Chapter Seventeen

“He’s opening his eyes,” Stella gasped late Friday morning. “Mia, honey, wake up.”

“I’m up, I’m up.” She sat up in the hospital lounger, pushed her sleep-messed hair from her face, and followed her mother’s eager gaze.

Sure enough, her father’s dark eyes worked hard to open.

“Oh, honey.” Her mother hurried to his side, crying, of course. “I’ve missed you so much.”

He said nothing, just looked around, taking in his surroundings. A new hospital room no one had bargained on.

“Hi, Papi,” Mia said, taking one of his hands in hers. “We’ve been worried about you.”

He frowned in confusion, but rather than try to ask questions, he still made no effort to speak. A side effect the doctors had warned them might occur, among a laundry list of others, too.

Mia hit the call button for a nurse and within minutes, both a nurse and doctor arrived with guarded smiles on their faces.

“Good morning, Mr. Carderas,” Dr. Beck said, then chuckled. “You’ve had a nice long nap. How are you feeling?”

Her father opened his mouth, but that seemed to be all he could do. At least for now, Mia hoped.

“Do you know anyone in this room?” the doctor asked, taking a seat beside the bed, while the nurse took her dad’s vitals.

Mia held her breath, watching her mother carefully on the other side of the bed. Stella worried her trembling hands together while unshed tears sparkled in her eyes. For almost two weeks now, her mother’s life had been in limbo, right alongside Jose’s and Mia feared that this moment could very well be the one that broke this strong woman.

Jose looked to Mia first and, for a long moment, his dark eyes did nothing more than searched her face. Then he gave a small, adoring smile and nodded. Thank God.

When he glanced at her mother—and lifted a shaky hand to take hers—Mia cried. So did Stella, as she launched herself into her husband’s arms and held on tight.

Even the nurse’s eyes watered and suddenly it didn’t matter if her father spoke again or ever walked on his own. Jose was still Jose, and they’d get through whatever other obstacles they might come up against together.

“I need to call Reed,” Mia said, wiping away her tears. “And when I come back, Papi, there’s something I need to tell you.”

* * *

“Jose woke up,” Reed told Josh and Mark Friday afternoon. With the football game that night, they’d taken the day off from work to get everything ready for Saturday. Everything being a new suit for Reed and a couple of beers and cheeseburgers for lunch at a bar in North Platte.

“Thank Christ for that.” Josh leaned back on his barstool and took a pull from his beer. “So, you’re really doing this, huh?”

“Yep.” And not once had he thought twice about it. “Married life seems to be working out for you fuckers just fine.”

Mark snorted. “Minus the shit diapers and two a.m. wake up calls, anyway.”

“Josie slept for five hours two nights in a row. Fucking heaven.” Josh grinned like only a new father could, and Reed shook his head.

“Let me enjoy my bride for a while first before we go there, huh?”

Mark raised an eyebrow. “You’re taking this seriously.”

Hell, yes, he was. “Why is that so hard to believe?”

“Uh, how about because your dick likes variety? And not once in the past twenty years have you ever been truly interested in locking it down to one woman.”

Except for the past ten months.

“Mia’s the only one I’ve been with in almost a year,” he admitted, and Josh sat up so fast, he almost knocked himself off the stool.

“What?” His best friend’s jaw slacked open.

He brought his beer to his mouth. “Why the hell do you think I broke it off with Jenny?”

Eyebrows stuck to his hairline, Mark shook his head. “You’re kidding me.”

“Mia and I met up in Omaha before Christmas.” And in that one night with her, something changed. Fucking faceless women no longer held any appeal.

“And you never said a fucking thing.” Josh laughed. “Wow.”

“Ah, did you tell anyone when you started seeing Carissa?” Reed challenged, and his best friend’s expression dropped instantly. “Exactly.”

The bartender brought Mark and Josh another beer, but Reed passed. One was enough, given he had a game to coach in a few hours.

He also had another important stop to make before they headed back to River Bend. For that, he’d need a clear head.

“We should probably head out after this beer,” Josh spoke up. “I’ve gotta head over to the Henry mansion sometime today and change the security codes.”

“Why’s that?” Reed frowned. “Someone poking around the place?” Wouldn’t surprise him since the place had sat essentially empty since Hudson Contracting built the place for Senator Henry last year. To his knowledge, the man had only been there once to approve the final project, and he’d entrusted Josh to keep an eye on the huge estate and the property surrounding it in his absence. Worked out well, since Josh and Carissa’s new house was built on the adjacent property.

