Page 27 of Final Score

Kat tried to hide behind her hair as it fell across her face. Having none of that, I tucked a long strand behind her ear. She needed to know what this meant to me. How sincere I was in understanding how difficult this was for her to do.

“You’re welcome.” She answered softly. Finally, giving me a glimpse of those beautiful blue eyes that gave her emotions away every time. No matter how hard she tried to hide behind her mask. Anxiety, Sorrow, Fear. She was trying to be strong for me.

Brushing my lips against hers. I conveyed every emotion I couldn’t say without sacring her off through that kiss. This beautiful, amazing woman was mine, and I was in love.

A voice cracked through the speakers overhead, announcing our flight would begin boarding in ten minutes. We were on our way home.

CHAPTER 16

Walking into Southern Memorial Hospital was something I promised I’d never do again. The last time I walked through these doors, my entire life had imploded in on itself. Everything about my surroundings was the same, yet I was a completely different person. A hollow broken shell of the girl I had been, and five years later I was still picking up the pieces.

My therapist, Dr. Patten, would classify this trip as ‘emersion therapy’ in more ways than one. As if sensing my discomfort, Jenner squeezed the lower part of my back, pushing me further into the hospital. Guilt formed a knot in my stomach. I should be comforting him, not the other way around.

Pull yourself together, Katherine.

I look at Jenner as we walk into the hospital lobby. To anyone else, he’s the definition of calm and collected, but I know better. The muscles in his jaw are tense, his eyebrows are furrowed, and his hand still on the small of my back has fisted into the material of my sweater as if I’m a life jacket, and he’s holding on for dear life.

We round the corner down a long hallway into the main waiting area when my steps falter. Emersion therapy, my ass.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say I had been sent back in time. The entirety of Station 117 was sitting, standing, and mingling around the waiting area. Making our way through the crowded lobby, we search for Jenner’s parents. In a sea of uniforms, I try not to focus on the stares and sad smiles that pass my way, following the whispers of my father’s name. First responders are family. Not a single one is left behind, even long after they’re gone.

The walls were closing in around me, my throat constricting due to the lack of airflow. Was it getting hotter in here? My nervous system wasn’t getting the memo that it needed to chill the fuck out. I need to get out of here. Before I could excuse myself, the crowd parts slightly and I see Jenner’s parents huddled together in the corner of the room. I nudge Jenner with my shoulder, as I feel him tense before walking towards his parents. The second he’s not beside me, I miss his warmth. The chill of the hospital air goosebumps across my skin.

His Mother hasn’t changed at all since the last time I saw her, at my father’s funeral. “Oh Jenner.” She whispers, her cheeks stained with tears as she embraces her son.

His father walks towards me, a sullen grimace across his face. “Katherine. It’s nice to see you again, though I wish it was under better circumstances.” My eyes water as he pulls me into a powerful hug. I hold back the tears with every ounce of strength I can muster, as I realize just how much this hug reminds me of my father’s. Warm, welcoming, protective, and full of strength.

“It’s nice to see you as well. How is Trey?” I ask.

Before he can answer, a doctor in light blue scrubs, appears in the doorway, pausing any further conversation. “Trey is stable and awake. You can see him now if you would like.”

Jenner moves to follow his parents down the hallway before pausing. A single strand of dark hair falling into his eyes as they pleaded with me to follow, extending his hand in a silent offering. For the first time today, I see true fear peek through his facade. Without speaking, I interlace our fingers, rubbing the back of his hand with my thumb in small soothing circles. A memory breaking through the walls in my mind.

At 18, I had just received the worst news I would ever hear in my entire life. My father was gone. There had been a warehouse fire downtown. The fire marshal would later rule it as arson, started by a disgruntled ex-employee from the company that owned the warehouse. My father had been clearing the building, making sure it was empty of workers and civilians, when a steel beam overhead had fallen, pinning his lower half to the floor.

Other firefighters from his unit had dragged him away from the flames, but the burns and crush injuries were too great. We sat in the waiting room for hours while the doctors worked tirelessly to save his life. Station 117 was taken off duty for the rest of the day as they awaited news about their captain.

I sat alone, as the doctors spoke to my mother in hushed whispers. Even if I had been allowed to hear their conversation, none of it would have actively registered in my mind. I watched helplessly as Gregory Blackwell stood beside my mother, awaiting the news of the man he had pulled from the flames, his friend and partner.

That was until Gregory’s son, whom I had only met on one other occasion, wordlessly pulled a chair next to mine. We sat in silence for hours. He held my hand in comfort, never once letting go. A silent reassurance that I wasn’t as alone as the empty hole in my heart now made me feel.

Whatever awaited Jenner in that hospital room, we would face it together. After all, I owed him that much. It had just taken me five years to repay the favor.

I don’t know what I was expecting when we walked into Trey’s room, but it certainly wasn’t a man cracking jokes with a little girl sitting on the bed beside him. For someone who had 2nd degree burns covering their right leg, a spinal fracture, and a concussion, he was in good spirits. Though that could have been due to the myriad of pain meds he was on. The lights were dim, as we stood around his bedside.

“Guys, I’m fine, really. Just a few bumps and scrapes. You weren’t getting rid of me that easily.” Trey laughed, a mega-watt smile on his face as the little girl placed a toy stethoscope to his chest.

My stomach lurched as I realized just how much he looked like Jenner. I said a silent thank you to whoever was listening above, that Jenner had chosen hockey over the family business. I don’t think I could have handled seeing him in the same position.

“All better, Daddy!” The little girl smiled, proud of her work, before snuggling close to his side.

Daddy? Taking a closer look, I realized the resemblance was there. Trey and his daughter shared the same mischievous smile and familial jet-black hair. Dressed in a white ruffled shirt, hot pink overalls, and sparkly converse; the little girl swung her feet over the edge of the bed.

“Thank you, pumpkin.” Trey answered lovingly. “See, I have the best doctor. I’ll be good as new in no time.”

I waved as the little girl watched me curiously before whispering in Trey’s ear.

“Kat, this is Charlie, my daughter.” He introduced us. “Charlie, this is Kat, Jenner’s girlfriend.”