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“No.” She shook her head. “It should just be you and your family. I can wait here, it’s fine.”
“Don’t be silly. I want you in there with me—I need you in there with me.” Noah looked at her with imploring eyes.
Nodding, she joined him at his side.
“Daddy!” Lexi cried and ran to her dad’s bedside. And there on his father was that Rodgers beaming smile that she saw every day on Noah.
Tracey and his mom fawned over Mr. Rodgers, holding his hand and gently hugging him. The older man looked pale and weary, and Jordan thought, a little green around the gills, but he was doing his best not to show it.
“Noah.” His dad smiled and shook his head. “Weren’t you supposed to be playing hockey tonight?”
Noah let out a small laugh. “Yes, Dad.”
“You didn’t have to come all the way up here, son.”
Noah moved closer to the bed and took his dad’s hand. He grinned and said, “I can miss one game, Dad. It just means I’ll have to score twice as many goals the next game to make up for it.”
“That’s my boy!”
Jordan’s heart warmed at the proud smile that filled Noah’s dad’s face.
“But seriously, tonight my only focus was on you, Dad. I’m grateful you’re okay. And I’d miss twenty games if you needed me by your side.”
“I know you would.” His dad pointed behind Noah to Jordan. “Who is this pretty young lady you brought with you?”
Noah pulled Jordan to his side. “Dad, this is my friend Jordan.”
“Nice to meet you, Sir.”
“I can’t believe you kids flew here just because of me.”
Jordan watched Lexi still clinging to their dad. Noah’s mom was watching the man closely and cringing at the cuts and bruises on his face. Tracey hung back, while Noah never left his father’s side.
“I think I’m going to step out and grab a coffee. You all deserve a little family time,” Jordan stated. On her way out of the room, she closely brushed by Noah and whispered, “I’m so glad your dad is okay.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Noah
Noah stared at his dad lying in that hospital bed. He looked so small, so fragile. His face was beat up, some cuts and bruises, probably from the air bag. There was a lump and cut on his left temple. As a feeling of doom filled his gut, Noah had to remind himself that his dad had pulled through, and he was going to recover.
“Son, tell me about this friend of yours,” his dad asked.
His mom leaned forward curiously.
“I told you, she’s a friend.” He watched as neither his mom nor dad’s expression changed at his answer. So he kept talking. “She’s the general manager of Slap Shot.”
“Your general manager flew all this way to be at your side?” his dad asked. “I’m not buying it.”
“Why the third degree? Geez.” His dad was laid up in a hospital bed with fractured body parts and he was the one giving Noah a hard time. Classic Dad.
“She seems nice,” his mom added with a knowing grin.
“Jordan is very nice,” he said.
“I like her,” Lexi spoke up. “But way out of your league.”
Ignoring his little sister, he focused on his dad. “I met her while she was working at Harrison’s place. We became friends, and now she runs my bar. She’s a people person and loves what she does.” He sighed at the glances he was getting from his family. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”