“Nah, I guess the Senator’s been sick and isn’t expected to make it more than a week or two. Stage four lung cancer. His attorney is an old friend of my dad’s, so he called to ask for some help with finalizing a transfer on the deed. He wants the codes changed in case Henry gave them to someone who might want to make off with his shit in the meantime.”

“Wow, that blows. He spent all that cash on a place he’ll never be able to live in. He doesn’t have anything there, does he?”

“Not much. He had some furniture and safe delivered a couple months back. Not sure if there’s anything in it, but it’s there.”

“Huh.” Mark cleared his throat. “He was always such an odd guy. Could never figure out why the hell he chose to build in River Bend anyway.”

No kidding. Wasn’t like there was much there to entertain multi-millionaires, except maybe the resort. Then again, maybe that was the appeal. A quiet retirement in a quiet little town.

Reed lifted his beer toward his buddies. “To Senator Henry, may his swanky ass rest in peace. And to Mia Carderas, for being brave enough to marry my swanky ass.”

His buddies laughed and clanked their bottles to his, and Reed just grinned.

Tomorrow, he would give the rest of his life to the only girl he could imagine spending it with.

And he couldn’t fucking wait.

* * *

You’ve smiled all afternoon, her father wrote in the notebook sitting on the lap table between them. Why, mija?

“Because you’re awake.” She covered his hand with hers, acknowledging to herself that, yes, she had been smiling a lot. Her cheeks even hurt. “We were all so worried.”

I’m sorry for that.

“Oh, Papi, it’s no secret that you’re a bullheaded man. We should’ve known you’d try to walk on your own.” She laughed softly and bittersweet amusement shined in his eyes.

I will again. Soon.

“I know you will.” Leaning in, she kissed his prickly cheek. “We’ll have to get you shaved up, too. Before tomorrow, anyway.”

He eyed her curiously, and a big grin split across her face, even as heat filled her cheeks.

“About that something I wanted to tell you...” She tangled their fingers, praying that what she was about say would make him as happy as it surprisingly had made her the past few days.

Never had she thought she’d end up planning a wedding in less than a week, and maybe there wasn’t any urgency anymore, but it felt right.

“You know Reed and I have been friends forever, right?”

He nodded, brow still creased.

“You probably noticed that he’s been here for me—and for our family—during this whole process of getting you back on your feet. Well, there’s a reason for that, Papi.” Her heart beat hard against her chest and her palms began to sweat like she was a teenager all over again, about to ask for permission to go on her first date.

Good man, her father wrote on the notebook again. You love him.

“God, I do,” she laughed. “I have since I was old enough to know what love is.”

Watery emotion began to swim in her dad’s eyes as tears fell from her own.

“We’re getting married. Here. Tomorrow.”

A garbled sound rose from his chest and he pulled her close, kissing her temple while his hand smoothed over her hair. “H-h-h...”

“Happy?”

He nodded and she felt the dampness of his tears against her skin.

“Me, too.” And she was. A little scared, too, but mostly happy. And excited. And...hopeful. “Will you give away?” she asked, pulling back to look in his eyes.

He reached for the paper and the words he wrote made her heart swell.

I always knew he’d be the one to take you from me.

* * *

One minute and twelve seconds of game time, a shower, and picking up his mother were the only things that stood in the way of Reed hopping in his car and heading to Grand Island.

To his bride.

Holy fuck.

His mind should’ve been on the game, but all he’d been able to think about since just after halftime—when the Rebels scored their fifth touchdown of the night—was what Mia was doing tonight.

Was she second guessing what they were about to do? Or was she as eager as he was? He hoped like hell it was the latter because he was pretty sure he’d be fucking heartbroken if she changed her mind.

And that was something, wasn’t it?

He grinned to himself as another ten seconds ticked off the game clock and the other team called a timeout. Slapping Lane, his second-string quarterback, on the back, he nodded to the field.

“You’re up, kid. Get out there and kick some ass.”

The tall, lanky junior adjusted his chinstrap and gave him a thumbs up. “Got it, Coach.” He took off at a jog and, a few seconds later, Donnie trudged off, breathing hard and frowning, despite their massive lead.

“You’re killing it out there tonight, man.” Reed clapped the kid on the shoulder pads. “I’m so friggin’ proud of you.”

