Showdown (Gridiron Book 2) Read online

  Glancing over, he nodded. “I had no idea you approved of the two of us.”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” Crossing her legs, she leaned back. “You’re the only man who’s stood up and taken her on.” Taking a sip of her coffee, she looked over. “Ronnie has a big heart, but she’s learned to protect it over the last couple of years, which has made it almost impossible for anyone to scale its walls. I’m happy you’ve been able to see past her wit and sarcasm and get to know the woman behind the pretty façade.”

  “I love the fact that she stands up to me and shows me my place on the regular.” Rubbing his face, he let out a breath. “I told her I loved her right before she got hit by the car.”

  “Don’t worry, Chase; you’ll have a thousand more opportunities to say it.”

  Jack walked up and looked between them. “Any news?”

  “Not a word,” Chase replied.

  Sitting down next to Ana, he nodded. “Let me know if you need me to pick up Ronnie’s parents from the airport.”

  “Thanks, man. Their flight arrives at six, and I have a car scheduled to pick them up.” A surgeon entered the room, and Chase stood up along with Ana and Ella. “How did it go, Doc?”

  Motioning for him to walk over, Chase moved quickly along with Ana and Ella. “The surgery went well, and the team is closing her up. There was a significant amount of internal damage, and we were able to repair most of it. We’ll see how she’s doing in a couple of hours and then reassess whether we need to do more surgery after that. You can go and see her in about an hour. If she makes it through the next twenty-four hours, then her chances of a full recovery increase greatly. She’s young and strong, so we’re cautiously optimistic.”

  A whoosh of air escaped Chase’s lungs, and he felt light-headed. Leaning over, he rested his hands on his knees as he tried to get himself together. Two small hands rubbed his back, and he knew Ella and Ana were as relieved as he was.

  Standing, he focused and shook the doctor’s hand. “Thank you, sir. That’s good news.” Crossing his arms, he took a big gulp of air and knew it had been his first full breath since the car hit Ronnie. “I need some air, so I’m going to take a little walk.”

  “You go ahead, Chase. We’ll update everyone,” Ella said.

  Nodding, he walked out of the waiting room and discovered a door that led out to a small patio. He walked out into the dark starry night, found a corner, and slid down the wall. Burying his face in his arms, he felt tears leak from his eyes as relief swamped him.

  She was going to be all right.

  The love of his life was going to make it.

  Leaning his head against his knees, he let the tears flow, knowing it was probably going to be his one chance to let it out before he started taking care of Ronnie.

  When her body had sailed up in the air and then hurtled to the ground, he knew it would be a miracle if she came away with little damage, and it seemed he was right. But as long as she was alive, that was all that mattered. Looking up, he noticed the sky lightening as the sun rose over the horizon and knew it was God’s blessing that she’d survived.

  It was going to be a good day.

  ***

  Gerald strode through the corridor of the hospital with Mama and Papa DuMond and wondered how in the world so much had changed in the four weeks he’d been gone. It wasn’t his custom to return from a month-long vacation to so many disasters and didn’t think he’d ever be able to leave Ronnie again for more than a weekend.

  “Don’t you worry, Val, our girl is going to come out of this just fine.” He patted her hand and then stalled at the door of the waiting room. Placing his hand against his heart, he was momentarily stunned by the number of people. The place was packed to capacity with her friends and clients and standing in the middle of it was Chase.

  Someone was handing him a cup of coffee, and as his eyes lifted, they met Gerald’s. Nodding to one another, he watched him move toward their group. It would seem that his matchmaking worked better than even he expected.

  “Mr. and Mrs. DuMond, Gerald…Ronnie is sure going to be happy to see you. I just came out of recovery, and she’s going to make it. Her eyes opened for a minute, and she squeezed my hand for a second.”

  Val touched his arm and frowned. “How did you get the doctors to tell you what’s going on? They usually only tell the family.”

