Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“I love the way you think.”
Five months later
We’ve been settling into a fairly normal routine since the season came to an end. Once I decided to resign, it didn’t take long to find a new head coach for the Falcons to take control of the team once the season came to an end. The team played their asses off and we pulled off a winning season, even with all the drama happening on and off the ice. Now, I’m starting a new chapter in my life with my wife and soulmate. The best one yet.
Carlie had been debating her options when Tate Grimes offered her a part-time position in his office. It took my wife a while to come around to the idea, but she finally decided to take the job. Next week is her last week at the hospital, then she plans to take a couple of months off to spend time with the baby before she starts her new job.
I’m sitting at my desk, checking the stock market, when there’s a loud knock on the front door. I rush into the hall and pull the door open. “What?”
“Gray?” My heart drops when I see Dillon standing on my front porch with a worried look on his face. “I’m here to take you to the hospital.”
“What happened?” My breath seizes in my throat, and I barely get the words past my dry lips.
“Come on. I’ll explain on the way to town.” He turns and rushes to his car with me on his heels. Once I slam my door shut, he turns on the sirens and roars out of my driveway.
“Is my wife okay?” Please, let her be okay. I know there’s no way I’d survive without her.
“She was injured when an unruly patient fought restraints and ended up kicking her in the stomach.” Fuck. I slam my hand down on the dashboard. I should’ve fucking wrapped her in cotton and kept her safe.
“Carlie is okay.” I’m able to draw in a deep breath as he continues. “But she started having contractions and the doctors are deciding if they are going to try to stop them.” I hold on as he takes a corner at full speed.
“And if they can’t stop them?” I can’t believe this is happening. “She’s only thirty-five weeks.”
“It will all work out.” My palms begin to sweat as the hospital comes into sight. “You need to pull up your big boy pants and get your ass in there to support your wife.” Dillon screeches to a halt in the circular drive in front of the hospital.
I open the door and hop out, calling behind me, “You missed your calling as a motivational speaker.”
I don’t even pause at the front desk. “Excuse me,” the receptionist calls behind me, but I ignore her and rush into an open elevator. I know right where I’m going since they gave us a tour when we had our childbirth classes a few weeks ago.
“Sir.” A huge bastard steps onto the elevator with me. “I need you to step off the elevator and give your information to the front desk.”
I open my mouth to tell him to fuck off when Dillon walks up behind him. “I can vouch for him, Dennis.” He slaps the guard on the shoulder. “And I’ll make sure he signs in the next time he comes to the hospital.”
“Okay.” The guard glares at me as he steps off the elevator. “But don’t let it happen again.”
After the doors close, Dillon turns to me and smirks. “Can you try to keep your cool?”
“Once I know my wife and child are okay, I’ll be cool as a cucumber,” I tell him and push the button for the fourth floor again, trying to make the elevator go faster.
“Now, that I want to see.” We step off the elevator, and he stops at the locked doors to speak with the receptionist.
I’m not sure what my friend tells the woman about us not having visitor tags, but it works. A few minutes later, he comes back and points down the hall. “She’s in room four-twenty-seven, the last room on the left. I’ll be in the waiting room if you need me.”
“Thanks,” I call and rush down the hall, looking for my wife’s room.
When I find the room, I take a deep breath to get myself under control before I push the door open. I sag with relief when I find her sitting up in the hospital bed with wires hooked up to her and the monitor beeping in the background.
“Thank God you got here.” Carlie sniffles as I walk over and sit on the edge of the bed.
“Are you okay, Tigress?” I gently run my hand over her tummy and feel our child move under my touch.
“I think so.” She leans back against the pillow and blows out her breath. “I can’t believe this happened.”