The Road To Heaven: A Reverse Harem Contemporary Romance (The Allendale Four Book 3)

by Angel Lawson

  The phone switched to voicemail. I hung up and dialed again. The ringing continued. “Open the door,” I whispered. “Open it.”

  He twisted the knob and pushed, but the door only opened a little. I rushed over as he peered in; an arm lay in the way, Hayden’s body crumpled on the floor.

  “Hayden!” I cried, squeezing in the small opening. The door edges scraped down my sides, but I was only focused on him. I tugged him out of the way, pulling his massive body so that Anderson could get in the room. “Hayden baby, wake up,” I said touching his face. His hands were warm, but clammy. His eyes closed, but he was breathing. A bottle of pills was on the floor.

  Anderson knelt down, phone already in his hands, calling 911. The look of panic on his face scared me more than anything else.

  I barely heard Anderson on the phone as I wrapped my arms around Hayden’s body. I’d known something was off. Wrong. I’d felt it in my bones. Why had we let him run off like this? How had I ever let him go in the first place?

  I brushed his hair off his forehead and whispered in his ear, “Don’t let go…do you hear me? Don’t let go.”

  50

  Hayden

  It was harder to wake this time, my head throbbing and nausea building in my stomach. I felt hands on my cheeks—bright lights in my eyes. “Mr. Pierce, can you hear me?” a voice asked. “Mr. Pierce?”

  “Yeah,” I rasped, my throat dry. “What’s going on?”

  I shoved the light away, it pulsed like a bomb in the back of my head. A man in a uniform crouched next to me. I frowned. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Ryan,” the man said. “I’m an EMT. Your friends called me when they found you on the ground and couldn’t wake you up. Do you remember what happened?”

  I struggled to sit, but he pushed me back down. I felt weak, confused. “No. I…well I was going to the gym but my head was killing me. And…” I shrugged. “I guess I passed out?”

  “Can you tell me about this medication?” he asked, handing me the bottle.

  “He suffered a concussion,” another voice said, when I couldn’t find the words to answer. “About eight weeks ago. It was severe. The medication was to help with the headaches.”

  I followed the voice and saw the familiar face behind it. “Anderson?”

  “Hey, man.”

  I felt more confused than ever.

  “Did you take more medication than prescribed?” Ryan asked.

  I shook my head. “No. I don’t think so. I just…” I touched my forehead. “I’ve just been feeling dizzy lately and thought maybe I was dehydrated.”

  Ryan pushed my head back and said, “I’m going to check your eyes, okay?” He flashed light in them once again and I grimaced. “It looks like you’re still suffering from side effects of the concussion.”

  “I’ll call his doctor,” Anderson said. “Do you have his phone?”

  I didn’t know who he was talking to until I heard the reply, “Here. The number’s at the top.”

  “Thanks, babe.”

  Babe. That voice. I made eye contact with her. “Heaven? What are you doing here?”

  She moved closer and took my hand. Tears glistened in her eyes. “Don’t worry about me. You rest, okay?”

  “I’m fine.” I struggled to sit, pushing the EMT’s hands off of me. “Why are you here?”

  She glanced at Ryan. “If you’re done, can we have a minute alone?”

  “It looks like you just had a dizzy spell from the concussion, so I’m not going to make you come in. But you need to see your doctor right away and don’t overexert yourself. It looks like you haven’t healed all the way yet.”

  His words were a jumble, filled with things I didn’t want to hear while Heaven stood in front of me, possibly ready to say a million things I needed to know.

  Ryan grabbed his things and Heaven walked him to the door. “Thank you,” she said. “We’ll make sure he gets follow-up care.”

  She shut the door behind him and came back over to the bed, sitting by my side. Impulsively, I touched her cheek. She smiled briefly and then said, “You scared the shit out of me, Hayden Pierce. First leaving without saying goodbye, and then finding you like that.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “For both of those things.”

  She sighed. “I don’t think I have the right to lecture anyone on unhealthy, risky behavior, but I should have seen how much you were struggling. The irritable behavior and irrational reactions. I knew you were pushing yourself too hard, but I also know that’s your nature, except you’ve been so angry and that’s not like you.”

  “I’ve been…lost, I guess. Confused.” I looked up at the ceiling. “I thought I’d figured it all out, Heaven. I had a plan, and then I got injured and my whole life turned upside down. Suddenly you were back, except you weren’t. And I had this whole carefully crafted life that I was afraid to mess up. Because if I fucked that up like I’d fucked everything up with you, what would I have left?” I felt her fingers touch mine and it was like a wave of relief washing over me.

  “Despite our status, Hayden, we always have one another. Always.”

  “I thought maybe we could all just be friends again, baby steps, and I could figure out how to navigate both worlds, but then I saw you with Jackson and Oliver and I just lost it.”

  “That anger was valid. We should have told you.”

  “It wasn’t anger,” I said, “not really. It was mostly jealousy and fear.”

  “You could have talked to me.”

  “I should have.”

  Her fingers brushed over my forehead. “How long have the headaches been bad?”

  “I mean, they never really stopped, but when I started working out harder they intensified.”

  “After you refused to run with me?”

