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I shrugged. “About a half hour ago, maybe. I took a shower before calling you.”
“I thought you guys usually had drinks after your shows?”
“We do. The guys stuck around, but I wasn’t in the mood for it. I wanted to come back and call you.”
She smiled. “I’m glad you did. I thought about you a lot today.”
“Yeah?”
“I was thinking maybe we could take a weekend trip after you’re home?”
“I’m game. Where to?”
“Up to the Hudson Valley. When we were kids, we went to a wedding at this place called Mohonk Mountain House. I think staying there is really expensive, so we can stay somewhere else nearby, but they have all these beautiful hiking trails and the most amazing views of the mountains. I thought it would be nice to go while the weather is still warm.”
“So you’ve been thinking about getting away just the two of us, huh?”
“Yeah, is that weird?”
The fact that she was thinking about doing things with me—going hiking and taking a road trip together—gave me hope. As much as I loved fucking her, I wanted more with Lala. And this was the first real sign that maybe she did, too. “No, it’s not weird at all. I’d love to go. I love the outdoors, and it gives me something to look forward to. I’ve only been gone four days, and I miss you already.”
Her face went soft. “I miss—”
Her cell phone started ringing. It must’ve been nearby, because for a second I thought it was mine. “Ummm… Hang on a minute. Okay, Holden? It’s my parents calling, and it’s pretty late here. I want to make sure nothing is wrong.”
“Yeah, of course. Go ahead.”
I watched as she swiped to answer. “Hello?”
I could only hear one side of the conversation, but I didn’t need to hear the other person. From the look on Lala’s face, I could tell the call was not good news.
“When? Is she okay? Where is she?”
Fuck. It’s her mother.
Lala put her hand over her mouth as she listened. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Will you be at the hospital?”
Quiet.
“No, I want to come, Dad. It should be a pretty quick drive at this time. I’ll call you when I’m close.”
More quiet.
“Okay, bye.”
She swiped to hang up, and my heart was already racing.
“What happened?”
“My mom…” Her eyes filled with tears. “She had a heart attack, Holden.”
“Fuck. Is she okay?”
Lala got up and started walking with the iPad. She went into her bedroom and began to toss clothes into a bag. “My dad said she’s stable now, but they found a blockage. She was taken by ambulance, and they’re probably going to do surgery tomorrow.” She rubbed her forehead. “Thank God I didn’t have that wine I thought about earlier, or I might not be able to drive. I never gave any thought to what I would do in an emergency.”
“Don’t think about that now. One of the guys could always drive you, if you needed.”
“Holden, what happens if my mom…” She got choked up.
Fuck, I wished I was there to hold her, to go with her, to be by her side. “She’s going to be okay, sweetheart.”
“You can’t know that!”
I raked a hand through my hair. “She’s okay now, and she’s in a hospital where she’s going to get the help she needs. What hospital is she in?”
“Jefferson.”
“That’s a great hospital. It’s known for cardiac care. She’s in good hands.”
“I need to hang up.” She looked around the room and zipped up a duffle bag. “I’ve got to get on the road.”
“Maybe we should call one of the guys? I don’t want you driving in the dark while you’re upset.”
“No, I’m fine.”
I frowned. “Can you do me one favor before you go, at least?”
“What?”
“Sit down.”
“I can’t. I need to leave, Holden.”
“Just for one minute…I promise.”
She sighed, but sat. “What?”
“Take a deep breath.”
She took a small one.
I smiled. “A bigger one. Actually, close your eyes and give me three deep breaths.”
She didn’t look happy about it, but she nonetheless did what I asked. I watched as she closed her eyes and counted three deep breaths. When she opened, I smiled.
“Thank you. She’s going to be fine. Drive safe, okay?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “Okay.”
“Call me after you get there. Or shoot me a text. Whatever is easier. Just let me know how Mrs. E is doing and that you arrived safely.”
She nodded. “I will. Bye.”
***
I didn’t sleep at all. Lala hadn’t called or texted. The drive from Manhattan to Philly shouldn’t have been more than two-and-a-half hours at the time she left, but four hours had gone by without a word. Every bad scenario played out in my head.
She had an accident.
Mrs. E had another heart attack and didn’t make it.
She and her father are too much of a mess to call anyone.
Fuck. I hated that I wasn’t with her. And as selfish and immature as it was, I also couldn’t help but worry about what would happen when she was in Philly again. Would she turn to Warren for comfort? Lala’s mother—a woman who’d been like a second mother to me for most of my life—was in the hospital with a serious medical condition, and I was so damn self-absorbed that I couldn’t stop thinking about Lala being near her ex. That made me feel like an even bigger piece of shit.
