Page 110 of Unstoppable Love

“Jim said someone from management should be calling us soon with an update, but they were focused on getting guys on the plane, the training team is at the hospital, and well, there’s a lot of moving parts when something like this happens. So for now, we know he’s in surgery, and regardless of the rest, he’ll be okay.” Charles stared off again, shaking his head. “He’ll be just fine regardless.”

A crushing silence hit the room, and my phone rang, making us all jump.

“Who is it?” Gavin asked at the bottom of the stairs. Based on his expression, he’d heard everything.

“Don’t know.” I had no clue who the number was calling me, but it had to be about Cameron, so I steeled my breath, hit the green button, and brought the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Hey, is this Ava?”

“It is. Who’s?—”

“Name’s Marlin. Play with Cameron. I probably shouldn’t be calling you, but he’s talked about you so much I figured you’d want to know what’s going on. Grabbed his phone from his locker and the rest of his shit when we had to clear out, and I’m at the hospital now.”

“Please.” I glanced at Charles and mouthed Marlin’s name before my shaking knees had me collapsing straight back to the couch. “How is he?”

“Pissed and in pain was what we heard the most about, but did anyone tell you he’s in surgery?”

“Yeah. For his leg…”

“Right. Well, before he went back, he was demanding someone call you, but I’m the only one who has his phone’s password, so I wanted you to know that. He should be out soon, they got him back in right away. He’ll be here for a day or two, though, and the team will handle his flight back home. You still with me?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, but it wasn’t like he could see me. “Is there… is there anything else? I mean, the family’s worried about his knee.”

“Can’t lie. Not looking good, but Cameron’ll come back from this. So don’t worry. I told Coach I wasn’t leaving the hospital until he gets out of surgery, so I’ll be flying back tomorrow. I can call you when he’s out.”

“Please,” I rasped and swallowed through the desert clogging my throat. “Please, Marlin. And thank you. Thank you so much.”

“You want me to call his parents? Let them know?”

“No. I’m with them. I’ll tell them, but Charles talked to his agent and?—”

Another phone rang. Charles grabbed it.

“And I think the team’s calling his dad now,” I finished.

“All right. You need anything, you call me. Even if I don’t have an update, like I said, I’ll be here the rest of the night. But you stay strong, okay? Don’t worry about your man, I got him.”

A whoosh of air left my throat, and my chest collapsed. God, that felt good. To know someone was there with him. Someone was taking care of him.

“Thank you. And thanks so much for calling.”

“Not a problem to talk to a woman who Cameron makes sound like she’s an angel.” He chuckled, said goodbye, and I was gaping at my phone after the call ended.

An angel?

Only Cameron.

“That was Marlin,” I told the family. “Nothing really new from what Jim said, but he said he’s staying at the hospital until Cameron gets out of surgery. He’ll let me know when that is.”

“Good.” Jenny patted her knees and stood. “That’s good. Good to know someone’s there for him.”

“Should I… do you think he’d want me to go?”

“How about we wait on that?” She came to me and kissed my cheek. “Wait until we talk to him. See what’s going on. If he can fly home tomorrow, there’s no need.”

“But…” I trailed off. Jenny was right. Did it make sense to fly all the way to Buffalo if he was just coming back?”

“Okay,” I agreed and brushed the heels of my palms to my temples. “This is hell. The waiting.”

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