Page 44 of Game Changer

“Social media. Lindsey hates it, but maybe she’s back on and he slid into her DMs?”

“Get to the hospital. When I hear anything on the vehicle, I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks, Lucas, I appreciate it.”

The drive from Skan to ’Cuse was spent on the phone with the insurance company, who were pissed off because the vehicle was moved to a different shop. Might have lost my shit on the asshole at the other end of the call. Might have asked him if he knew who the fuck he was talking to.

Walking in Lindsey’s room with a picture of sunflowers that Lily had drawn, I tell her, “Hey Linds, you’re looking better today.” A total lie—she looks like hell. “Lily drew you a picture of sunflowers. They have smiles because she wanted them to look happy for you.”

I guess I didn’t realize how hard it would be not to mention the letter, because fuck, it’s eating me up inside.

“Not a lot has changed today, but that’s not a bad thing, either, because it hasn’t gotten worse. You’re resting, you’re healing, you’re going to get better for us. I mean, for Lily. We’re going to call again tonight and say our prayers with you. Your nurses do twelve-hour shifts. Sally’s working right now. She’s a grandma of four. She’ll be leaving at seven, and then Joey will come on. He’s a Knights fan. I got him tickets to bring his girl to the playoff game. Gotta treat the people looking out for you right.

“They’re pretty amazing. I try not to bug them too much, but end up calling every couple hours. I wanna know if you appear like you might wake up so I can be there, ya know? I don’t want you to wonder where you are and why no one is with you, because Lindsey, you are so fucking loved, babe.” I clear my throat and force a laugh.

“Red, you gotta be all fucked up. When you wake up, you gotta tell me what to do for Sally. She’s not a football fan, and I have no clue. Another thing you gotta do when you wake up is tell me what color. That tree did a number on it, Linds, so you gotta get a new ride. Maybe we won’t get you a Land Rover this time; maybe we’ll get you a fucking tank. Hell, maybe we’ll get me one, too.”

I exhale as I sit down, hoping I’ll stop pacing, and slide my hand under hers. “I get to pick up Bossy today. I’m not sure how she made it out without as many scratches and boo-boos as you, but she did.” I run my thumb over her hand, avoiding the area where the IV is sticking in it, a tube connected to her, one of the many. “And they mentioned possibly taking the ventilator out tomorrow afternoon, see if your lungs are ready to do their thing on their own. Your blood pressure, your O2 levels, your heart rate—they all look good. You’re on the mend.”

Walking down the hall toward the nurses’ station, I see Walter and Madeline Bellemont, and they’re not alone.

Lindsey’s brothers, Walter Jr. and Mitchell, I expected to be here but was kind of surprised they weren’t yesterday, but her ex-fiancé being here now? Fuck that.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I mumble under my breath when I see the crew gathered around the station.

“How you holding up, doll?” comes from just behind me.

Looking over my shoulder and lifting my chin, I give her the truth, “Seen better days, Sally, but today’s not the worst. How are you?”

“It’s been a good day, and now …” She tilts her head forward. “Lindsey has brothers?”

“Two are her brothers; the other’s her ex.” I have no clue why he’s here.

“The rules are straightforward here in the ICU. Visiting hours end at seven p.m., only two at a time in her room, and if you’re not immediate family, you don’t get in.”

“Her brothers and the ex are lawyers. I got your back,” I joke … sort of.

“You and that little girl of yours don’t need any more issues, and we have security. Go on home. I’ll call you if anything comes up.”

Not that I don’t trust Sally or appreciate her giving me the green light to leave, it just doesn’t feel right to do that to the staff or to Lindsey. So I head to the waiting room just across the hall from the desk, pop in earbuds to look like I’m not eavesdropping,which I am, and check my texts.

“Per hospital policy, we can only allow two people of Lindsey’s immediate family in at a time, and?—”

“The football player isn’t her immediate family,” one of her brothers gives the nurse attitude, which pisses me off.

Douchebag.

“Mr. Boone is her emergency contact and healthcare proxy, which gives him that right.”

Sally with the mic drop.

“It’s fine, Junior. We’ll file for more paperwork when we file to get custody of?—”

“That’s not happening.” I stand and pull out my earbuds. “Lily will remain with me, and when Lindsey is awake and healed, she’ll have both of us again.”

Lindsey’s brother Junior steps forward. “If you think for a minute that you’re going to raise a Bellemont if Lindsey doesn’t pull through this time, you?—”

“What do you mean,this time?” I ask through my teeth.

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