I turn on the shower and flinch when I get a good look at myself in the mirror. I look like I was put through the wringer, which perfectly portrays how I feel on the inside. The pain in my chest still hasn’t subsided from my dream.
When the water is hot, I step under the spray and close my eyes. Trying to will the damn images away that my brain keeps playing like a montage.
I won’t even attempt to psycho-analyze this shit.
All I want is to see Chloe. To make sure she’s okay with my own two eyes.
Before I lose my mind.
After toweling off and getting dressed, I send her a quick message.
Noah: You okay?
And then I wait, and wait some more. There’s no response, no read tag either. Fuck waiting. I call her, but the call goes to voicemail right away.
Damn it.
Instead of going to the gym like I planned, I grab my keys and walk across the street. Chloe’s house looks empty but I try knocking anyway. Nothing.
When I try her phone again, it goes straight to voicemail again.
With a heavy sigh, I run back inside to grab my wallet, a protein bar, and a drink before I go to my car, slamming the door a bit too loudly. But I just don’t care anymore. I need to see her.
After trying her phone unsuccessfully one more time, I let my head fall back on the headrest.
I could try her uncle at the Parrot Lounge but I doubt anyone would be there this early. That leaves . . . her mom.
I can’t really describe it, but the urgency to get to Chloe isn’t just about wanting to apologize. Whether it’s leftover fear from the dream or adrenaline, I’m consumed by the need to be with her. Now.
So, I head to her mom’s, hoping she won’t turn me away after I walked out on Chloe when the truth was too hard to bear. But not anymore. I’m coming, Chloe.
When I pull up in front of the house, a couple of cars are in the driveway. I scan the street, hoping I missed Chloe’s car somehow, but it’s nowhere in sight.
It takes a few knocks until the door opens.
It’s not Chloe’s mom though but one of her uncles. Francesco.
“Oh hey, Noah.”
“Hey.”
Francesco leans against the doorframe and eyes me. Since I can’t read his mood at all, I have no clue if he knows what happened between Chloe and me or not, or how he feels about it.
Someone calls his name, and a few seconds later, both Chloe’s uncle Cody and her mom are there too. All three of them are staring at me.
“Everything okay, Noah?” Chloe’s mom looks me over with a concerned look on her face.
I nod.
Cody frowns. “Are you sure? You look a little pale.”
I rub my hand against my neck. “Yeah, just tired. Sorry to drop by like this, but do you know where Chloe is? I really need to talk to her and her phone goes straight to voicemail.”
They share a look but no one says a word.
What the hell is going on?
“Is she okay?” I swallow, my Adam’s apple stuck in my throat. When no one answers immediately, my heart sinks. “Please.”
“She is.” Chloe’s mom takes a step closer, her gaze boring into mine. Chloe looks so much like her. It feels oddly comforting right now. “She might not be happy with me for telling you this, but she’s at the hospital for her yearly heart checkup. The reception seems to be a bit spotty there.”
“She’s at the hospital?”
All three nod.
She never said a word about it.
Why are they all here though? “Did she go by herself?”
I don’t know why that’s the second thing that pops into my mind, but seeing that her closest family is standing right in front of me, I’m a bit confused. And shocked.
I can’t imagine what a yearly checkup for someone like Chloe would be like. What if something’s wrong?
Chloe’s mom nods. “She always wants to go alone. I think we just add to her nerves. She also wants to spare me more hospital visits, even though she should know that it doesn’t matter to me. But she insists. And we’re all about making this time of the year easier for her. So we get together and wait for her to get back when she’s done. At least on the first day.”
I don’t know what to say, so I just stare at them like a total loon. “It’s more than one day of exams?”
Her mom nods. “It’s two days. They have to perform a lot of different tests.”
Chloe: I’ll be busy the next couple days, but we can get together on Thursday if you want.
That’s what she meant when she texted me she’ll be busy? Shit. My stomach churns at the thought of having people prod at me for two days.
Cody waves his hand. “Do you want to come inside?”
I shake my head before I even realize I’ve made a decision. “I need to see her. Can you tell me where to find her? I’d really appreciate it.”
There’s no way I could sit down somewhere right now and wait to see her, especially now that I know where she’s at and more importantly, what she’s doing there. Alone. Why didn’t she say anything? More than an “I’ll be busy the next couple days.”
Maybe because the last time you saw her, you left her standing in that closet and left?
Shit.
I don’t know if it’s the desperation in my voice, or whatever they see on my face, but after a moment, Chloe’s mom nods. “One second. I’ll write it down for you.”
“Thank you.” The tension doesn’t leave my body at her response—nothing will help with that until I see Chloe’s okay—but a small weight falls off my shoulders and they slouch.
A few minutes later, Chloe’s mom comes back with a piece of paper and hands it to me. “I wrote the info on there, as well as my phone number.”
“Thank you. I’ll keep you updated if I can.” I give them a nod before turning around and speed-walking back to my car.
