not home before dark.”
“You’ve got some good friends.”
“Yeah, I do.” I included him in that group. Maybe things with Colton could work out.
“Do me a favor. Let me know what your mom says tomorrow. I’m serious about going with you.”
“I’ll keep you posted.” I had no intention of taking Colton up on the ride, but I’d let him know any updates.
“Okay. Take care of yourself.” He squeezed my hand before jogging back to his house.
I watched his retreating figure. I remembered back on how I’d watched him at football practice during high school. I had such a crush on him, but I spent half of high school dating his brother. It would have looked awful if anyone knew the truth about how I felt. At one time, I’d convinced myself I was in love with Jack. I’d said the words, but the more time passed since the breakup, the less likely that seemed. My mom called it puppy love, and I was beginning to think she was right.
My phone rang a few minutes later. It was Tanner. I let it go to voicemail. I waited for the notification before checking for a message.
Hey, Mallory. I heard about your dad. If you want to talk or anything, let me know. Also my dad’s a cardiologist at Emory. I can have him get involved if you want.
The sentiment was thoughtful, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk. I made my way back to the house, glad when I realized the girls had put on a second movie. I snuggled in between Juliet and Cara on the couch. The Delta Mu house was beginning to feel more and more like home.
Chapter Twelve
My mom called first thing in the morning. I’d gone to sleep with my phone on the pillow next to me, and the blaring rendition of Taylor Swift’s Red startled me.
“Mom?” I answered groggily.
“He’s looking good, honey.”
I woke up fully. “Oh, good.”
“I didn’t talk to him directly, but it sounds promising. He was moved out of the ICU overnight.”
“Does he want us to come?” I propped myself up with my pillow.
She didn’t say anything for a moment. “Don’t take this the wrong way.”
“He doesn’t want to see me.” I choked back the hurt. Juliet stirred. I’d forgotten the girls had insisted on sleeping in the room.
“It’s not that. He just doesn’t want you to see him in his condition. He wants to wait until he’s better.”
“But he’ll see Davie.” I didn’t have the energy to hide the iciness in my voice even though it obviously wasn’t her fault.
“Please don’t get upset. You know how he is.”
“Yeah, I know.” I needed to calm down. Breaking down in front of my roommates wouldn’t be good. “Thanks for the info.”
“I love you. Please don’t let this get you too upset.”
“I won’t,” I said just to placate her. “Love you too.”
I hung up, set aside my phone, and leaned back against the pillow. Half of me wanted to go back to sleep, but the other half wanted to run until I was so exhausted nothing else mattered.
“What’s the word?” Juliet asked sleepily.
“He’s fine.”
“Great. Are you going to see him?”
“No. He’s too busy with work and everything.” The excuse was sloppy, but I hoped she hadn’t heard everything in my conversation.
“Oh. Well, it’s good he’s okay.”
“Definitely.” I glanced at the clock. It was seven. I crawled out of bed and got ready for the gym. I figured I’d save my run for later. I was positive I’d need it.
“Going to work out?” Juliet asked. Cara still hadn’t woken. She was such a deep sleeper.
“Yeah. I need to get out this nervous energy, you know?”
“You’re crazy, but that’s why I love you.”
I laughed as naturally as I could muster. “Same goes for you.”
I finished getting dressed and found my headphones. “Try to go back to sleep.” I headed down the stairs and over to the gym.
I jumped on the treadmill and turned up my music. Thirty minutes later, I headed into the weight room. There were a surprising number of people there for so early
“You’ve got some good friends.”
“Yeah, I do.” I included him in that group. Maybe things with Colton could work out.
“Do me a favor. Let me know what your mom says tomorrow. I’m serious about going with you.”
“I’ll keep you posted.” I had no intention of taking Colton up on the ride, but I’d let him know any updates.
“Okay. Take care of yourself.” He squeezed my hand before jogging back to his house.
I watched his retreating figure. I remembered back on how I’d watched him at football practice during high school. I had such a crush on him, but I spent half of high school dating his brother. It would have looked awful if anyone knew the truth about how I felt. At one time, I’d convinced myself I was in love with Jack. I’d said the words, but the more time passed since the breakup, the less likely that seemed. My mom called it puppy love, and I was beginning to think she was right.
My phone rang a few minutes later. It was Tanner. I let it go to voicemail. I waited for the notification before checking for a message.
Hey, Mallory. I heard about your dad. If you want to talk or anything, let me know. Also my dad’s a cardiologist at Emory. I can have him get involved if you want.
The sentiment was thoughtful, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk. I made my way back to the house, glad when I realized the girls had put on a second movie. I snuggled in between Juliet and Cara on the couch. The Delta Mu house was beginning to feel more and more like home.
Chapter Twelve
My mom called first thing in the morning. I’d gone to sleep with my phone on the pillow next to me, and the blaring rendition of Taylor Swift’s Red startled me.
“Mom?” I answered groggily.
“He’s looking good, honey.”
I woke up fully. “Oh, good.”
“I didn’t talk to him directly, but it sounds promising. He was moved out of the ICU overnight.”
“Does he want us to come?” I propped myself up with my pillow.
She didn’t say anything for a moment. “Don’t take this the wrong way.”
“He doesn’t want to see me.” I choked back the hurt. Juliet stirred. I’d forgotten the girls had insisted on sleeping in the room.
“It’s not that. He just doesn’t want you to see him in his condition. He wants to wait until he’s better.”
“But he’ll see Davie.” I didn’t have the energy to hide the iciness in my voice even though it obviously wasn’t her fault.
“Please don’t get upset. You know how he is.”
“Yeah, I know.” I needed to calm down. Breaking down in front of my roommates wouldn’t be good. “Thanks for the info.”
“I love you. Please don’t let this get you too upset.”
“I won’t,” I said just to placate her. “Love you too.”
I hung up, set aside my phone, and leaned back against the pillow. Half of me wanted to go back to sleep, but the other half wanted to run until I was so exhausted nothing else mattered.
“What’s the word?” Juliet asked sleepily.
“He’s fine.”
“Great. Are you going to see him?”
“No. He’s too busy with work and everything.” The excuse was sloppy, but I hoped she hadn’t heard everything in my conversation.
“Oh. Well, it’s good he’s okay.”
“Definitely.” I glanced at the clock. It was seven. I crawled out of bed and got ready for the gym. I figured I’d save my run for later. I was positive I’d need it.
“Going to work out?” Juliet asked. Cara still hadn’t woken. She was such a deep sleeper.
“Yeah. I need to get out this nervous energy, you know?”
“You’re crazy, but that’s why I love you.”
I laughed as naturally as I could muster. “Same goes for you.”
I finished getting dressed and found my headphones. “Try to go back to sleep.” I headed down the stairs and over to the gym.
I jumped on the treadmill and turned up my music. Thirty minutes later, I headed into the weight room. There were a surprising number of people there for so early
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