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“I know it does, but you gotta let me see it.”
Her head shakes, bottom lip quivering.
“Trin, can I see?”
Natalie’s voice again, calm in the chaos.
Those little eyes look over at Natalie and her hand comes off her cheek. “Mommy.” Trinity reaches for her, sobbing and burying her face in Nat’s shoulder.
“I know, I know.” Natalie holds the back of her head. “Let us help you, Trin.”
She pulls back and the two of them have a conversation with their eyes. “Okay,” Trinity agrees.
“I’m here,” Chance interrupts. “Trin, can I take you for a second?”
“Yeah.” She nods, brave as she’s ever been.
As I watch Chance take care of my daughter, I lean over and put my arm around Natalie.
“I’m sorry,” Natalie whispers. “She’s never called me Mommy before.”
“It’s okay. It’s always been her choice and if she wants that to be you, then I’m good with it.”
But as I look around, I catch Gauge’s gaze. I’m pretty sure he now knows exactly what’s been going on and he’s not good with it.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Natalie
My heart is beatingthrough my chest as Chance carries Trinity off the field. It’s not my place to follow them, but I do anyway. I need to know she’s okay, that Cam is holding it together and, at the same time, let them know I’m here to take on whatever they need me to.
“I’m going to take her to the hospital. On quick inspection, it looks as if she’ll need a few stitches and I think she needs a scan since it hit her in the face. Need to make sure there’s no concussion.” Chance looks over, an eyebrow raised, as if asking for permission.
Cam nods. “I agree.”
“You ride with her.” I push Cam toward the back of the ambulance. “My dad can drive my SUV and I can drive your truck to the hospital. That way, you have a way to get home when this is all done.”
He turns, swallowing deeply, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “Will you come? Sit with us?”
Tears spring to my eyes at the sound of his voice. The stark hoarseness is so unlike him, letting me know exactly how much this is costing him.
“I’ll be right there. When I get to the hospital, I’ll text you.”
He grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly. “Thank you.”
“No reason to thank me. I’d do anything for either one of you.”
He nods, his lips in a thin line.
“Go.” I push him. “She needs you.”
But as he gets in the back of the ambulance with Trinity, I let the tears fall. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life.
* * *
This truck is killing me.
It smells exactly like Cam and I want nothing more than to have him sitting next to me. I follow closely behind the ambulance, not daring to let them out of my sight. When they pull into the emergency bay, I quickly find a parking spot.