They’re all still in the doorway when I hit the gas and I lift a hand in their direction.
My thoughts are spinning, wondering what it’s like for Chloe during those two days. Does she fear that the doctors might find something? Is that why she goes alone so no one can witness it?
When I finally pull into the parking lot of the hospital outpatient building, I park as fast as I can and run. By the time I make it to the fifth floor, I have no clue where I parked or if I locked the car. Who would?
I try not to cringe at the different appointments, hospital levels, and stations that are listed on the paper. And Chloe has even more tests tomorrow? A shudder ricochets through my body, and I flinch at the sensation. This is all a lot to take in.
When I finally get closer to the other side of the building, where Chloe’s supposed to have her next appointment, it feels like time slows down when I spot her dark hair. The purple tint has washed out, but it still helps pick her out of a crowd.
But she isn’t alone. She smiles at a nurse who’s holding a door to the side open for her.
“Chloe.”
People stare at me, but all sense of embarrassment has left my mind.
My focus is on one thing and one thing only.
Chloe.
Making sure she’s okay. Begging her to talk to me.
A family steps in front of me, making their way to another nurse waiting for them at a different door.
Shit.
They cut into my line of vision, and when they finally move along, Chloe is gone. The door closed behind her and the nurse.
After taking a few deep breaths, I go to the nurses’ desk, but, like I expected, they tell me to wait for her.
Fuck.
That was so close.
Did she hear me? Did she see me?
What if she did and doesn’t want to see me?
I guess I’ll find out when she gets back because I’m not going anywhere.
Not anymore.
Nothing really made sense until Chloe came back into my life. Not at the charity dinner or at the hospital the first time, but at
the movie theater. Then in her bed. Holding her close. Just being with her.
I’d given my all to the sport I’ve loved, but I don’t need to keep achieving medals. I don’t want to anymore.
What I need is to move forward.
I’m ready to take the reins back into my hands and go for what I want. To get out of the rut and go after what’s most important.
Loving Chloe.
Swimming will always be a major part of me, which is why Jace and Ryan’s offer couldn’t have come at a better time.
But first, there’s someone else who deserves the truth. I pull up the contact and put the phone to my ear.
“Noah. You’re alive.”
I chuckle. “Hey, Coach.”
“I thought you forgot about me.”
“I could never.”
Silence fills the line between us. I called without a plan, with absolutely no clue what to say when I pressed the call button, but I knew I had to call him anyway. I probably should have a while ago.
Coach heaves a heavy sigh. “You’re done with swimming, aren’t you?”
I scrub my face with my free hand at his question. The answer forms in my mind right away, equal amounts of elation and sorrow coursing through me at the truth of it. “Yeah, I think I am.”
“All right, son. All right . . . I can’t say I’m not glum about it, but I kinda figured.”
“Sorry, Coach.” It sucks ass to know that I’m disappointing him while I’m also doing something good for myself. “It just feels right.”
“Everyone’s time is up eventually. Do you already know what you’re gonna do?”
“I . . . I . . . actually, Ryan and Jace were asking me to join them.”
Another pause.
Since when can stretches of silence feel so heavy?
Coach clears his throat. “You’ll do great.”
“You think so?”
He chuckles. “I don’t think so, I know so.”
“What? How?”
“Because you’ve been doing it for years. Maybe not consciously, but nonetheless.”
“I have?”
“Yup. You’ve been training with my college kids for a long time now. Not only are they studying your every move, but also listen to any piece of advice you’ve ever given them.”
The door to the exam rooms opens, but still no Chloe. “Huh. I never noticed.”
“It comes naturally to you, which will make you an even better instructor. I can’t wait to see what stars you’ll be raising.”
“Thanks, Coach.”
“Always, Noah.” There’s a commotion in the background but the sounds are muffled for a moment. “Sorry, kid, but I’ve gotta go. But let’s catch up soon. Don’t be a stranger.”
My chest expands on a deep breath. “Deal.”
We say our goodbyes and I end the call, feeling like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
After staring at the wall for a few minutes, I fire up a quick group text to Ryan and Jace. Count me in.
Ryan: Yes, dude.
* * *
Jace: Hell, yeah.
* * *
Ryan: Everything okay with you and Chloe?
* * *
Noah: At the hospital to talk to her. She’s here for her annual exam.
* * *
Ryan: Good luck.
* * *
Jace: She’s an amazing woman. Let us know how things go, or if you need anything. Em says to tell her hi.
* * *
Noah: Will do. Thanks.
Another thing that’s off my back now, and everything falls into place.
My future. My personal life and my career.
Now I only have to convince Chloe of it too.
Thirty-Five
Chloe
Once the door closes behind us, the nurse leads me to a small station where she takes my height, weight, and temperature. When we get to the exam room, she checks my pulse, oxygen, and blood pressure.
All the while, my brain is mostly off in la-la land, focused on the illusion that I just heard Noah call my name in the waiting area. But when I looked around, it was the same as always. No Noah in sight.