A small, lopsided grin twitched at the boy’s mouth. “Thanks.”

“See those scouts up there?” He nodded toward the stands. “All yours tonight.”

“Shut up.” The kid’s mouth fell open. “Why didn’t you tell me? And why the hell did you pull me out?”

“Because you’ve proved your ability tonight. Time to let Lane get some action.”

“I haven’t proved a damn thing until I get a scholarship,” Donnie countered. “Put me back in.”

Reed stared at the kid, trying to puzzle out what his beef was when it finally hit him. “You’re worried you won’t get an offer.”

“Haven’t had one yet, have I?” He slapped his hands against his thighs, then rubbed them together anxiously. “Let me back in the game, Coach. Come on. This is my chance.”

“I can’t do that, Donnie. I promised Lane playing time tonight if we got ahead.”

Donnie’s face went red and, for a moment, Reed thought he might yank off his helmet and toss it again.

“We’ll talk about this after the game, okay?”

“Yeah, well, by then it’ll probably be too late.” The kid stalked off and dropped to the bench, his head hung in his hands.

Fortunately for Reed, he’d never had to worry about paying for college. If he hadn’t gotten a full ride to Nebraska for football, he would’ve qualified for a shit ton of financial aid, having only his mother’s lowly diner income to support him.

But Donnie had two parents. A father who was the damn county judge. Money shouldn’t have been a problem.

Or was it?

Reed managed to set aside his concerns for Donnie long enough to focus on Lane and enjoy the hell out of the kid throwing a beautiful sixty-yard pass. Ty caught the ball and made it ten yards down the field before he was tackled to the ground with two seconds left on the clock.

Lane knelt the last down and Rebel players swarmed the field, whooping it up like they’d just won the Super Bowl.

Donnie remained on the sidelines, which made Reed nervous. The scouts wouldn’t want to see a potential future player with a chip on his shoulder.

“You’ve got eyes on you, Donnie. Get your ass out there and celebrate with your team.”

The kid scowled for a moment before Reed’s words sunk in. Then he nodded eagerly and took off at a run for the mob of orange and black on the field.

Judge Parker wandered from the stands to the sideline and Reed wasted no time cutting to the chase, whether it was his business or not.

“Why is Donnie so worried about a scholarship?”

“Not your concern, Coach.”

“Actually, it is when it impacts the way he plays.”

The judge scoffed. “He played his ass off tonight.”

“Yeah, he did. But it’s not about the love of the game anymore, is it?”

“Family business is family business, Reed.”

Speaking of family, why wasn’t Donnie’s mother at the game? Why hadn’t she been at any of them this season?

“Judge, I just want to help. This is Donnie’s last year as a Rebel. I want him to enjoy it.” Not end up hating the game, because things might not pan out the way he’d hoped they would.

“Yeah, well, my wife ruined that chance when she took off with her online boy toy and drained our bank account. So, unless you’ve got some cash hidden somewhere, Donnie’s right to be worried. I have no fucking idea how we’re going to pay for school next fall.”

Well, shit. “There are other scholarships. Donnie’s a bright kid.”

“When you’ve grown up thinking your future was clear, it’s hard to see a sudden crack in your windshield, isn’t it?” Judge Parker shook his head. “Listen, this isn’t something we’re ready for the world to know about. I have a reputation to uphold and Donnie...well, he’s humiliated like any seventeen-year-old would be. Her boyfriend is twenty-fucking-two.”

Ouch. “I’m really sorry, Judge. I had no idea, but I’m glad you told me. In fact, give me a few days, but I think I might have a connection in Lincoln. It’s not Clemson, but Nebraska football isn’t anything to scoff at, either.”

The judge offered his hand. “Thanks, Coach. And for keeping it quiet, too.”

“Of course.” Reed dipped his chin as the older Parker started toward the field. Something began to ache in Reed’s chest when Donnie spotted his old man and pulled himself away from his teammates to shake his dad’s hand. A handshake that quickly turned into a bear hug.

The kind of hug Reed had never been lucky enough to receive. At least not between real father and son. His mother had never missed a game, and Jack Hudson and Jose had gone above and beyond to treat him like their own.

But it wasn’t the same and it took Reed until now—at thirty-two-years-old—to admit he’d hated it.

He’d spend the next few hours tonight in a car with his mother, but this wasn’t the time to push for the truth.

This weekend was about him and Mia, and he didn’t want anything but her clouding his head when he said his vows and made her his wife.