Page 63 of The Player I Can’t Pick

My dad stops walking. “So you don’t want to see him?”

I shrug and wipe at my wet eyes.

He puts his hands on my shoulders. “Honey, listen, he wants to talk to you.”

I shake my head in confusion. I don’t get it. I figured my dad would be mad about all this, but he’s pretty calm about it. “You think I should go in there?”

He blows out a breath. “Honey, you know I hate that you’re hurting, but I also know that if you don’t go in there, you’re always going to wonder what if. I’m just saying you should go in there, see for yourself how he’s doing, and then if you still want to go to the airport after this, I won’t stop you.”

I suck in a deep breath and pull my shoulders back. I continue following my dad, and when we get to Guy’s room, he puts his hand on the door. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”

I nod, he opens the door, and I walk in. Guy is sitting up on the edge of the bed, and his eyes are eating me up. He holds out his arms. “Nicole.”

I stay rooted to the spot.

He struggles to stand, and I move toward him. “No, don’t get up.”

He blows out a breath in frustration. “If you don’t want me up, then come over here so I can reach you.”

I walk over next to the bed, and he reaches for my hand, grasping it between his. “Sit down.”

I don’t budge. “I’m going to stand.”

“I’m sorry—” he starts, and I shake my head.

“No, I don’t want to hear you’re sorry. I just wanted to see that you were okay and I’m glad there is no internal bleeding and you’ll be back to baseball soon.”

I try to pull away from his hand, but he stops me. “But I’m not all right.”

My eyes fly up to his. “But Dad told me the doctors said you were going to be okay.”

He brings my hand to his chest, right over his heart. “This is what’s hurting me, Nicole.”

I just stare at him, and he continues. “I don’t know what she said to you, but I want you to know that I didn’t ask her to come to my game. I had no idea she was going to be there, and she’s the last person I’d want sitting in this room with me.”

I shake my head. “But she said—” My voice trails off, and I try again. “She said that you called her and asked her to meet up with you after the game. She rode here with you in the ambulance.”

He pulls me toward him. “Sit down.”

I sit on the edge of the bed, and his hands go to my shoulders. “Do you remember when I said that I would forget every woman before you?”

I nod. I remember it because it was the first night we were together.

He nods. “It was the truth, baby. I didn’t call her, I didn’t ask her to the game, and I sure as hell didn’t want her in the ambulance with me.”

I want to believe him, I really do, but this whole thing has freaked me out.

“Why were you at the game, Nicole?”

I look at him and ignore his question. “Your eye is so swollen. Are they sure you’re okay?”

He nods. “I told you, the only thing hurting is right here.”

He pulls my hand to his chest again. “I can’t lose you, Nicole.”

I look down and then back at him. “I was at the game to surprise you.” My heart starts racing. “I wanted to tell you that I loved you too.”

He takes a deep breath and lets it out, then pulls me against him. He holds on to me as if he never wants to let me go. I push gently against his chest. “Guy, if you’re having second thoughts or⁠—”