  I nodded. “That was a mistake.”

  “You’re sick, Hayden. Your brain needs time to heal.”

  “But what if I lose my spot on the team?” All my work. The blood, sweat, and tears.

  “If it means saving your life, I think it’s a risk you have to take.”

  I glanced away, not sure if I could do it.

  “You’re more than Hayden Pierce, star goalie, to me. You’re Hayden Pierce, artist, friend, lover.” She nudged my chin so I was looking into her beautiful face. “You’ve taught me so much, but mainly you’ve taught me life is about living. Surviving. It’s not about suffering and pain.”

  “When did you get so wise?”

  She smiled. “It only took a few hundred trips to the therapist.”

  I snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close. She leaned over, pressing her forehead against mine. It took a boat load of courage for me to admit, “I’m scared.”

  “I know, but you’ve got me to rely on and your three best friends, and if you stop fighting us maybe you can heal and get back to doing what you love.”

  I felt her breath on my face and we hadn’t been this close in years. My body, even exhausted, still reacted to her the same. It took every ounce of self-control not to flip her over in the bed and claim her right then. She smiled down at me, knowing me well enough to sense my thoughts, and I brushed her hair out of her eyes. “I’ve spent too long not doing the one person I love.”

  Her eyes flared with desire and she bit down on her bottom lip.

  I lifted my chin, willing to push past the pain to finally taste her once again, but loud voices interrupted us and the door flung open with a loud bang. Heaven sat up but I held onto her hands, and we both looked at Anderson and Bryant standing in the doorway.

  “What the hell is going on?” Bryant shouted, looking frantic. “I get a call from the doorman about an ambulance showing up to your house and then there are EMTs all over the fucking place. And then this guy,” he glared at Anderson, “had the fucking gall to tell me not to come back here.”

  “Bryant, now isn’t the time.”

  “What do you mean it’s not the time? You and I were supposed to be at a charity event in an h
our. Sabine is waiting at the stadium. And you’re what? Sick? Hungover? What?”

  “I’m not better, Bryant. Not yet.”

  His eyes widened, but the set of his mouth confirmed he’d suspected. “Okay, we can handle that. It was a long shot and we knew it, but I can talk to your endorsers and we’ll go over your contract with management to figure out the next steps.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t ever think your health isn’t the most important thing, Hayden.”

  Heaven smiled at that, nodding in agreement. Bryant’s eyes flicked over her and a different frown tugged at his mouth.

  “Can we, uh, talk alone for a minute? About a few other things?”

  About Heaven, no doubt.

  “No.” My answer was resolute.

  “Later, then.”

  Heaven shifted to move and said, “It’s okay, I can leave if you need a minute.”

  My brain worked slower than I’d like but I realized that this was my moment, the one where I finally made the decision about my health, my career, and my relationship.

  Except it dawned on me. There was no choice.

  There was only one path to take. One my brothers had already figured out. Maybe it was the brain injury, or my ego or just the fact I was a total dumbass that it took me so long to realize there was only one option.

  “Bryant,” I said, in a calm voice, “I need you to get the fuck out of here.”

  “Hayden, the press is already downstairs. I can explain your health, but,” He glanced at Heaven and Anderson, “How am I supposed to explain them?”

  “You tell them whatever you need to about my career,” I said. “That’s all. If they want to ask me about my relationship, you direct them to me. I’ll handle it.”

  He snarled in Heaven’s direction. “And Sabine?”

  “I can handle that, too.”

  In the end, he didn’t fight it or Anderson as he escorted him out the door. Having the air cleared with Bryant rid me of one more burden so I could focus on what was really important to me.

  The Allendale Five.

  51

  Heaven

  Once the press left and the team neurologist had done an examination with Hayden with instructions for an office visit in the morning, Anderson and I stood outside the guest bedroom door.

  “Come get me if you need anything,” he said, leaning against the wall.

  “I will.”

  We’d decided that I would stay with Hayden overnight, making sure he was safe.

  “I’m so glad you made us come out here. Good thing those spidey-senses were working,” he said, cupping a hand around my neck and pulling me close.

  “I should have noticed earlier that he was in such pain.” Physical and emotional.

  “Hayden’s always been so strong and stubborn. I’m not surprised he got it past us. Do you know that in the third grade, he fell out of a tree at Jackson’s house and walked around with a broken arm for four days before he told anyone?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “But that makes a lot of sense.”

  “We’re here now,” he said, kissing me on the lips. “Go take care of him.”

  “You go to sleep, you look exhausted.”

  “I am.” He kissed me again. Long and lingering, enough to get my heart racing just before he left me. Freaking tease.

  “Night, Heaven.”

  “Night, Anderson.”

  I moved down the hallway but felt fingers on my hip, and he pulled me back. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too. So much.”

  The following kiss was sweeter, shorter, and I finally dragged myself away. In Hayden’s room, I found him lying on the bed, eyes closed. His chest moved up and down slowly.

  Carefully, I eased my way into the bed, trying not to jostle him, but his arms wrapped around me instantly, pulling me close to his chest.

  “Hey,” I said, inhaling his distinct scent. God, it felt good to be so close to him. “I thought you were asleep.”