  “The paramedic assumed I was her husband at the scene of the accident, and then he must’ve said something to the nurses when they medevacked her in. And…I might’ve written it accidentally on purpose on her admittance forms. The woman was giving me a hard time about an insurance card, and I told her not to worry about me taking care of my wife’s medical bills.”

  “That was good thinking, but you won’t be responsible for any bills. That’s up to us,” Mr. DuMond said firmly.

  “No disrespect intended, Mr. DuMond, but I’ve already taken care of it.”

  Val wrapped her arms around Chase in a hug. “Thank you, Chase, for loving my daughter. I count myself lucky to know that she has you. I never really knew if there was a man out there who would want to take her on, and I’m glad to see that it’s you.”

  “I’m the lucky one. At least when she’s not searching for her gun.”

  Mr. DuMond let out a chuckle. “That’s just her way. Her mama did the same thing to me for years, and I can’t tell you how many guns have gone missing over the years.”

  “Let me go talk to the nurse and have her take you back,” Chase said before moving away from the group.

  “The man is in love with our Ronnie!” Gerald exclaimed. “How did that happen in a month?” Staring at Val, he lifted his shoulders and let out a breath. “I have to start checking in when I leave because look at what I’ve missed.”

  Papa DuMond let out a low chuckle. “He requested my permission to ask Ronnie to marry him when they were at the house for Nana Boo’s birthday party. He wasted no time and wanted to make sure that I approved before he moved forward.”

  Val waved to Ella and Ana and then turned back to Gerald. “He bought the house next door and closes on it in a couple of weeks. He’s nothing if not determined.” Turning, she opened her arms to Ana and Ella and hugged them both. “Our girl is going to be okay,” she said quietly as she embraced both of them and kissed each of their heads.

  Ana gave Val a squeeze and then pulled back, wiping her face. “We’re ready for instructions.”

  Ella held Val’s hand and smiled. “Give us one your lists so we can feel like we’re doing something to help.”

  Val nodded and tapped her finger against her mouth. “Let’s make sure she has what she needs when she wakes up. You girls go to the house and make a bag for her and pack something for Chase as well because I have a feeling he’s not going to leave until she does.”

  “Of course,” Ana replied.

  “The guys have breakfast ordered, and it’s on its way. After you see Ronnie, come back and have something to eat,” Ella said. “Alex is flying in and should be here by this afternoon.”

  Papa DuMond patted the girls’ shoulders. “Our Ronnie is fortunate to have y’all in her life. It has given Val and me a lot of peace over the years to know the three of you always look out for one another.”

  Ella held his arm and gave him a small smile. “That’s what family does.”

  Val looked between the girls. “I see two large men who are staring at you both, and I expect to meet them during our stay.”

  Ana looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Come and meet them now and then we’ll run to the house and get Ronnie’s stuff packed. Being in a car accident is unfortunate but waking up without your stuff would be tragic.”

  Before they made it over to the men, Chase walked in with the nurse. “Mr. and Mrs. DuMond, they’re going to take you in now, and then it will be Gerald’s turn.”

  Ana patted Gerald’s hand. “Do you want anything from the house?”

  “No, y’all go, and I’ll see you later. After I see Ronnie,
I’ll head home and make sure that we’re ready for the family to arrive.”

  “Call Trevor because there is a whole new alarm system in place,” Ella said.

  “I’m never leaving on vacation again,” Gerald replied flatly. “Too much happens when I’m gone.” Taking Ella’s hand, he squeezed it. “Nothing can happen to my girls because I’ve put too much work into y’all not to see the happy endings.” He sniffed and pulled out his hanky to dab his eyes.

  Giving him a little hug, Ella laughed. “We would never do that to you, Gerald.”

  “I hope not,” he replied, thanking God that his Ronnie was okay.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Chase stood next to Ronnie’s parents as the doctor updated them on her condition, feeling a cold sweat form on his skin as he listened to him describe her condition.

  How could she have taken a turn so quickly?

