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I knew exactly what he meant.
“Simon told me. I hope that doesn’t upset you.”
The fucking emotions were rising like the tide again. “No, it’s fine. But we’re…”
He held up his hand. “There’s no need to explain. I understand.”
I looked him in the eye. “It wasn’t my choice to stay that way.”
He nodded. “Simon told me that, too. He only told me because he wanted to make this as easy on the two of you as possible.”
Before I could respond, I heard my name.
“Cole,” Patrick called out weakly, his eyes still closed, but the expression on his face said he was in pain.
Dr. Navarro nodded. “Go ahead. He can have pain meds. I’ll tell the nurse.”
“Yeah, okay,” I said, walking back to Patrick. When I got to his side, I leaned down and spoke in an almost whisper. “I’m here, babe.”
“Are you staying with me?”
I kissed his forehead and fought back the tears. I don’t know what he meant, but either way, I had the answer. “I’m never leaving you again.”
Patrick sighed before drifting back off to sleep. I wondered if he’d remember any of this later.
I sat down in the uncomfortable chair and took my place by his side. I put my hand over his. Even out like he was, Patrick turned his palm up, and I held on to him for dear life.
“I love you,” I whispered to him.
He tightened his grip on my hand for just a moment, and I knew he heard me.
Patrick woke up long enough to see his parents that afternoon. I didn’t want to leave, but Laura and Mark deserved some time with him. Living in Michigan meant they didn’t come out here much. They’d moved back to where Laura’s parents lived to be closer to them. They were in their late seventies and didn’t want to leave their home.
While they visited, Simon took me to the doctors’ locker-room where I could shower and change clothes. The hot water was relaxing on my muscles. I was sore from being tensed for the last forty-eight hours. Even though he wasn’t out of the woods, every time he woke up and looked at me, I began to see more of my Patrick. That had given me hope things were going to be okay.
When I was finished, I shaved and put on some aftershave. Exiting the locker room, I found Simon waiting for me, scrolling on his phone.
“Thanks for that. I really didn’t want to have to go home.”
He smiled and stood. “Once he’s moved down to a regular room, he’ll have a bathroom you can shower in.”
“When do you think that will be?”
Simon led me back to the elevator. “Depends on how quickly he rebounds. Athletes tend to recover much faster for some reason. I’m sure their fitness level has a lot to do with it.”
“I bet.”
When the elevator arrived, we stepped in with some other people. I hoped they didn’t recognize me, but I was out of luck. Most of the time I didn’t mind it, but not now with Patrick here.
“Are you Cole Bradley?”
I looked over into the eyes of a teenage boy and smiled. I noticed a hospital wristband on his thin arm. The lady he was with looked mortified.
“I am. Who are you?” I smiled.
“I’m Kaden. Can I have your autograph?”
I patted my pockets, but I didn’t have a pen. But I could do better than an autograph.
