Page 58 of Make Your Play

The doctor tells me she’ll be by to check on me after they get me settled and the medications started. Hadley turns back to me, an apologetic, yet comforting smile on her face.

“Let’s get you transferred to your room.” She starts to move about the room, unhooking things from the wall to get me moved. “If you want to call someone to come be with you, we can get them to your room too.” She gives me a knowing look. “We’re going to just pretend you didn’t drive yourself here in the condition you’re in.”

I wince, giving her a silent apology. “In my defense, I didn’t want to worry anyone else. I didn’t think it was this serious.”

“Well, it’s just a good thing you came in when you did,” she tells me, her voice soft, and I don’t miss the hint of worry lingering. Hadley leaves the room for a moment and I quickly pull out my phone, tapping on my messages as I find the thread with Nova.

Riley: I don’t want you to worry, but I started to feel pretty shitty this afternoon, so I called the doctors and they asked me tocome to the hospital. They just admitted me, but I am okay and the baby is okay.

Nova doesn’t text me back, instead she calls me immediately.

“What’s going on?” she questions me as soon as I answer her call.

I give her a quick rundown from the doctor, leaving out the super-scary parts like about having a seizure or a stroke. The last thing I want to do is send her into a panic. I’ll explain how serious it is when she gets here.

“I just texted Nonna and she’s coming here now to stay with Poe. I’ll be there in, like, thirty minutes, okay?”

“Okay,” I tell her, emotion encapsulating me as I rub my hand over my stomach, wishing he would just move. “I didn’t say anything to Nash.”

“Don’t,” she says, her voice serious, and I know why. The last thing he needs is any type of distraction. “I will tell him after the game.”

“Okay,” I repeat, nodding my head and forcing a smile as the nurse comes back into the room. “They’re getting ready to transfer me now, so I will text you the room number when I’m there.”

“I love you, Ry. Everything will be okay, I promise.”

“I love you too,” I tell her, ending the call as I look back at the nurse with tears in my eyes. I know Nova will be here soon enough, but it is terrifying being here alone.

“Are you ready?”

I nod at her, not feeling ready at all, but knowing I have no choice. I’m a mess of emotions, filled with fear and worry, but there’s nothing I can do about any of it. I want Nash here, but that’s another thing that’s beyond my control.

All I can do now is be brave and hope that the doctors can keep both the baby and me safe.

Both of our lives depend on it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

NASH

The energy in the air is palpable as we come off the ice and head back into the locker room. We just won 5–0 and the entire game was intense. We scored two goals in the first period and after we came back for the second, things started to get pretty physical and chippy. Much to my dismay, I managed to get through the game without getting into any fights, although I did end up shoving one of the defensemen on the other team.

“Good game tonight, boys,” Caleb tells all of us as everyone finds their spots and starts to get undressed. Caleb pulls off his jersey, tossing it onto the bench as he looks around the room at all of us. He goes into his speech, giving a recap and a rundown of the good points. It’s something we do after every game and tonight, he hands the team belt—much like a wrestling belt—to the player of the game, Rowan.

“You played your fucking ass off tonight, Taylor,” Caleb says, clapping his shoulder as he hands him the belt. “I don’t know how you made some of the saves you did, but you were like a goddamn ninja out there.”

Rowan laughs loudly, holding the belt up as he looks around the room at all of us. “Okay, I did play my ass off, but so did the rest of you. I didn’t make any goals tonight and we wouldn’t havewon without that too.” He smiles, showing his bright white teeth, his blue eyes filled with happiness. “Great fucking game, boys.”

Everyone starts clapping, some of the guys hooting and hollering as we all cheer him on. Carson jumps up and down, his excitement like that of a little kid. You would think we just won the Cup or something, but no—it was just a regular season game.

Every win, every point helps us keep the number one seed in our division. We’re heading into playoff territory soon enough, so it’s vital that we keep this energy going and keep moving forward like this.

After removing my gear, I grab my phone from my locker, turning it on to check it before heading into the shower. As the screen turns on, I see there are multiple messages from Nova, along with a few voicemails. Panic immediately floods me and my heart stops immediately in my chest as my phone gives me a preview of her messages.

Nova

Nash, I need you to call me as soon as you see this.

Nova

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