  “An infection has taken hold, and we’re pumping antibiotics into her as quickly as we can. Right now, it’s a wait and see situation, and we have to let her body do its best to fight the infection,” Dr. Minkins said as his phone rang. “I’ll be by in a couple of hours to check on her.” He shook hands with the group and then walked down the corridor.

  Val turned to her husband and leaned against him. “Our girl is a fighter, and that’s what we have to count on. Let’s find the chapel because I need to have a conversation with God.”

  Mr. DuMond looked at Chase and placed his hand on his shoulder. “We’re going to keep the faith. Our girl has never given up on anything, and this isn’t going to be any different.”

  “That’s what I’m counting on,” Chase replied.

  Val nodded and then took her husband’s hand. “We’ll see you in a bit.”

  “All right.” Leaning against the wall, he watched them move arm-in-arm down the hall and sent up a prayer, asking for God’s help. When he was done, he let out a breath and then walked into Ronnie’s room, hating to see her so banged up. He sat down heavily, taking her small hand in his. “Hi, honey. Your folks are heading over to the chapel to have a little talk with God, and I’m betting your mom has a direct line and will be telling him her thoughts in no uncertain terms.

  “Anyway, it seems your body is giving you some trouble, and I need you to fight back with everything you have. Just the same way you’ve done with me. Which, by the way, may be one of my favorite things about you. If you were a guy, you would’ve made a great football player because you certainly have the heart for it.” Leaning forward, he kissed her cheek. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this; maybe it just makes me feel like we’re having a regular conversation.” He bent down and pressed a kiss to her skin. “I love you, honey, and we’re going to build a life together, so the sooner you get better, the sooner we can get started.”

  He heard the door open and wiped his face quickly. Looking over, he saw Ana walk in. “Hey.”

  “How are you holding up?”

  “As good as can be expected; I just need to her to fight this infection.”

  “She will,” Ana replied as she walked over to Ronnie’s bed, smoothing her hair before she sat down. “My girl will always fight for what she believes in, who she cares about, and the last piece of cake. So, this isn’t any different.”

  “How did the three of you become friends?”

  “Ronnie and I were roommates freshman year, and Ella’s room was next door to ours, and Alex’s was on the other side. Ronnie and I, in some respects, couldn’t be more different, but in all of the important ways, we are the same.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We’re different on the outside, but not on the inside, and the moment I met her, I knew we’d become friends for life. When you grow up being the smart geek in high school, it’s a relief to go to college and discover there are a bunch of people just like you. Ella, Ronnie, and I were inseparable from the first day we walked into the dorm, and Alex was never far away. It was like finding my tribe, and they took me as I was, and there was no better gift. Alex was the only one who was normal, but in his crowd of jocks, he was considered an anomaly. You don’t get into Stanford without having some serious brain power, and he definitely has some. Just not as much as the rest of us.”

  “I’m lucky that Ronnie even considered me an option. I only went to UCLA, which, though academically challenging, is nothing like Stanford.”

  “My cousin Birdie went to UCLA for her graduate degree. It’s a fine school and one that you should be proud of.”

  “Oh, I’m proud of it; don’t get me wrong.” Looking over at Ronnie, he sighed. “But it’s nothing like this girl and what she’s accomplished. And you, too.”

  “You don’t have to charm me, Chase. I already think you’re a good choice for Ronnie and love the way you’ve taken her on.”

  “I took her on because I’m a grown man and not a boy.”

  “Maybe. But Jack and I are the same age, and he’s feels like a grown man to me. In every important way, we’re equals, and seem to have about the same maturity. Though, I’m not sure what that says about either of us.”

  “I don’t know Jack that well, so I couldn’t say. But he’s always conducted himself with a lot of style and class. He takes his job seriously and, from what I can tell, works harder than most to perform at his best ability. He doesn’t seem to take any of it for granted.”

  “I’ll tell him that you said that. I know he respects you, so that will mean a lot to him.”

  “So, how did Jack win your heart?”

