Page 191 of Falling Offsides

When I nod in agreement, he rewards me with that gentle smile that disarms every part of me and short circuits my brain to ash.

“We got this,” he tells me, spinning towards my dad.

He’s already pacing with his phone pressed to his ear, barking instructions about getting hospital administrators involved. There's fire in his voice, that protectiveness I remember from when I broke my arm falling out of a tree and he almost sued the parks department for letting it grow crooked.

Which is absurd because no one can control the way a tree grows. The same way the hospital administration can’t do shit about me seeing my mom because the law isthe law. And I’ve already had Delilah’s mom, their biggest donor, Ashley Boseman-Brooks up the administrators’s asses, and nothing.

I don’t say anything though. I simply stand and watch my dad fight my corner while Auguste holds me.

Turning in his arms, I wrap my arms around his middle, pressing my cheek to his chest, right over his heartbeat.

So steady and strong.

As always, when I look up at him and he’s already watching me like I’ve hung all the stars in his sky. The same way he’s lit up my world.

He’s become my world.

And I can’t contain the magnitude of it. I can’t. I just…

“I love you.”

Auguste’s eyes widen slightly. His throat bobs. “Court…”

The panic rushes in, and I’ve never felt so stupid, than in the aftermath of my words and his silence.

“I didn’t mean to…” I whisper, taking a step back. His arms tighten, tugging me back in. “Well, no, I… Idid, but if you don?—”

He lifts me before I can finish, arms sliding under my thighs, pressing me to his chest like I weigh nothing.

“I love you too,” he whispers into my neck. “I fucking adore you, Courtney.”

“You do… you love me too…”

“Yes, but you pick your moments, Snow. Your dad is right there and all I want is to show you how fucking much I love you.” His words are hot and breathy in my ear.

“Auguste—” I stop mid-giggle at the high-pitched trill of my phone.

Verna.

It’s the first thing that crosses my mind when Auguste walks me to the couch and hands me my phone while he sets me on my feet, never letting me go.

“Verna?” I answer before I’ve put my phone to my ear.

“She’s awake, Courtney.” Verna tells me. “Your momma’s awake.”

“My mom?” A sob rips from deep in my gut. Relief buckles my legs when I look up and Auguste’s expectant stare is waiting. “My mom’s awake.”

A smile cuts his face as he instantly sits me on the couch and goes to grab my sneakers from the bedroom while Verna gives me the details she knows and I pass them on to my dad.

When Auguste returns, he gets my sneakers on and pulls me to my feet.

“Let’s go, Princess,” he says, guiding me to the door with my dad following behind me.

I hate this place.

The hospital feels colder this time, like the walls are holding their breath while Dad and Martin argue and Auguste stands by, ready to step in each and every time Martin gets too close.

I’m too exhausted for this. For the back and forth of years worth of anger.

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