Ian reached out and took his husband’s hand, twining their fingers together.JP squeezed his hand and didn’t make any move to let go, seeming content to hold hands and watch their kids skate.
It was…incredibly boring and normal and Ian had never been happier.
ChapterTwenty-Two
JP ended the call with his agent and stared at his phone.Well.He had some stuff to think about, didn’t he?
They wanted him back in Florida.Not to play, but to coach.
Fuck.
Ian was out with the kids at the park, and he wished his husband was here to talk to, to hold.
To distract him.
It was a way to stay in the game.But it was Florida, and he already knew Ian didn’t want to go to Florida, and he wasn’t going anywhere that he couldn’t have his family with him.Hell, even without that caveat, he didn’t particularly want to go to Florida again either.
He wanted to be able to pace in the worst way.He grabbed his walker and slowly made his way around the ground floor.It wasn’t quite the pacing he wanted to do but he needed to walk around for a few laps anyway…
His phone rang again, Ian’s face popping up.
He answered on the first ring.“Hey, Chou.”
“JP!Tori fell off the monkey bars.Her arm is broken.I’m heading home to bring her to the ER!”
Damn.It had been bound to happen at some point as hard as she threw herself into everything, but that didn’t make it easier.“Okay, Chou.She’s going to be fine.Why don’t you call 911, and I’ll get an Uber to the hospital to meet you there?”
“We’re almost home.I need you.Help me.”
“I’ll meet you in the garage.”He took the walker over to the door, then flung it aside and worked his way down the stairs, a little less careful than he should have been, but speed was of the essence.
He grabbed the keys to the SUV and opened up the garage door so Ian could come right in.
JP saw Ian running, both kids in his arms, and he was so proud.His lover was so surprisingly strong.
He grabbed Peter from Ian and got him in the car seat, letting Ian deal with Tori, who surprisingly, was not crying.
She was the color of ash, though, and she looked like she was a little zombie.
He swallowed hard and told himself to hold it together.Because if he panicked, Ian might panic, and then Tori would panic.He took a deep breath and squeezed Tori’s leg.
“You’re being very brave, Tori.We’ll get you to the hospital soon.”Then he handed Ian the keys.“I’m sorry I can’t drive.”
“I know, but there’s a ton you can do, and I need you.”Ian pulled out as soon as they were both belted in and squealed out toward the hospital.“Keep an eye on her.”
“You know it.”He reached back toward Tori.“You want to hold my hand, honey?”
She blinked at him.“I want to go home.”
“We need to have the doctor look at your arm, okay?”
“I WANT TO GO HOME!”That was like the dam breaking, and the screams started — more furious and scared than hurt.
Shit, he wished he was in the back with her, but he wasn’t and he wasn’t sure how to diffuse it.
“Can you drive with her shouting like that?”he asked Ian.
“I’m fine.You just focus on the kids.”Ian’s lips were in a tight line.
