Life Changer (Chicago First Responders Book 2)

by BJ Harvey

  “Mom? Can I sleep in Jake’s room?” Harvey asks once we’re back at Rhodes’s house.

  We stayed at the party for almost four hours—enough time for everyone to devour Celeste and Nora’s amazing food, sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Rhodes—with Jake and Harvey helping to blow out the forty candles on the cake—and for Don to give a heartwarming speech about how proud he was of his son. He also welcomed Harvey and me to their crazy family.

  It was a fun night, and now I have an amped up ten-year-old boy who is excited to spend his first sleepover with his new teenage idol.

  “I dunno, baby. You’ve got this awesome big bed in here, and Jake’s probably not tired yet. Maybe you can just see him in the—”

  “Hey, Harvs. I was thinking,” Jake says, popping his head through the guest-bedroom door. “Do you wanna come bunk in with me tonight? You know, just in case I wake up scared in the middle of the night or something. It’d be good to know I’ve got a friend there. I’ve even set up a mattress on my floor for you.”

  Not for the first time tonight, I have to push my tongue against the roof of my mouth and blink rapidly to stop myself from crying like a mushy girl.

  “Mom, can I?” Harvey asks hopefully.

  “Sure, baby. Jake might need you.”

  Harvey rolls his eyes, not so clueless after all. “Okay. Yeah sure.” His tone totally suggests he thinks I’m the clueless one, and it makes me smile.

  Having settled the boys in and making sure Harvey is okay, we say goodnight, and Rhodes leads me by the hand along the hall to his room before shutting the door behind us. “I love you. Do you know that?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You were spectacular tonight. I would never have thought you were nervous at all.”

  “I wasn’t—” I narrow my eyes. “Flynn told you, didn’t he?”

  “Yep.”

  “Not sure I’m over the moon about my ex and my boyfriend colluding together,” I mutter, looking away.

  Rhodes cups my jaw and turns my eyes to his. “And I’m not sure of the last time I’ve felt this happy, and it’s all because of you.”

  I tilt my head, my chest tight and my heart fit to burst. “I haven’t even given you your birthday present yet either.”

  “Hmmm,” he says, pulling me close and dipping his mouth to my neck. “I was planning on unwrapping you as my gift. What is it?”

  I try to hold back my giggle. “Axe-throwing lessons.”

  He slowly lifts his head, the sight of his wide eyes and parted lips has me laughing.

  “Really?”

  I shake my head, still snickering. “No, but the look on your face was priceless. I’ve actually booked us a weekend away in Boston for some time later this year.” His expression turns from surprise to smoldering.

  “You planning on putting up with me for that long, sweet cheeks?”

  “Maybe I was hoping you’d stick by me till then.”

  “For a dirty weekend away?”

  “Mmm hmm . . .”

  “With you naked the entire time . . .”

  “That could . . . be arranged . . .” I moan.

  “Uninterrupted adult alone time?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Fuck yes. Best birthday ever,” he says before he puts a shoulder to my belly and picks me up, carrying me into his bathroom.

  “What are you doing?” I shriek, wrapping my arms around his waist as I hang backward.

  “Birthday rules apply, which means whatever the birthday boy wants, he gets.” He ever so slowly drags my body down against his hard-in-all-the-right-places one.

  “And what do you want?” He reaches out to turn the water on in his big walk-in shower before gripping my hips again.

  “I want you naked and wet and rubbing up against me.”

  I bite my lip. “Is that all you want?”

  “We’ll start there and see what pops up.”

  Looking between us, I quirk a brow at his tented pants. “Doesn’t seem to be a problem in that department yet, old man . . .”

  “Fuck it,” he mutters, then I’m up in the air again and he’s carrying me fully clothed into the shower, getting the both of us dripping wet and distracting me with his mouth and other body parts until the water ran cold.

  It seems Rhodes is right again. Best. Birthday. Ever.

  Chapter 19

  Rhodes

  “I’m off, Dad,” Jake says, popping his head through the living-room door.

  I turn my gaze toward him from where I’m sitting on the couch with Dee’s head in my lap as we watch a movie. “What’s the plan?”

