Page 139 of Mr. Broody

“Bodhi broke his arm. He’s at Children’s.”

Conor and Tweetie join us. Even Tweetie doesn’t say one sarcastic thing.

“Shit, I’m sorry.” Conor puts his hand on my shoulder.

“Just get fucking dressed so I can get on that plane and get home.” I strip down.

“All right, everyone, let’s hurry. Daddy needs to get home to his kid. Move your asses,” Tweetie hollers to the group of players. “This is not a fucking drill. Alvin, get your fucking skates off.”

He continues to call out people and light a fire under them to get going.

Coach comes over as I’m shedding my pads. “The flight team is ready, and as soon as we’re all showered, we’re on the bus and on our way. You’ll be home soon. I know this is scary, but you have a great team in Chicago who will watch out for Bodhi. Just get showered and dressed.” He pats me on my back.

He’s right. Bodhi has Jade. She can handle this, keep him distracted, and he loves her. He’s in good hands. And Reed’s got the paperwork and the authority to direct his care in case anything more happens. And Victoria surely came with Reed. Bodhi’s in good hands.

I pull out my phone.

I’ll get there as soon as I can. Thank you for being there with him.

I’d be nowhere else. Again, I’m so sorry, Henry.

It was only an accident, but I just want to get home. Still, I’m worried. Will this make her run?

Everyone moves faster than usual, and we’re on the plane within an hour. Coach Buford even declined interviews with the press, claiming an emergency without giving out any information.

“It’s just a broken arm,” Rowan says. “Bones heal. We all know that.”

“Yeah, I’ve broken, like, ten,” Conor says.

“Ten?” Tweetie asks skeptically.

“Yes, ten,” Conor says.

I sit back in my seat as the plane taxis to the runway. I know they’re right, but it’s so hard not being there. I try to quiet the fears that say this is all too much for Jade. Shit, I forgot to message her back.

I pull out my phone and quickly take it off Airplane Mode to type out a message before we take off.

It was an accident, Jade, please don’t beat yourself up. I love you.

A message pops up right before I hit Send. It must not have gotten through before when my phone was in Airplane Mode.

He needs surgery. But they aren’t doing it until the pediatric surgeon is here in the morning. They’ll wait for you. I’m sorry.

The plane barrels down the runway, and I feel it lift into the air as I switch my phone back to Airplane Mode.

“Fuck!” My head hits the back of my seat, and I squeeze my eyes shut.

It will all be okay. It has to be.

Sixty

Jade

“Surgery! Oh my god.” I’m in the hallway with my mom. “Henry’s going to kill me.”

“No, he’s not. It was an accident, Jade. That’s all. Kids break bones every day.”

I lean against the wall, and my mom takes my hand and leads me to a chair in the corner of the waiting room where we have some privacy.

---