Chapter 13 I stand 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 to look 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 mom walk 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. Right now, Aviana is the only thing that matters, so who really cares what she thinks? "I'm sure it made Avy's whole day," I say sweetly because I know it's true. "Oh, we were so glad to see her," she answers, smiling and waving goodbye, along with her daughter. Once they turn and walk off-after Nadine looks Tripp over once more-I nod my head toward the door. "Want to come say hello? She loves company." Now he looks nervous, but after a sharp swallow, he nods. "Yeah. I'd, uh ... I'd really like that." "Come on in," I say softly, smiling at him before I turn toward the door and take a few steps. I'm too tired mentally, physically, and emotionally to tell my heart to stop fluttering, so I just let it go. I'll worry about that later. Looking at Aviana is like looking at a younger version of Freya. She's the prettiest little girl, and it fucking sucks to see her in this hospital bed. Even though it doesn't seem to be dimming her shine too much because she's smiling at me and her mom as we both take a seat. "Sweetie, Tripp came to see you," Freya says sweetly. "He wanted to see how you're feeling." "And he brought you a treat too," Aviana says, not missing a beat when she smiles at her mom. Her head whips in my direction, and her grin widens. "Hi, Tripp." "Hey, Avy." I say her nickname because when her brother talks about her, he never calls her Aviana. But once her name leaves my mouth, I'm worried that I shouldn't have called her that. It's probably a family thing. Or worse, it was her dad's thing, and now here I am, showing up like a jackass with a stuffed animal hedgehog because her brother told me she loves them. Just carve the word stalker into my fucking head right now. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the ƒindNoᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Awkwardly, I hold the bag out straight, setting it on the bed. "I brought you something. I hope that's okay." My eyes shift nervously to her mom, and I almost cringe because I'm embarrassed. I don't know this kid. Hell, I barely know her mother, and I brought her a damn tea. She's surprised, but her entire face lights up, and she sits up straighter in the bed, taking the bag. She wastes no time pulling the stuffed animal out. "A hedgehog!" she squeals. "I love hedgehogs!" "That's what your brother told me," I say with a chuckle, watching her squeeze the stuffed animal to her chest tightly. "Thank you, Tripp," she says sweetly, looking down at it again. "I love it. It almost makes those seizures worth it." Quickly, she looks at her mom, amusement glimmering in her eyes. "I'm joking. I'm joking." "Yeah. You'd better be," Freya utters, shaking her head at her daughter. Three people-an older man, a guy who looks like he's in his late forties, and a woman in scrubs-walk in. "Dr. Ash," Freya says. "How's it looking on us getting out of here today?" "We'll try our best," he says, waving a hand at the lady beside him. "Nurse Jordan is going to take you for another scan. And she even has a stash of candy for after." The younger doctor gives me a weird look, narrowing his eyes slightly before quickly looking away. Luckily, Dr. Ash must not watch much hockey because he glances at me, but doesn't give me a second look as he helps Aviana get out of the bed. "Do you want me to walk down with you, babe?" Freya says, standing. "I'm good," Aviana says swiftly, making her mom roll her eyes. "That's just because you don't want me there to limit your candy intake." She shakes her head. "I see you, girl." Her daughter laughs, following the nurse out of the room, and suddenly, Freya's face falls, and she grows tense. It's amazing to me how she can put on a brave face just for her kids, but underneath, she's still human. Even though she makes it hard to believe that. He glances at the man beside him. "This is Dr. Blanchard. He's the neurosurgeon I told you about." Freya's concerned look only grows, but when he holds his hand out, she gives it a shake. Both doctors look at me, and abruptly, Freya goes from looking worried to embarrassed. "Oh, um ... this is Tripp. A ... friend of the family," she says uneasily, clasping her hands together before turning toward Dr. Blanchard. "I thought we were going to do a phone conference with you next week." He gives her a curt nod, holding his iPad under his arm. "That was the plan, but I was coming up here to meet with the hospital on another case, so I thought, What the heck? There's no time like the present to come meet you." He shifts his eyes to mine, as if wondering if I should leave. "Is right now a good time?" "Y-yes," she answers softly, sitting back down in her seat. "I'll head out," I say, ready to beeline it for the door. The last thing I want to do is make her uncomfortable. Or more uncomfortable. "You can stay," she says, surprising me. "I'm sure Avy will want to thank you when she gets back from her scan." She turns her attention back to the doctor, and he sits on the edge of the bed while I reluctantly take a seat in one of the empty chairs. "So, I know Dr. Ash talked a bit with you about the surgery we'd like to perform on Aviana." He pauses. "I just want to answer any questions you may have and walk you through everything." His words send a shock wave through me. I know seizures in children are bad, but I