It’s normal for me to be stressed to no end during my annual exam though, so I welcome the distraction. Even if it’s only wishful thinking that Noah would magically pop up at the right time in the one place I dread the most every year.
Today, I’ve been extra tense and nervous because it’s my first time at this hospital. New doctors. New nurses. But so far, everyone’s been nothing but kind.
Even though nothing can diminish the feeling of dread during this time of year. A general dislike for hospital visits mixed with an unhealthy dose of fear that something is wrong with me. It’s a toxic combination that leaves me with restless nights leading up to the appointments.
And it’s why I always come alone. I can’t put my mom through this level of stress. She’s gone through enough. Maybe at a later point when losing Dad isn’t so raw . . . As for my wonderful uncles, I could never bring their relentless joy into this place. They think I’m so strong, and I don’t want them to think of me in any other way.
Going alone is now my norm, and most likely my future. For however long I get.
Thankfully, the doctor comes in and saves me from spiraling any deeper with my thoughts. Sweet relief floods me when he tells me that my labs look good. Mostly. Only a few adjustments with my medication are necessary, which is pretty standard.
Shortly after, he sends me off to get my echocardiogram and chest X-ray done. At least, I will be done for today after that. The first day is always easier than the second day, but I don’t want to think about that yet. For now, I’m trying to focus on the fact that my labs are normal—normal enough.
I push open the door to get back to the waiting area and turn right to head to the elevators.
“Chloe.”
I stop, almost colliding with another woman.
My pulse races as I turn around and come face to face with the man who owns my heart.
“Hey.” Noah’s gaze roams over me from head to toe. I’m dressed for comfort in leggings, a T-shirt, and a big cardigan. The last thing I need during a nerve-wracking time like this is to worry about the way I look, or to feel uncomfortable.
“Hey.” My voice sounds just as breathy as I feel, and I brush a strand of hair out of my face that escaped my messy bun.
What are you doing here?
My mind is going into overdrive but the words don’t come out of my mouth.
Noah’s here at the hospital. Why is he at the hospital?
“How did you know where I was?” My brain doesn’t know which way to go, and I squeeze my fingers to keep from fidgeting.
Which feeling should take the lead? Nervousness? Elation? Uncertainty? My thoughts hop around like someone hijacked them.
But loudest of all is my heart, reacting to the sight of this gorgeous man. Even though it stumbles a little at the sight of the dark circles under his eyes, the slight ashy undertone to his skin. Has he been sick?
“I had to see you. I needed to see you’re okay.”
I nod, even though that wasn’t really an answer to my question. Actually, it doesn’t explain anything.
As if realizing the same, he says, “Sorry. I begged your mom to tell me where you were.”
Of course, she told him. She knows how I feel about him and that I was planning on talking to him. But here? Usually, I have this time to myself because I don’t want to drag anyone down with my nerves and restlessness. Plus, who wants to be at the hospital anyway?
The corners of my mouth tip up. “She’s always had a soft spot for you.”
“Thank goodness. It helps to know she’s in my corner, especially when I screw things up with her daughter.”
My phone starts playing a soft melody in my purse. I get it out and swipe the screen to silence it. After closing the short distance to the elevator, I push the call button. “I have to get to my next appointment.
Can we talk later?”
“Sorry, of course.”
The elevator doors open, and I step inside. Noah gets in beside me. My head snaps up at him. “What are you doing?”
“Going to your next appointment with you.” He says it in such a matter-of-fact voice that I can only blink at him for a few seconds.
“You can’t come to the appointments with me.”
A small frown appears on his forehead. “I’ll wait in the waiting area, then.”
“Why?” I’m so used to doing this by myself that having him here throws me off-balance. Even more so after the way we parted last time.
The elevator doors open on the second floor, and our conversation dies as I make my way to the correct station.
After checking in at the desk, I join Noah on one of the two-seaters.
He turns sideways and props his arm up on the back. “Listen, about last week. You totally caught me off guard, and I obviously didn’t handle it well.”
I swallow and nod. “I should’ve told you sooner, but I . . . I don’t know. I just couldn’t.”
“It’s not an easy topic to throw out there.”
“It isn’t.”
“You’ve gone through a lot. Your life, your whole future, so much has changed.”
My throat clogs up, and the back of my eyes heat up. “I know.”
We’re in a public place, amidst a ton of people, and the last thing I need right now is to have a breakdown. This day is already tough enough without that.
“I’m sorry I just left you like that. I . . . I—”
“Chloe Williams?”
My head snaps up as I look toward the waiting nurse. “I have to go.”
Noah’s gaze is intense as he stares at me. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
“You really don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to.”
The nurse calls my name again, and I raise my hand like I’m at school, before heading toward the older woman who reminds me a bit of my grandmother when she was younger.
Second Dive: A Second Chance Sports Romance (Kings Of The Water Book 3) Page 22
