyone.”

“So you are being physical with someone?”

“What? No!”

“But, Nathan just said—” I start but she cuts me off.

“Let’s just clear that up right now. Nathan Connelly doesn’t know anything about me, and he never will. Colton is my friend—one of my best friends.”

Right . Glad we got that cleared up.

“Gems, you know you can talk to me, right? ”

She looks down at her fidgeting hands. “I didn’t think you’d understand,” she explains, her head down in defeat. “You’ve always had impeccable skin. And some of the girls at school have been mean.”

“Gems, I had horrible acne when I first got my period. But that was in middle school and you were way too young to remember that. Eventually, my skin cleared up and that happened without me going on birth control. Tell me the truth, are you being bullied?”

“No, the comments just get to me more because I’m already insecure of my skin. As if being as pale as a ghost and having a million freckles wasn’t boy-repellent enough, now I’ve been cursed with acne.”

“This is going to sound cliché to you, I know, but one day you’re going to find a guy who loves your fair skin, auburn hair, and freckles.”

“Just like how Bennett loves you?” she asks, sounding somewhat hopeful.

“Exactly,” I tell her as tears fall down my cheeks.

Because he does love me. Wholeheartedly. Despite my flaws and imperfections, my fiancé loves the hell out of me.