Page 62 of The Player I Can’t Pick

Grant nods. “Yeah, Finn told me you ran her off and seemed surprised she was here.”

“I was,” I assure him.

He shakes his head. “Well, your girlfriend⁠—”

I cut him off. “My ex.”

He grits his teeth. “Your ex told Nicole that you had arranged for her to be here.”

I put my hands on the bed to help me stand up. “Well, she was fucking lying. Where are my clothes? I gotta get out of here.”

Grant comes to stop me. “Sit down. You’re in no shape to go anywhere.”

The room starts to tilt. “Fuck. I have to go see her. She won’t answer my phone calls and—” I almost break down. “I love her, and if this ruined everything, fuck, I just need to talk to her.”

“You love her?” Grant asks in disbelief.

I look him straight in the eye. They removed the bandage after I demanded it, and even though my vision is a little blurry, there is no way he doesn’t see the sincerity on my face or how much all this affects me. “Yes, I love her. I love her more than anything.”

Grant falls into the chair next to the bed. “Fuck.” He runs his hands through his hair. “Listen, I’ll get her to come see you, but I’m not giving her any excuses or anything. You’re going to have to fix this on your own.”

“Please,” I plead with him. “Just bring her here, please? I’m begging, Grant.”

He blows out a breath. “I’ve never seen her this upset, Guy. She’s downstairs. Give me a few minutes.”

My eyes widen. “She’s here? In the hospital?”

I stand up again, and Grant pushes me back onto the bed. “Sit tight.”

I point at him. “Grant, don’t let her leave…”

He towers over me. “You said you wouldn’t hurt her.”

I suck in a breath. “I know, and I hate this happened, but you have to know I would never have wanted that. I haven’t talked to Katelyn since we broke up. I promise.”

He searches my face and nods. He gets almost to the door when I say, “Maybe I should go with you.”

He shakes his head. “She’ll come. It’s killing her not to know you’re all right. She’ll want to see you before she leaves.”

I sit back on the bed and take a few deep breaths. Nicole is here. She came to San Antonio. She was at the game, and even though she had told me that she needed space and time, she came anyway. And just like that, it all clicks into place. She loves me.

I have no idea what I’m going to say to her when she comes through that door, but I know I’m going to make sure she knows she is the only woman I want in my life.

CHAPTER 24

NICOLE

“Dad, this is crazy. I should just go.”

I’m following my father through the hospital, but I’m not sure this is the right thing. He didn’t say much except that Guy wanted to see me. I shouldn’t care what Guy wants, but I do. My dad doesn’t say anything, so I ask, “Is he really going to be okay?”

He nods. “I think so.”

I groan. “Dad, is she still in there?”

He looks at me softly. “No.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t need to see him. I just need to know he’s okay, that’s all.”