  “Driving to Linc’s place to hang out. Might go get some food, otherwise, I’ll just stay there and come home by eleven.”

  “You need money for gas?” Dee asks, making me smile. I love how she treats Jake as if he’s her own.

  My son’s eyes soften at the woman in my arms. “Nah, I’m good. Thanks though.”

  “Just don’t eat crap food. If you’re gonna do takeout, at least make sure it’s good crap food.”

  His lips twitch at that.

  I snort and glance down at her. “Good crap food?”

  “Yep.” She grins up at me.

  Shaking my head, I meet her eyes. “You’re such a food snob. I should’ve known.”

  “No, I’m a crap food connoisseur.”

  “Who would’ve thought? My top chef is a takeout puritan.”

  Her eyes darken.

  “Hello? Kid here,” Jake says, his voice full of humor. “Yes, Dee. I think the plan was pizza. So probably Lou’s. Not as good as yours, of course, but it’ll do in a pinch.”

  Dee nods. “I’ll allow it.”

  Glad you approve,” Jake mutters. “See you when I get home.”

  “Drive carefully and no funny business.”

  “Yeah, Dad.” He turns toward the front door.

  “I’m serious, kid,” I say, gently easing myself off the couch and following him.

  “I promise, Dad. Not gonna screw up, especially not when I’ve got my sweet ride to look after.”

  “Trucks can be replaced. You can’t.”

  “I know,” he murmurs. “I’ve got my phone tracking on. Feel free to stalk me as much as you need to. Engage the parents collective. Whatever makes you feel better. Got nothing to hide and nothing to lie about.”

  I hook my hand behind his neck and bring my forehead to rest against his. “Sorry. I trust you. It’s other people I don’t.”

  He snorts and cups my shoulder, giving it a squeeze before straightening. “I know. I’ll be good. See you at eleven. Love you, Dad. Bye, Dee,” he calls out before he grabs his keys from the rack and leaves the house.

  I rejoin Dee and get settled again, lying behind her and wrapping my arm round her waist as she restarts the movie.

  We did good with our kid, Lils.

  I imagine if she could talk to me, she’d be rolling her eyes right now and saying ‘Stop talking to me and enjoy your night.’

  “You okay?” Dee asks, snuggling in deeper.

  I nuzzle my lips into her neck, my hands starting to roam her front. “Mmm hmm . . .” I try to ignore the niggling bad feeling in my gut and focus on Dee.

  “Are we gonna make out like teenagers on the couch?” There’s no missing the humor in her voice.

  When I push myself up and brace myself over her, she rolls onto her back and pulls me on top of her. My eyes roam her face, and again I’m hit with just how lucky I am to love and be loved by this woman. “Yep.”

  Her lips curve into a salacious grin. “Excellent. ’Cause Dad won’t be home for hours.”

  And that’s how I end up laughing and kissing her at the same time . . . and missing the rest of the movie, because with Dee in my arms and an empty house, there was no fucking chance I was ever gonna concentrate.

  We must’ve dozed off on the couch, because the next thing I know my phone is buzzing on the floor.

  Dee stirs and burrows deeper into my chest. “What
time is it?” she mumbles.

  “Dunno. Could be Jake calling though. Haven’t heard him come home.”

  “Hmm,” she hums as I reach over her and pick up my cell, frowning when I realize it’s nearly midnight and Cohen is calling.

  “Hey, Co,” I say, my voice still thick with sleep.

  “Rhodes. It’s Jake. He’s been in a MVA. He got clipped by a car running a red.”

  My entire body goes still, and Dee must feel it ’cause she quickly sits up, her hand resting on my chest as she watches me.

  “Is he okay?”

  “Yeah. I’m here for the other driver, but I checked with the other crew when I recognized Jake’s truck. He’s bashed around and probably has broken ribs from the impact and seat belt, but he’s fucking lucky, man. They’re cutting him out ’cause his door was smashed shut.

  I can barely breathe as my heart thumps against my chest like a battering ram trying to crush me. “Where are they taking him?”

  “Northwestern. ETA twenty once they get him out.”