didn't know she needed surgery. Fuck. No wonder why Freya looks so nervous. I wish I could walk over to her and take her hand. Right now, she needs comfort, but I'm sure she doesn't want it from a dude who's basically a stranger. "Okay," she whispers, the frown lines on her face growing a little deeper. Her eyes are swirling with fear, and her brows pull together tightly as she waits for him to keep talking. Dr. Blanchard goes into details about the surgery and what will take place. I hear every word, but I can't keep my eyes from Freya. Who, even though she's feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders in this exact moment, is staying strong. After a few minutes of him explaining and a whole lot of nods from Freya, telling him she's listening, he sets his iPad down. "I could perform the surgery a little over two weeks from tomorrow. We can set the date as soon as you're ready." "Wow, that soon?" she blurts out. "Why, uh-why do you have openings that soon?" I get what she's asking. If he's that good, why does he have this sudden hole in his schedule so fast? "I had a cancellation the same time I consulted with Dr. Ash on this case," he says matter-of-factly. Her face seems paler now, and she chews her lip. Her eyes look lost, and she looks down at the ground. "Uh ... I don't ..." She pauses, bringing her gaze back to him. Her lip is now trembling, and her eyes are glazed over. "The thing is ... I've been on the phone with our insurance company for two days. They aren't going to cover the surgery." Her cheeks turn a crimson red, and she side-glances at me. In this moment, I know without her saying a word that she wishes I had left the room. I look at Dr. Ash, who looks painfully angry, though I know it isn't at Freya, but at the insurance company. Dr. Blanchard just seems baffled. "I'm so sorry to hear that. That's actually quite shameful." He stops, looking thoughtful. "I can put together a rough estimate on the operation. That way, you can go over ... options." His eyes move to mine, and he looks down. "I've got to get to another meeting before I head back to Boston." Reaching in his pocket, he pulls out a business card and hands it to her. "This has the direct line to my office as well as my email. Please, keep me in the loop." "Thank you. I will," she whispers. Dr. Ash looks at her sadly but takes a step back. "I'm going to walk Dr. Blanchard to his meeting to discuss a few things about Aviana's case. I'll stop back in before she gets discharged." "Thanks, Dr. Ash," Freya whispers brokenly. She sinks into her chair deeper, sighing. "Well ... this is a super-fun day." In this moment, I don't have a fucking clue what to say. I could tell her everything would be fine, but that'd be a lie. But I do know one easy solution ... though as strong as she is, something tells me she isn't going to like it. Pushing myself up from the chair, I walk over to her and crouch down. She keeps her gaze on the floor, chewing her lip. But when I put my hand over hers, sad eyes snap to mine. "Let me give you the money for the surgery," I whisper. "It would be the best money I've ever spent, helping your daughter get better." The expression that suddenly covers her face like a blanket makes it seem like I slapped her. Her eyes narrow the slightest, and her brows furrow. Yanking her hand out from under mine, she holds it with her other hand. "Why would I let you pay for my daughter's surgery?" she whispers, on the border of being angry. "You're already giving my son free lessons. I'm not a charity case, you know." "I know, Freya," I say, defending myself. "But I have money. Too much money. So, please, just let me do this for you." Her chest heaves, and her neck turns a blotchy red color. "You should go," her voice squeaks, and a tear streams down her soft cheek. "Thank you for the tea and for Avy's gift, but I have some calls to make." She doesn't look at me anymore; instead, she quickly stands up and walks toward the door. The last thing I wanted to do was make her mad, and yet that's exactly what I've done. I just wanted to help her and her family out, but instead, I made her uncomfortable. I push myself to my feet and walk toward the door. Stopping when I'm beside her, I look at her even though her eyes remain on the ground. "Just think about it, Freya. You don't always have to do everything on your own." After a moment of absolute torturous silence, I take the hint, and I walk out of the room. Of course, I see Aviana in a wheelchair, headed right for me. "You're already leaving?" she says, seeming surprised while the nurse comes to a stop in front of me. My eyes find the hedgehog held snugly to her chest, and I nod. "Yeah, sorry. I gotta get back for practice. But I hope you feel better soon." "Thanks," she says shyly. "And thanks for the hedgehog. I named him Hedgie." "Hedgie," I mimic. "I like that." "Well, see you later," she utters, offering the tiniest smile before the nurse pushes her past me. "You too," I drawl, feeling like a prick for trying to save the day and instead making her mother feel bad. I sluggishly make my way down the hallway and out of the hospital. I'm doing shit I'd never have done before I met her and her kids. I'm buying stuffed animal fucking hedgehogs. I'm showing up at hospitals. I'm offering to pay for a surgery for a kid I barely know. Fuck. What has gotten into me? But there's a game tomorrow. A big game. That's what I need to focus on. So, why can't I get Aviana and Freya out of my head?