  Sitting back in her chair, she smiled. “Jack came after me and never stopped.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Pretty much. I never thought a football player was going to be a match for me, and then he changed my mind.”

  “What was wrong with a football player?”

  “Nothing, it’s just that I hadn’t had a lot of positive experiences with jocks. One broke my heart in high school, then a hockey player in college. I had sworn off athletes for good after that.” Straightening the blanket, she smoothed Ronnie’s hair again. “I see myself as a geeky scientist, and never thought a guy like him would be interested in me. He sees himself as a guy with dyslexia, and sometimes can’t figure out why a doctor is in love with him, but it turns out we’re the right answer for each other.”

  “How does Ronnie see herself?”

  “As the smart Southern girl who doesn’t follow the rules and marches to her own drummer. The woman has a bowl of voodoo dolls on her desk, and on her walls has degrees from Stanford and Tulane. Both parts are as important as the other.”

  “When we were down at the horse farm, I got a glimpse of that. We went and saw a traiteur, and I found it interesting that she took the woman’s word as gospel, despite the fact she lives her life by numbers and makes her clients do the same.”

  “Nobody is ever one thing. We are both very superstitious and were happy to discover that when we met. She loves the traditions from the Cajun culture, and my mother is Cuban, so I grew up with Santeria. The two are similar in a lot of ways, and it was fun to try and come up with love spells in college. They never worked, but it was entertaining.”

  He laughed at the thought. “Why didn’t you just smile at a guy you were interested in? I’m sure that’s all it would have taken.”

  “Where would the fun in that be? We liked the challenge of trying to figure what worked and what didn’t. Anyway, I’m still very superstitious and have to sit in the same row at the stadium when I watch Jack play. The sounds of crashing pads still make me a little sick to my stomach, but not enough to keep me away. Also, Ella runs stats for us, and I make sure Jack knows who to look out for.”

  “He’s lucky to have you, and it seems as though you’re his good luck charm because he had a great season and won the award.”

  “I wish I could take credit, but we didn’t meet until the middle of the season. It was all him.”

  “I bet if I asked him, he would answer differently,” Chase replied as h
e glanced over at Ronnie. “You know, she’s going to recover. It’s just going to take a while.”

  “I know. Why don’t you go home and take a shower?”

  “I can’t leave her alone.”

  “Chase, you haven’t left here since the accident, and that was seventy-two hours ago. You need a shower and a regular meal. I’ll stay with her until her parents return.”

  “All right, I guess she wouldn’t want to wake up to a smelly boyfriend. I’ve spent too much time in locker rooms with other stinky men, so I don’t always notice.” Standing, he smoothed his hand over her face. “Honey, I’ll be back in a little bit.”

  “Don’t worry, Chase. I’m not going to leave her alone.”

  “Thanks, Ana. I’ll see you later.” He kissed Ronnie’s head and then walked out and down the corridor. Seeing Jack walk in his direction, he waved. “Hey, man. Your girlfriend is sitting with Ronnie and gave me instructions to go home, get a shower, and eat a meal. So that’s what I’m doing.”

  Jack took his hand and shook it. “I find it’s better to do what she says. Makes my life easier and happier.”

  “Said like a man who’s in love. Congratulations, I hear you guys are getting married soon.”

  “That’s the plan. I’m working out the details with her mom. We’re negotiating the location right now, and it looks like it’s going to happen in June in Southern California.”

  “How did you get the job of planning the wedding? I always thought that was something that the bride did with her mom.”

  Rubbing his face, Jack let out a little laugh. “Ana won’t say no to her mom, so if I let her plan it, then we wouldn’t be getting married until next year in a big extravagant wedding that neither of us is particularly interested in. Ana put me in charge of working it out with her mom, so we might actually end up with something we want.”

  “Good luck and I look forward to seeing you two tie the knot.”

  “I can’t wait for the day and won’t totally relax until it’s legal and getting rid of me will be more trouble than it’s worth.”