  “I . . . shit, man. I can’t . . .” I can’t speak. I can’t think other than to go straight to the worst-case scenario.

  Dee eases the phone from my hand and puts it to her ear. “Co? It’s Dee. I’ve got him. We’ll meet you there. And hey, can you give Marco a heads up.” She looks my way as I stand, my body finally reacting. Jake. My boy. Fucking late for curfew and some asshole crashes into him. I wanna throttle him and lock him in the house till he’s thirty all at once.

  “Yep. We’re leaving now. And thanks, Co. See you soon.” Dee immediately takes control—grabbing our coats, getting me into the car, and driving us toward the hospital. The whole time she’s taking calls and making them. She calls my Dad on my phone and asks him to call Connor to let him know.

  All I can do is sit there and stare out the window, struggling to even comprehend that my boy was hurt and I wasn’t there for him.

  Dee reaches over and squeezes my knee. “It’s gonna be alright, honey. Cohen said Jake was conscious and coherent, just a bit shaken and scared. As soon as he sees you, he’ll be fine. Don is coming too, and Marco and Renee have already left.”

  I nod and cover her hand with mine, but I can’t talk. The words won’t come. Until Jake’s in front of me and I can see with my own eyes that he’s in one piece, I won’t be able to breathe easy.

  Look after our boy till I get there, Lils.

  We’re unable to see Jake when we arrive, and although they say he’s stable, I’m told I won’t be able to see him while they’re checking him over. I even tried to pull some strings with some of the ER staff I recognize, but rules are rules. Co comes and sees me before he has to leave as he’s still on duty and explains they’re sending Jake for a CT to check for internal bleeding and clear him of anything serious. As far as I’m concerned, they can give him the works as long as it means he’s okay.

  Mom and Dad arrive about fifteen minutes after we do, and we all sit in the family waiting room for what seems like hours.

  Marco, Renee, and Gio come too, G updating me on the details of the accident that he’s learned so far. Apparently the other driver failed a field sobriety test on the scene and walked away with scrapes and bruises. He’s been checked out by a doctor and was discharged into police custody. Jake’s truck, however, is wrecked.

  Dee has not left my side except to get us coffee refills. She’s been my anchor in the storm, and I’m not even sure I would’ve gotten here without her taking charge.

  We’ve been here for three hours, and it’s after three in the morning. I hold Dee in my arms and she rests her eyes on my shoulder.

  “You okay?” Marco asks, having sent Renee home with Gio.

  “No,” I reply honestly. “Shouldn’t have let him go out tonight.”

  “You can’t keep him locked up. He’s a good kid. What happened tonight wasn’t his fault.”

  I nod once. “Yeah. But I could’ve taken note of the bad feeling I had in my gut. Something felt off, and I ignored it.”

  “You gotta admit, as far as teenage shenanigans go, Jake’s been an angel.”

  “Compared to some of the stuff you got up to, boy, my grandson is a fucking saint,” my dad adds with a small smirk. “Marco’s right though. You can’t wrap him in cotton wool and protect him from everything.”

  “I can damn well try!” I say, a little louder than I meant to. “He’s all I’ve got left of her.” This time, my voice is barely a whisper.

  Dad’s eyes soften. “He is, but he’s not. You’ve had a good woman, and it broke all of our hearts when she had to leave us. But now you’ve got a son who’s almost grown, a fine, strong woman sleeping in your arms, and your memories. Jake is almost a man. He’s going to make mistakes like missing curfew and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We all did it, and we all know he’ll probably do it again. You can’t stop it. All you can do is make sure he learns from it. Show him he scared you, tell him it shaved twenty years off your life expectancy getting that phone call, but remember what it must’ve felt like to be a sixteen-year-old kid, on your way home, and then having your life literally crashed into.”

  “Fuck. I just need to see him.”

  “Mr. Anderson?” the doctor says from the waiting room door.

  Dee stirs, and I dip my head to kiss her hair. “Gotta go talk to the doc, sweet cheeks. Stay here, and I’ll find out when we can see him. Yeah?”

  She nods and tips her face up. I brush my lips against hers and make my way toward the door, taking one step and one breath at a time.

