The Road To Heaven (Allendale Four 3)

“We don’t expect you to help, only if you want, when you want.”

And there it was.

“Of course. I’m happy to do anything it takes to get Hayden back to one hundred percent. You let me know where I fit into the plan.”

It came out harsher than I wanted, but the emotion of it all crashed over me. Where did I fit into this? I’d woken up in Anderson’s arms, but he’d barely spoken to me all day. I’d only just opened up a tentative relationship with Oliver and Jackson. I thought we may hang out occasionally. Grab a drink—move on from the past. I thought this would happen on my terms and on my time.

But now?

I took a last look at Hayden in the bed, his gray eyes sweeping the room for me and stopping when he spotted me at the door. Sabine still spoke into his ear, the doctor huddled with Anderson and Jackson.

Oliver watched me with pained, worried eyes.

It wasn’t the first time the feeling had overtaken me and I was now certain it wouldn’t be the last.

Entering the circle of the Allendale Four wasn’t a temporary thing.

It was for life.

16

Hayden

“I think Hayden has had enough visitors for now,” the nurse firmly announced shortly after the doctor left the room. “Let him have a little rest.”

“Later, man,” Jackson said, gripping my hand. “We’ll be back tonight.”

“Can you bring me some tacos?”

“Yep.” He nodded at Oliver. “A whole bag.”

“Thanks.” My head pounded with every word. Not to mention the ache in my side and the throbbing of my ankle. “For coming and setting up everything back home. Not just the t

acos.”

“You got it. We’ll get you back on the field. Challenge accepted,” Oliver said and bumped my fist.

I nodded then shifted my eyes to Anderson. “Tell your dad thanks, too, okay?”

“I will.” The others left the room and gave Anderson space by the bed. “I know it’s been weird for you to come back home after your parents moved overseas and, you know,” his eyes flicked at Bryant and Sabine, huddled in the corner talking, “everything else.”

“My mom called today and tried to come over here. I was a hard no on that. She’ll just stress me out.”

“I hear that.”

“Did you two get along last night? Everything go okay?” I didn’t say her name. Not in front of Sabine or Bryant. I’d already seen the disapproval in their eyes.

“Okay. We had a heart-to-heart at 3 a.m. because she was being stubborn about sleeping on the couch.” He shook his head in annoyance. “But I think we needed to clear the air. Maybe you two should talk. It may help with some of the unresolved feelings.”

I simply nodded, not committing one way or the other. Anderson didn’t push. Especially about this, but my relationship with Sabine was public enough, intentionally so, that they were aware of her. I used that relationship now to create a buffer between Heaven and myself—or I tried to. The medication and stress of the morning made me forget for a minute and I found myself holding her hand, feeling her soft skin.

Anderson leaned down and said, “Did you know she had a tattoo?”

“No.” My heart skipped a beat. “Where?”

“Lower back. Five stars.”

No. I did not know that and now I had a million questions.