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I lift up her chin again just so I can lose myself in her eyes.
“How is my love?” I ask softly.
“Honestly? I’m a hot mess.” She laughs with a strangled sob. “When anything good happens, it feels like the universe throws us a curveball with something terrible.”
“I know how you feel,” I say in earnest. “But we’ll get through this.”
“I’m not sure Caleb and Erin will feel the same. Or Jack’s girls. He’s the center of their world. Without him…”
She can’t find the courage in herself to even finish such a horrific sentence.
I don’t dare to even remind her that Jack is the Guardians’ captain, and the players look up to him for guidance. This will be a blow to all of us.
“Come here, kitten,” I say, needing to hold her to take the pain away.
“Does someone want to explain to me why I’m in a fucking hospital gown?” Caleb says, holding onto his IV stand for balance with one hand while cradling his broken ribs with his other.
“Damn it, Caleb!” Piper reprimands. “You shouldn’t be walking around like this. Trent, help me get him back to bed before this fool pops a stitch or something,” she pleads, rushing to help Caleb on one side while I help him on the other.
“Fine. I’ll get back to bed, but somebody better start talking. What the fuck happened, and why am I in the goddamn hospital?” Caleb grunts as he tries to hop back into bed.
“Don’t you remember anything about last night?” Piper queries with concern.
“I remember that you rocked that smoking pink dress.” He winks at her flirtatiously, only remembering my presence when I clear my throat. “Sorry, boss. Old habits die hard.” He has the audacity to smile.
“Try harder next time,” I give him a benevolent warning.
I can’t hit the poor fucker for his flirting since his whole world is about to be destroyed in a few seconds.
He gives me a little salute and then turns his attention to my Piper again, only this time, he registers the anguish in her face, making his flirtatious ways the last thing on his mind.
“You look like hell, babe. All those tears just for me?” he asks suspiciously.
When Piper bites down her bottom lips to keep her sobs at bay, his hackles rise.
“What the fuck is going on?” he asks assertively.
“What do you remember?” I counter.
He stares at me for a second and then closes his eyes as if scanning his mind for any memory to help him figure out the reason he’s in the hospital.
“I remember you gave me that sweet ride… Moneypenny,” he snaps, recalling the event at the wedding reception. “I remember that I kind of partied a little too much to celebrate my new wheels. Then I had to call Jack to pick me up.”
“Anything else?” Piper asks as the tears keep falling down her cheeks.
He stares at them, his forehead creasing at the sight.
“Piper, why are you crying? In all the years we’ve known each other, you’ve never cried before,” he says, wiping the tears from her face.
“Can you please try to remember, Caleb?” she sobs, unable to give him such horrifying news herself.
“I remember Jack and I had a big fight. He wanted me to get into his car so he could drive my ass home, but I didn’t want to leave Moneypenny to sleep on the street. I told him if he wasn’t going to drive her back to my place, I’d just have to drive it myself.” Caleb frowns. “He caved to my demands, ‘cause he always does, but still wouldn’t quit yapping the whole ride home about me being irresponsible and shit. It got ugly for a second, but then I made him laugh, and we were good again.”
“Anything else?” I probe further.
“No, man. I don’t remember anything after that,” he answers in frustration, looking around the empty hospital room as the realization finally dawns on him. “Where’s Jack?” he asks hastily. “Where’s my brother? He would never leave me here alone. Where is he?” he adds frantically, trying to get out of bed again.
“Caleb—”