  Standing there at the edge of the room, my entire body shakes with anger and fear and relief—all of which are fighting for supremacy. Finally having him in front of me, I check every single body part is intact from his toes to the hair on his head.

  His eyes slowly open, and his head turns. “I guess that’s my NBA career over, Dad. Better call the scouts.” But the smirk on his lips is strained.

  His eyes are glassy, and from the splint on his arm and the gash above his right eye, I’m guessing he’s in a bit of pain. Before I came in, the doctor gave me a full run down: two broken ribs from the seat belt, broken wrist from the steering wheel, a gash on his forehead from hitting the side pillar instead of bulls-eyeing the glass, and whiplash. He’s fucking lucky he didn’t get more injuries but I’m also thankful as hell that I’d taken him driving in all kinds of weather conditions so he knew how to react.

  I cross the room and lean over the bed, bracing myself against the mattress as I hold my head to his temple. “Fucking scared the shit out of me, kid.”

  “I’m . . . sorry, Dad. So fucking sorry.”

  I lift up and meet his eyes, finding them filling with tears, and my heart stutters, because the last time I saw my kid cry was five and a half years ago. He had a nightmare and came running into my bedroom calling out for Lily. Right now, having just had another version of a nightmare, it’s written all over his face that he’s been waiting for is to see me. My heart splinters at the thought of him being scared and alone.

  He throws his good arm behind my shoulder and clings to me. He buries his face in my chest and lets it all go. Knowing my boy, he’s been holding this in since the crash. Sobs escape him, his entire body shaking with them. “So . . . rry. I was. . . and then . . . out of nowhere . . . scared I wouldn’t see you.”

  “It’s gonna be okay, Jake. I swear. You can break bones, and they can heal. But you, I can’t lose you.” My own eyes sting, but I don’t fucking care. Seeing my only son in this hospital bed has brought everything back to me.

  I straighten and gently lay my hand on his shoulder, staring into his bloodshot eyes and swallowing the giant lump in my throat. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again. I lost your mom, and it destroyed me. I can’t lose you too. I wouldn’t survive that.”

  He nods and pulls me in for a hug again.

  A throat clears behind us. Standing up, I turn to find Dee’s big green eyes shining our way. “Hi. Um . . . the
nurse said I could bring your dad through.”

  I nod, turning back to Jake as Mom, Dad, and Dee walk over. I expect Dee to come straight to my side, but instead she stands at the foot of the bed, all her attention on my son.

  Again, there’s something weird niggling at me, but I dismiss it because I’m tired. I’m relieved. As dad said, I had years shaved off my life tonight, and everyone I love is in this room, safe and sound—albeit a little battered and bruised.

  At least one thing is for sure, Jake will be homebound for a good few weeks after this, which means I’ll have time to calm my nerves about letting him out of my sight again.

  Hopefully.

  Until then, I’m sure Dee will keep him well fed with all the lava cake and comfort food he could ever want, and Harvey can play games and entertain him.

  Our family—by blood and by choice—will rally around us like they have tonight and coddle him until he’s one hundred percent again. Then life will be back to normal.

  Chapter 20

  Dee

  A week later

  Monday

  Rhodes: Hey, sweet cheeks. Do you wanna come over tonight?

  Dee: Hey. I’m not sure when I’m gonna be able to leave the restaurant. Then I want to spend some time with Harvs.

  Rhodes: Okay. I missed you last night.

  Dee: While you were working and saving lives?

  Rhodes: I miss you whenever you’re not here.

  Fuck, he’s killing me.

  Dee: We’ll catch up soon. Maybe I’ll pop round tomorrow and see Jake.

  Rhodes: Not me?

  Dee: Well, you’ll be there too.

  Rhodes: Okay. Text me later when you’re home.

  Dee: Will do.

  Wednesday

  Rhodes: Sitting in my office doing paperwork and remembering the last time you were here.

  Dee: You mean when you cleared your desk and had your way with me on it?

  Rhodes: Yeah. That particular memory is distracting as hell.

  Dee: Does Jake need anything? I can call by there on my way home later.