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“Blake.”
He rolled his eyes. “My mother has never once come to a Mulligan show, but yours have. Hell, even Maverick and Dean’s parents came to the first one. Killian’s grandmother. But not my mom. She’d rather drink herself to death.” Blake took a shaky breath as he slid his phone from his pocket to answer it. “Hello? Uh, yes, this is her son.”
I watched as his face grew solemn, his skin a pale snow. His green eyes moved to my dark ones, and I swear he looked like he might pass out.
“Bug, what’s wrong?” I moved fast, my arms catching him just as his knees buckled beneath him. He held out his phone to me. “Hello?”
“Yes, Mr. Duncan, as I was saying, your mother has suffered a stroke. We’re going to need you to come down to the hospital as soon as possible.” I tightened my grip on Blake as he stared at me with fear in his olive-colored eyes.
I nodded. “Absolutely. We’ll be right there.” I hung up just as Blake’s face crumbled. “I’ve got you, Bug. I will always be here for you,” I whispered.
***
Blake hadn’t said a word to me. Not since he handed his cell phone to me. We left the bowling alley and drove straight to the hospital. His entire body was rigid as he sat next to me in the waiting room, waiting for the doctor to come speak with him, my parents sitting across from us. The one time I had tried to touch him, Blake had pushed my hand away.
“Blake, sweetie, do you need us to call anyone for you? Your father, maybe?” my mother asked. When he didn’t answer, she looked to me for an answer with wide eyes.
I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe we can deal with that after.”
A tall, blond man in blue scrubs stepped into the room. “Blake?”
My boyfriend looked terrified.
“I’m Doctor Miles. Would you like to see your mother?”
“Is she talking? Is she awake?” Blake whispered.
The doctor looked around the room. “Uh, no, but I thought maybe you’d still like to see her while I explain to you what’s going on.”
“Francis Olson.” My father introduced himself as he climbed to his feet. “This is my wife, Adele. Our son, Tom, is Blake’s best friend, and Blake like a son to us. We have guardianship of Blake in a situation like this. This is all written in her will. There should be no issues or concerns. Monica and Carl worked this out with us years ago.”
I’m sorry, but what?
Blake’s eyes grew wide. “I’m twenty now.”
“Right, of course.” Doctor Miles nodded. “Monica suffered a stroke due to her excessive drinking. She’s resting right now, so we’re not sure of the aftermath, but we do know that she has lost some of her speech and ability to walk. She will need to stay here for a while before she’s moved to a rehab facility.”
Blake let out a low whine before he dropped his head between his knees. I quickly wrapped my arms around him, afraid he would push me away again. But he leaned into me as he silently began to cry. I rubbed his back and wished that there was something more I could do to ease his pain.
“I can take Blake to see her,” the doctor offered.
I leaned down close to his ear. “Bug, do you want to go see your mother?”
He shook his head and continued to cry.
“Well, if you change your mind, just let one of the nurses know.”
“Wait.” Blake sat up with tears on his cheeks. “Can... can Tommy come with me?” He reached over and grabbed my hand. If my parents saw or cared, they didn’t say anything.
Doctor Miles nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Gretzky.” He tugged on my arm. “Please?”
I nodded, and we followed the doctor to a private room.
“Your mother is sleeping. She probably won’t wake up with the medication she’s on. You can talk to her, tell her you’re here. Take all the time you need.” He squeezed Blake’s shoulder before he disappeared.
“I don’t...” Blake stared up at me with red-rimmed eyes.
