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“Dad’s game tomorrow is at one. He said he’d hop a flight home after and come right to your parent’s house to go over everything with them.” Coop looks over at Nat. “He told me to let you sleep and to tell you to call him in the morning.”
Trying to take it all in, I’m sitting here stunned. “Holy shit. I don’t know what to say. Nattie, come here, baby.” She moves over to me and sits back down on the hospital bed. “I am so sorry that you had to deal with this alone. I am so sorry that I wasn’t there to help you. I can’t fucking believe that piece of shit.”
Nat curls up next to me and puts her head on my shoulder.
“Listen, I’m going home. They’ve got Darby in custody; you guys are safe. Chloe texted that your parents should be home tomorrow afternoon. They had trouble getting a flight out.”
“Coop, man. I owe you.”
Coop walks over to the door before turning back to us. “We’ll talk about it later, once you’re out of here. The hot little nurse said they should be releasing you later this morning. Try to get some sleep. I’ll check on you in a few hours.” He shoves his hands in his jean pockets then looks at Natalie. “You did the right thing, Nat.”
Wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, Nat forces a smile, “I love you, Coop. Thank you for everything tonight.”
“We’re family. Family fights for each other. Call me if you need me.” Coop quietly shuts the door behind him as I lie there, replaying everything he just said.
47
Brady
Natalie promised me that she would answer any questions I had later, after getting out of the hospital. She’s curled up against me, sleeping now, but I haven’t been able to close my eyes since I first found Cooper in the room. I’m not sure whose bat shit crazy life I’ve been living lately, but it certainly doesn’t feel like my own.
There have been such incredible highs, but they have been countered by crazy fucking drama like I have never experienced before. If I can finish my senior year without anymore more excitement, I’ll praise whatever God I have to.
A nurse comes in just before 5:00 a.m. to check my vitals. She glares at Natalie in bed with me. “Mr. Ryan, we may have allowed your girlfriend to spend the night, but you need your space. She should not be in that bed with you.”
Trying to flash her my most charming smile, I read her name tag and answer, “Nurse Macy, my girlfriend is the size of a large child. Having her next to me is helping me more than it’s hurting, I promise. Do you know what time I’m getting discharged?”
“Probably around eleven, Mr. Ryan. And she may be the size of a large child, but she has the determination of a four-star general. She didn’t care what anyone said. She was not leaving your side yesterday. You’ve got yourself a keeper there. How’s your pain level?” Nurse Macy points at a picture on the wall beside me, demonstrating smiley faces that show pain on a 1-10 scale.
“I’m at a six. I could use something for this headache.”
“Okay. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Try to get her out of your bed, please. I should be in again after breakfast to go over your discharge papers.”
I mumble thanks as she closes the door.
Closing my eyes, I try to catch a little more sleep, but hear Nat speak. “She’s not kidding. I had to play hardball to get Nurse Ratchet out there to let me stay. I did bribe them with Kings tickets in the end. There was not a snowball’s chance in hell that they were getting rid of me.” She leans up and kisses my cheek. We hear what sounds like the nurse walking back down the hall, and Nat lays her head back down and pretends to sleep.
Nurse Macy gives me two pills and helps me sip some ginger ale through a straw. “Get some sleep, Mr. Ryan.” Luckily for me, she shuts the door behind her.
“Who knew my girl is a sneaky little thing.” Kissing Nat on the top of her head, I whisper, “Thank you for fighting to stay with me, sweetheart. I’m glad you’re here.”
“I love you, Brady. When you were hurt yesterday, I lost my mind. I only just found you. You aren’t allowed to go anywhere. Not without me. Got it, QB?”
“I’ve got you, Sweetheart. I wish you didn’t have to go through all of the craziness yesterday, but if you did, I wish I was there to shoulder some of it. I’m glad that Cooper was able to help, but it should have been me. I love you, Natalie Sinclair.”
She kisses me again. “I love you too, Brady Ryan. I’m pretty sure the best thing that ever happened to me was moving to Kroydon Hills, because it led me to you.”
One day, I’m going to marry this girl and give her my name.
* * *
Afew hours later, Chloe and the guys shove their way through my door to take me and Natalie home. My parents had to charter a private jet to get home from London. They should be back sometime this afternoon, so until then, I’m surrounded by the family I’ve made for myself.
When we get to my house, Natalie brings me upstairs and forces me to get back into bed while everyone else turns on the Kings game. I’m under strict instructions for no electronic devices, including the TV or iPad, for forty-eight hours.
“Come on, Brady. You are supposed to be relaxing and staying stress-free for the next two days.” She pulls down my blanket and glares at me when I don’t move. “Come one. Do you want me to get pajama pants for you?”
Stripping out of the sweats and t-shirt the guys brought for me to wear home, I climb into bed in my boxer briefs and pat the spot next to me. “You’ve got to be exhausted too, Nat. Come over here and lie with me.”
