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“We all think of you and Chloe as our little sisters. Of course we want to protect you. It’s what big brothers do. My big brother still thinks he needs to protect me.” Bash’s hand grabs mine. “Coop’s right this time though. You’ve got to call your dad.”
“I know.” I hear a noise beyond the doors and turn to look. I don’t see anyone, but I know they’re there. “Are Coop and Murphy in the hall?”
Bash nods his head.
“Alright.” I take a deep breath, then stand. “I guess I need to call my Dad.”
45
Natalie
Walking out into the hall, I hand my brother his phone. “I don’t want to do this in here. Let’s go back outside. I really do not need the entire football team as an audience.”
I feel the three guys presence behind me as I slip out the side door next to the chapel. I see Cooper’s Jeep in the parking lot and don’t stop walking until I’m standing in front of the curb next to it. I hear the guys talking, but the world feels like it is starting to spin, so I sit on the curb
in the dirty parking lot, taking in where we are for the first time. The sun is setting in the orange, fall sky. I see two paramedics wheeling someone in through the double doors on the other end of the parking lot and a mother carrying a crying toddler on her hip behind them, the noise from the waiting room breaking through the silence as they enter. The smells of oil and exhaust fumes invade my nose.
Then I hear my brother. “She’s right here.” He hands me the phone. “Dad needs to talk to you.”
I grab Cooper’s hand with my free hand as I hold the phone up to my ear. “Daddy?” The sobs start immediately. “I’m so sorry, Daddy.”
I fill my father in on everything that happened, horrified that I have to tell him any of this, but Coop’s right. My dad can get this handled, and I can’t.
Once I’ve gotten it all out, I wait for my father to holler, or utter a curse. For him to lecture me about safety and responsibility, but it never comes. When he finally speaks, his voice is calm and even. His only worry is for me. “Natalie. I need you to take a deep breath for me. Breathe, Honey. I’ve got this. We can take care of this. I have an entire staff that does nothing but fix issues for my players. I just never thought I’d have to use them for my family. I need you to listen to me. I want you to let Cooper take you home. I want you to lock the door and not let anyone in or answer your phone unless it’s me. I need to get my guy on the phone to get this handled, so I have to hang up with you now, but I will call you back.”
“I love you Dad, but I’m not leaving the hospital until Brady is awake.”
My father’s worried tone changes. “Put your brother on the phone.”
I hand the phone to Cooper, who looks confused. Looking around, I realize for the first time that Murphy and Bash are with us, but they’ve backed away. It’s enough to give us privacy, but still close enough to be here if we need them. I’m pulled back to my brother’s conversation when he puts the phone on speaker.
My father’s voice crackles over the line. “Am I on speaker?”
Coop answers him. “Yeah, Dad. You’re on speaker. Nat’s next to me.”
“Natalie Grace, if you insist on staying at that hospital, your brother is to never leave your side. If either of you sees this kid, you walk away. You do not, under any circumstances, engage him in any conversation.
“Cooper. Do not leave your sister’s side. Understand me, son? I do not want either of you alone for even a minute. If you take this on, Cooper, it’s your future on the line. Let me handle this. I am going to own this little son of a bitch when this is done. I have to go now and talk to the fixer. Do not talk about this to anyone. Understand me?”
I nod, and Coop answers, “We understand you, Dad.”
“Get back inside now and see how Brady is doing. Keep your phones on you, and I will call back when I know something. I love you.” The phone goes dead, and I raise my eyes to Coop, shaking my head.
“He’s got fixers?”
Cooper pulls me into his chest. “Dad will fix it.”
I jump when I hear footsteps pounding against the pavement, and spin around. Chloe is running over. “He’s awake. He’s totally out of it, but he’s asking for you.”
46
Brady
As I start to wake up, I notice a few things. My head feels like it’s been hit by a sledgehammer. Every noise inside my room is making it worse. What the fuck is that beeping? My arm is asleep, but Nattie’s hair is tickling my face.
This doesn’t feel like my mattress, and it fucking hurts to breathe.
Slowly forcing my eyes open, it takes a minute for everything to come into focus. The room is dark, except for the lights of the machines I appear to be hooked up to. I think I am in the hospital, and vaguely remember talking to a doctor earlier today. I try to turn my head, but the motion makes my stomach flip.
