Page 25 of Wake Me Up
“Do you need anything? You or Cane?”
“No, we’re okay,” he says half-heartedly. “We’re staying with our grandparents until Mom and Avy come home. Mom didn’t want us here, worried about Aviana, so she said to check with you about the game to get our minds off of it.”
“Yeah,” I say softly. “Yeah … that’ll be good for you guys.” I stop, not knowing what else to say. “Hey, if you need anything—you or Cane—you call me. You understand? Y’all can call whenever.”
“Thanks, Tripp,” he whispers. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye, bud.” I wait for him to end the call.
Putting my phone down, I drag my hand down my face. I don’t know what I’m going to do to help their family, but I need to do something.
And right now, I just want Freya to know I’m here if she needs me.
Istand in the hallway, just outside Aviana’s hospital room. She’s going to be discharged late tonight or first thing tomorrow morning, but she will need to be watched closely until surgery. The date of surgery hasn’t been decided yet, but even if it had, I don’t know what I’d do because, as it turns out, my insurance absolutely sucks and covers hardly any of the costs.
I know she needs to have it. I just need to find a way to make it possible.
I have an emergency fund in case something is to ever go wrong. But that emergency fund has fifteen thousand, not one hundred fifty thousand. So, all morning, I’ve been on the phone with the insurance company, fighting for this surgery.
The last call ended with me telling them to shove a cactus up their asshole, and I don’t think that helped matters at all. But I was at my breaking point. No, probably past it, if I’m telling the truth. I’m keeping it together for my kids, but inside … I feel like I’m being pulled underwater without a life jacket in sight.
I inhale sharply before letting it out, keeping my eyes closed in an attempt to calm myself down. Aviana is awake, and I don’t want her to sense that I’m upset when I go back inside the room. She’s been in good spirits today, and she’s finally eating and smiling again.
“Freya?” a deep voice says, and I know before I even open my eyes up that it’s Tripp. “I hope it’s okay that I’m here.”
Of course he’s here. He always shows up randomly.
My eyes snap open and take him in—his perfectly messy hair, bright blue eyes, jeans and gray hoodie. He’s a sight for sore eyes, for sure. Then I look down at myself in my baggy joggers and oversize hoodie, and my hair is piled on top of my head, looking like I haven’t slept in a week.
I’m beginning tolook how I feel.
“Tripp,” I say, barely in a squeak. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have a game tomorrow to prepare for?”
“I’m not worried about the game. I’ll be plenty prepared,” he says brashly. “How’s Avy?”
The way he says her nickname stings my heart. I think back to her daddy calling her that when he rocked her in his strong arms while he sang her songs that he made up. I’m sure Tripp has heard the boys call her that, so he assumes it’s her nickname—which I guess it is. But something about the way he says it feels different.
“She’s okay,” I whisper, leaning against the wall. “A friend from school is in there with her now. They are eating Jell-O.”
He steps a little closer, standing right beside me but turning his body so that his back is against the wall too. “And what about her mom? How’s she?”
My chest squeezes because for the past few days, I’ve been so worried about Avy that I really haven’t even had time to stop and think about how I’m feeling. Now, he’s here, and he’s so close that I can smell his delicious scent, and it instantly calms me. His bright blue eyes are on me—no doubt seeing that I’m close to falling apart.
“I’m okay,” I murmur. “Tired. Worried. But … I’m hanging in there.”
“Maybe this will help?” He extends his arm, showing that he’s holding a cup in his hand. I don’t know how I didn’t notice the cup before. I suppose I was just too tired or caught off guard that he’s here. “Your sons gave me your Starbucks order. So, if it’s messed up, blame them.”
I chuckle, graciously taking the cup from his hand and bringing it to my lips for a sip. I smile against the lid when the taste of chai hits my tongue. I now notice the small bag in his other hand, but I don’t ask what it is because that would be kind of rude. Though I do wonder if it’s something for Aviana.
“Thank you, Tripp,” I whisper gratefully. “That was really nice of you to stop by.” I hold my cup up. “And to bring me a pick-me-up.”
“It’s no big deal. Really,” he says quietly yet not shyly. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Aviana too.”
I open my mouth to ask if he’d like to go say hello to Aviana. She’s only met him a few times, but she seemed to like him. Not to mention, she said that I should go on a date with him—which will never happen. Before the words come out, Avy’s friend Olivia and her momwalk out.
Olivia’s mother, Nadine, takes in the sight of Tripp, and her eyes widen, but quickly, she plasters on a smile and waves to me. “The girls had a nice visit. We’re going to let your girl rest now.” As the final word leaves her mouth, her eyes drift back to Tripp one last time, and her cheeks turn red.
“Thank you so much for stopping in, ladies.” I smile, trying to stop worrying about what she must think of Tripp being here, visiting me in the hallway.
