Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 101764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
What shit timing, not that a family crisis could ever happen at a good time, but Ryder’s relationship with his father fractured the day Ryder told his father he wanted a different future. One he’d devised for himself. Now, who knew what had happened to their chance to repair the rift?
Thinking of the mix of complex emotions Ryder must be dealing with had my heart aching—fear, guilt, shock, sadness, grief. I’d give anything to be at his side, holding him up in whatever way he needed, but having spent more than my fair share of time in hospitals, I knew there’d be no chance of getting beyond those doors. I’d have to suck it up and wait until he emerged.
So, I waited.
The first hour crawled slower than a slug through sand. I fucked around on my phone, watched the news report the depressing state of our nation, and counted ceiling tiles until my eyes blurred. By hour two, I’d given up on entertaining myself and stared at the doors, willing Ryder to appear.
My phone finally rang close to the top of the third hour. “Hello?” I said, recognizing the number for the recovery room.
“Hello, is this Alex?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Hi, Alex, I’m Theresa, one of the PACU nurses taking care of your mother. I just wanted to let you know that she is out of surgery, awake, and doing very well.”
The relief had my hands shaking as I tried to hang onto my phone. I could not have handled a second bout of bad news. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome. She’ll be in here with me for about an hour before we send her up to a room for the night. You’re free to come sit with her at any time.”
“Um, thanks. Is it… may I speak with her?”
“Of course. I’m handing her the phone right now.”
The line went silent for a moment before I heard a sleepy, “Alex?”
“Hi, Mom. How are you feeling?”
“Hi, honey, I’m feeling okay. Pain is under control. I’m a little groggy. What’s wrong?”
I chuckled. Leave it to a mom to notice something had happened with just a few words. “Um…” The words lodged in my throat.
“Alex?” Her concern loosened my tongue. The last thing she needed was stress on top of trying to heal.
“Ryder’s dad had a… um… he had a stroke.”
“Oh, honey…”
“Yeah, I don’t know much right now, but he’s in the ICU.”
“Oh, you can’t even be with him right now. I’m so sorry, honey.”
“Yeah, it sucks. I’m in the waiting room, just… waiting. I’ll come to you as soon as I can, but I promised Ryder I’d be here when he came out. He was… rattled.”
“Of course he was. Honey, I am fine. They are taking good care of me. You stay there and take care of your man, okay?”
“Are you sure? I feel—”
“Don’t you dare say guilty, Alex. I am fine. Do you hear me? I am fine, and your man is not. Be there for him.”
My throat thickened until I could barely squeak words out. “I-I love you, Mom,” I managed.
“I love you, too, honey. I’ll make sure the nurses get in touch with you to give you my room number when I’m moved out of here.”
I blinked away a rapid rush of tears. “Okay.”
We said our goodbyes and ended the call. I blew out a stuttered breath, shut my eyes, and rested my head against the wall behind me.
And then I heard the whir of the double doors swinging open. I flew out of my seat so fast my head spun.
Ryder strode through the doors and stopped a few feet away from me. He looked devastated and gorgeous simultaneously. My heart leaped into my throat as we stared at each other. I’d had three hours to prepare, and yet I couldn’t think of the best thing to say.
In the distance, someone’s phone rang, snapping us out of our trance. We moved at the same time, practically throwing ourselves at each other. The second we crashed together, I wrapped my arms around him in a vicious hold, and he did the same.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
And then I realized my words didn’t have to be said in any special way. All I’d done for Ryder was sit in a chair and wait for him, and that was enough. I was enough, just as he’d told me dozens of times.
“Are you okay?” I asked as we clung to each other.
He shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s bad, but we won’t know how bad for a few days. They have him sedated right now.”
“Your mom and sister?”
“Can we sit? I feel so drained.”
I released my hold on him. “Of course.” Wrapping an arm around his waist, I guided him to the supremely uncomfortable chairs that had been my home for the past few hours.
“Um…” he said once we were sitting, facing each other as best we could. I took his hand and held it tight. “I talked to Vera. She’s in Canada with her friends but is trying to get back. She’s probably on a plane now. My mom is a mess. She’s freaking out about business shit mostly.”