  “I was,” he said, “kind of, but now that you’re here it’ll come easier.”

  “I’m so sorry about everything, Hayden. I didn’t know you were struggling so badly.”

  “To be fair, I didn’t know either.”

  “You told me weeks ago that you wanted to know about my health. Well, I want the same. Tell me, okay? About the pains and aches and if something feels off. Don’t protect me.”

  He looked at me with soft, sweet, eyes. “I will. I promise.”

  “Thank you.”

  Exhaustion rolled down my limbs and I knew he was right, sleep would come easier with him by my side. I snuggled in and opened my eyes to find him staring at me. I pushed a lock of hair off his forehead and asked, “What?”

  “I know I’m supposed to take it easy and I know this is…new again, but I really want to kiss you.”

  I exhaled. “Please. I’ll be gentle.”

  That was the only permission he needed and I almost cried when his lips touched mine. It wasn’t the seductive kind that he’d given me so many times before, but something different—full of love, not lust, full of promises, not demands, but mostly full of hope.

  “For a while, I thought I’d never get to do that again and it almost killed me,” he said with closed eyes, most likely from the headaches. “And I know we can’t do it now, but very soon you and I are going to make up properly, got it?”

  My heart rattled like it may explode at the thought. I rested my head on his chest, knowing he was already dozing off. “I can’t wait.”

  In truth, I could and I would.

  I’d do anything for this man, for all of my men. I needed him healed so he could come back to us whole, and then we would finally be complete.

  52

  Heaven

  Days pass in Atlanta involving visits to the neurologist, a series of tests, and an official announcement by Hayden that he would not be able to return to Atlanta United for the next season. Bryant secured his endorsements, working out who still wanted him as the face of their product while he was injured. His frank transparency about his head injury brought him a lot of unexpected attention and most of the sponsors stuck by his side, willing to wait it out until he was better.

  Oliver and Jackson were unable to travel to Atlanta with the entire cast of two superhero movies in town, but Anderson was able to balance his workouts with Hayden’s needs and I was committed to staying by his side until we all returned together.

  “I talked to my coach and he’s willing to allow me to partner up with my old aquatics instructor at the University. They’d both noticed the strain I’d been under since moving here and think that being closer to home may help.”

  It was late afternoon and Hayden was taking a long, necessary nap. That was what the doctor prescribed more than anything else. Long, intensive naps. Low movement—including sex. That made things awkward for all of us. We’d agreed if Hayden couldn’t get any, neither could me or Anderson. The good news was that it gave the three of us hours to reconnect and heal our relationship as much as Hayden’s body.

  Anderson and I were intertwined on the sleek gray couch in the living room. I’d taken to wearing Hayden’s jersey, the 05 embroidered on the back. It was much too big for me, but I’d always liked wearing their clothes. He may not be on the team, but I wanted him to know I belonged to him, to all of them.

  “So you’re really moving back to Allendale,” I said to Anderson, playing with his long, slim, fingers.

  “I am.”

  “And you’ll move into the house with us?”

  “I’ll probably keep an apartment near the aquatic center but yes,” he kissed my neck, “I’ve already talked about it to Oliver.”

  “Good thing that house is so big.” We’d all have our own bedrooms. An arrangement like ours required a little space. “I doubt Oliver’s step-mother had this in mind when she bought it.”

  It felt nice having a leisurely moment to spend with Anderson, but despite our no-sex agreeme
nt, the tension between us grew with every passing second, making it harder and harder to resist.

  “What are you thinking about?” he asked me.

  “You,” I admitted. “And Hayden, and how I’ll be happy when this sex embargo is over.”

  He groaned and ran his hands through his hair, making it stick up in a million directions. I loved him when he looked feral like that. It didn’t help with the tension.

  “It’s killing me, babe. Like literally killing me. I think my balls are permanently blue.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic.”

  Anderson grabbed me, shifting me until I was on his lap, straddling his long legs that are stretched down the length of the couch. “Feel that?”

  Oh yeah.

  “I’ve been like that for a week straight. And you prancing around here in that shirt with no pants isn’t helping.”

  “I can put on pants,” I said, starting to move. He held me tight and I swear he got even bigger.

  He touched my cheek, my neck, and trailed his fingers down my arm. “Don’t even think about it.”

  “I can’t believe we let this go, you know?”

  “I’m promising you now,” he said, green eyes boring into mine. “It won’t happen. The guys and I have spoken, we’re in, one-hundred percent.”

  The way he said it sent a shiver up my spine. When the Allendale Four made a decision—a commitment—it would take an act of congress to change it.

  He stared at me for a long minute, jaw tense.

  “What are you thinking about?” I asked, flipping the tables.

  “About how I want to bury myself inside of you. How I want to feel your mouth on me. How I want to taste you. How I know it’s been too goddam long and a man only has so much self-control.” His hand fisted next to his side, like he was barely holding back. I eyed him. All of him, his gorgeous face, his perfect lips and fantastic body down to his agile hands.

  “What?” he asked with narrowed eyes.

  “I think I’d very much like to see you slip, just once, losing that control.” I bit my bottom lip. “Maybe break a rule or two.”