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A stocky cameraman and a reporter rocking a professional-looking mullet stop me as we leave the apartment building. “Bauer, Reed Bauer. Witnesses say you ran into the burning complex, essentially saving star shooter, Dane Greathouse.”
“He’s a friend.” He’s not really, but he’s Brooke’s friend’s friend. “I did what anyone would have done.”
Brooke stands beside me with her arm laced through mine and her head resting against my bicep. “No, that’s not true. Most of us wouldn’t have done something so stupid! So heroic. So compassionate.”
She looks up under her dark lashes with the affection I’ve longed for. After memorizing every detail of this moment, I kiss her on the head.
“And you must be proud of your boyfriend,” the reporter says to Brooke.
A faint but loving smile pulls at her lips. “I am.”
“Sorry, but we have to get to the hospital.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
BROOKE
“Your dad messaged and requested a meeting with me after practice,” Reed says with apprehension in his voice.
“It’s probably something about hockey.”
“Cookie, he wanted to make sure I didn’t make any plans. I’ve been hightailing it out of practice to help with Caleb, and I guess he’s noticed. I think he knows about us.”
We didn’t get home from the hospital until nearly midnight. They’ve admitted Dane for forty-eight hours because of the smoke inhalation. They estimated that he was unconscious for five minutes. When we first got there, the emergency room nurse told us they cleaned his airway, whatever that means, and now, he’s on oxygen and IV fluids.
The visitor limit is two at a time, but the staff made exceptions since he was a Stallions basketball player. Basketball always reigned supreme at this university until the football team won the National Championship. But even when the basketball coaching staff and players showed up, Lettie wouldn’t leave his side. Reed and I walked out to give them room, and Lettie was holding his hand.
Chewing on the side of my cheek, I ask, “Why do you think he knows?”
“Because Flynn said they were all out at McShane’s last night, and they showed the clip of us on the news.”
“Practice is over at eight, right?”
“Usually. How are you?”
I’m sure he hasn’t slept because I haven’t. Images of the apartment complex burning and the smoke blanketing the campus. Reed’s exposed skin covered in soot. The screams, cries, and tears from Lettie and her neighbors. And the kids who had nowhere to go while their mother went to the hospital.
“I’m…” I decide not to lie. “I’m terrified that I would have to face it alone if that happened to this complex. What if Caleb…”
“Hey, don’t go there.” His voice is soothing and calm. “I’ll come over after practice and hang out with little dude, in case you want to go to the hospital and check on Lettie.”
“Okay. Call me immediately after you talk to him.”
“I will. Get some rest.”
When we hang up, I know I need to nap, but I’m overwhelmed with so many emotions right now, it would be impossible. And I refuse for Reed to have this conversation with my dad alone. I’m an adult, and I can choose any man I want. It’s not his decision.
After a quick shower, I blow dry my hair and pull on my leggings and a tank top. Looking around my room, I see one of Reed’s sweatshirts thrown over my light-pink fuzzy chair. Caleb had spilled his chocolate milk on him, so I told Reed I would wash it and get the stain out. I tug it over my head, and it swallows me, reminding me of the story where the whale swallows the kid and saves him. That’s how I feel right now, like Reed has saved me.
I pull my hair into a ponytail, run the mascara brush through my lashes, and run my peppermint-flavored balm over my lips. Minutes later, Caleb is awake and dressed, and I take him to get donuts before dropping him off at Annie’s to play with Kimmie for a few hours.
I keep telling myself I’m a grown woman. Hell, I’m a mother. My dad doesn’t get a say in my love life. All the way to the arena, my stomach churns. No child wants their parents to be disappointed in them, and I hate that my dad found out from the media.
Locating Reed’s jeep, I park behind it. And when I walk past it, it smells like smoke. For some reason, I look up to the cotton-covered sky. Thick, puffy clouds with no trace of gray smoke. A slice of yellow light shines down on the arena, which must be a good omen.
There’s no security at the door, so I use the key card my dad gave me three years ago when we transferred here. Hopefully, it works. I’ve never used it. The door clicks after I scan the card. Disappearing into the hallway, I’m taken aback that this is only the third time I’ve been in this building in as many years. The day he moved into his office with zero fanfare. There was an announcement that made the campus paper but other than that, it was never mentioned on local radio or news stations. I came to the midnight game because I had to pick up Caleb. Granted, I stayed, mesmerized by number nine, Reed Bauer.
In five minutes, Dad will walk into his office, and Reed will be close behind. I walk to the back of the tunnel and hear the sounds of the team practicing. I would love to see Reed play, but I want to take my dad by surprise. If he thinks he’s going to blindside Reed, he’s not. I’m here to support my guy.
