“You gotta admit, as far as teenage shenanigans go, Jake’s been an angel.”
“Compared to some of the stuff you got up to, boy, my grandson is a fucking saint,” my dad adds with a small smirk. “Marco’s right though. You can’t wrap him in cotton wool and protect him from everything.”
“I can damn well try!” I say, a little louder than I meant to. “He’s all I’ve got left of her.” This time, my voice is barely a whisper.
Dad’s eyes soften. “He is, but he’s not. You’ve had a good woman, and it broke all of our hearts when she had to leave us. But now you’ve got a son who’s almost grown, a fine, strong woman sleeping in your arms, and your memories. Jake is almost a man. He’s going to make mistakes like missing curfew and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We all did it, and we all know he’ll probably do it again. You can’t stop it. All you can do is make sure he learns from it. Show him he scared you, tell him it shaved twenty years off your life expectancy getting that phone call, but remember what it must’ve felt like to be a sixteen-year-old kid, on your way home, and then having your life literally crashed into.”
“Fuck. I just need to see him.”
“Mr. Anderson?” the doctor says from the waiting room door.
Dee stirs, and I dip my head to kiss her hair. “Gotta go talk to the doc, sweet cheeks. Stay here, and I’ll find out when we can see him. Yeah?”
She nods and tips her face up. I brush my lips against hers and make my way toward the door, taking one step and one breath at a time.
Standing there at the edge of the room, my entire body shakes with anger and fear and relief—all of which are fighting for supremacy. Finally having him in front of me, I check every single body part is intact from his toes to the hair on his head.
His eyes slowly open, and his head turns. “I guess that’s my NBA career over, Dad. Better call the scouts.” But the smirk on his lips is strained.
His eyes are glassy, and from the splint on his arm and the gash above his right eye, I’m guessing he’s in a bit of pain. Before I came in, the doctor gave me a full run down: two broken ribs from the seat belt, broken wrist from the steering wheel, a gash on his forehead from hitting the side pillar instead of bulls-eyeing the glass, and whiplash. He’s fucking lucky he didn’t get more injuries but I’m also thankful as hell that I’d taken him driving in all kinds of weather conditions so he knew how to react.
I cross the room and lean over the bed, bracing myself against the mattress as I hold my head to his temple. “Fucking scared the shit out of me, kid.”
“I’m . . . sorry, Dad. So fucking sorry.”
I lift up and meet his eyes, finding them filling with tears, and my heart stutters, because the last time I saw my kid cry was five and a half years ago. He had a nightmare and came running into my bedroom calling out for Lily. Right now, having just had another version of a nightmare, it’s written all over his face that he’s been waiting for is to see me. My heart splinters at the thought of him being scared and alone.
He throws his good arm behind my shoulder and clings to me. He buries his face in my chest and lets it all go. Knowing my boy, he’s been holding this in since the crash. Sobs escape him, his entire body shaking with them. “So . . . rry. I was. . . and then . . . out of nowhere . . . scared I wouldn’t see you.”
“It’s gonna be okay, Jake. I swear. You can break bones, and they can heal. But you, I can’t lose you.” My own eyes sting, but I don’t fucking care. Seeing my only son in this hospital bed has brought everything back to me.
I straighten and gently lay my hand on his shoulder, staring into his bloodshot eyes and swallowing the giant lump in my throat. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again. I lost your mom, and it destroyed me. I can’t lose you too. I wouldn’t survive that.”
He nods and pulls me in for a hug again.
A throat clears behind us. Standing up, I turn to find Dee’s big green eyes shining our way. “Hi. Um . . . the nurse said I could bring your dad through.”
I nod, turning back to Jake as Mom, Dad, and Dee walk over. I expect Dee to come straight to my side, but instead she stands at the foot of the bed, all her attention on my son.
Again, there’s something weird niggling at me, but I dismiss it because I’m tired. I’m relieved. As dad said, I had years shaved off my life tonight, and everyone I love is in this room, safe and sound—albeit a little battered and bruised.
At least one thing is for sure, Jake will be homebound for a good few weeks after this, which means I’ll have time to calm my nerves about letting him out of my sight again.
Hopefully.
Until then, I’m sure Dee will keep him well fed with all the lava cake and comfort food he could ever want, and Harvey can play games and entertain him.
Our family—by blood and by choice—will rally around us like they have tonight and coddle him until he’s one hundred percent again. Then life will be back to normal.
Chapter 20
Dee
A week later
Monday
Rhodes: Hey, sweet cheeks. Do you wanna come over tonight?
Dee: Hey. I’m not sure when I’m gonna be able to leave the restaurant. Then I want to spend some time with Harvs.
Rhodes: Okay. I missed you last night.
Dee: While you were working and saving
