Page 59 of Make Your Play

It’s Riley.

Nova

I’m here at the hospital with her. She’s okay right now, but things aren’t good.

Nova

The baby’s in distress and Riley is getting worse.

Nova

FUCKING CALL ME.

I don’t hesitate, tapping on her name immediately. My breath is lodged in my throat and my heart refuses to beat. Time is suspended and it feels like a fucking lifetime when she finally answers on the last ring.

“Nash, you need to get here as soon as you can.”

“What the fuck is going on?” I question her, my voice tense, yet filled with worry. I practically yell the words, my heart immediately kicking into overdrive as it pounds erratically against my rib cage. “Is Riley okay? Is the baby okay?”

Nova is silent for a moment. Caleb appears beside me, Lincoln right behind him. I look at the two of them, seeing Rowan and Carson as they move closer, but I don’t truly see them—not right now. “I don’t know, Nash. Things just started to go downhill so fast.” I can hear the panic in her voice, the emotion consuming her. “They said they needed to get her into surgery immediately and just took her back.” She chokes on a sob. “Please just get here.”

“I’m on my way.”

I end the call, shoving the phone in my pocket as I start to rifle through my locker, looking for my keys. I’m moving in a rush, panic fueling my body as my heart can’t control itself. My breathing is ragged and erratic.

“What’s going on, Nash?”

“They just took Riley back for an emergency C-section,” I bark at whomever spoke. I don’t bother looking at either of them as my fingers finally feel the key fob for my car and my wallet. “I have to go.”

“I’ll drive you,” Caleb interjects, his hand landing on my shoulder. “You’re in no condition to drive right now.”

“I’m fine,” I tell him, turning around to face him. My hands are shaking, my entire body feeling like I’m going to crawl out of my skin from feeling so fucking helpless. “I need to get there now.”

“This isn’t up for debate,” Caleb says, his voice stern as he spins me around, pushing me toward the door.

“I’m coming with you,” Lincoln says without hesitation, his footsteps rushing as he leaves the room with us.

“So are we,” Caleb and Rowan both say at the same time, following after us.

It’s a fucking whirlwind, and I’m lost in my head and feelings as we all pile into Caleb’s car. He drives like he races cars for a living, and I’m not even sure how we get there in one piece. I can’t focus on any of it and the entire ride is a blur before he’s pulling the car to an abrupt halt in front of the hospital.

We’re not even at a full stop as I’m shoving open my door, my feet hitting the ground running. I rush through the automatic sliding glass doors as they part, not stopping until I reach the front desk. “Where is she?” I knock my fist on the counter like a fucking psycho. “Where is Riley?”

The woman at the desk lifts her gaze to mine, her forehead creasing. “I’m sorry?—”

“WHERE IS MY FUCKING WIFE?!”

I hear Rowan’s voice behind me. “His wife?” he half whispers to one of the guys.

“I don’t know,” I hear another voice, but I don’t pay attention to who it is.

“May I have her name, please?”

My lips part as I go to tell her, when I see a flurry of wild blonde curly hair to my right.

“Oh my god, Nash.” Nova breathes a sigh of relief as she reaches for my arm. I turn to look at her, watching her face crumble as soon as she sees me. “Thank God you’re here.”

I pull my sister into my arms, holding her as sobs rack her body. I swallow back my own emotions, knowing I can’t break right now too. “What’s going on? Where is she?”

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