“And if he doesn’t, they’ll do away with him? Get rid of the drunken fag in other words?” Jace scoffed.
“We aren’t there yet. Nowhere even remotely close, and if we get there, it won’t be his sexual preferences that remove him from the team,” Dr. Knox said, and Jace just stared at the doctor. He hadn’t considered any of this.
“Come on. Let’s get your shit. The sooner we go, the sooner you’ll be back,” Mitch said.
“I won’t be gone long,” Jace said to the doctor. He felt around in his jeans, found his keys and phone as he followed Mitch out of the hospital room. For the first time since arriving, he remembered the gym and mentally chastised himself.
“What’s today?” Jace asked. He palmed his phone, opened the screen, and scrolled to Haley’s number.
“It’s Sunday,” Mitch answered, keeping his pace beside Jace as they left the hospital.
“He has me all messed up,” Jace said, sending a quick message to Haley. The gym was back open tomorrow for business. She’d be handling the classes and cheerleaders by herself. How had he not thought to let her know?
“Newly married men usually feel that way,” Mitch said and bumped Jace in the shoulder. “I think I should look into a side business of selling marriage licenses to partners of unsuspecting men. I bet I’d make a killing.”
“It didn’t happen that way,” Jace said, looking up panicked.
“I’m just giving you a hard time, man.” Mitch chuckled and hit the outside doors to the hospital, opening them for Jace. All the teasing stopped right then. Mitch went from easygoing guy to deputy in the blink of an eye. Jace felt safer than he had in his entire life.
Chapter 32
Nothing about the flight back to the mainland was easy, mainly because Jace fretted over everything, worse than any mother hen Colt had ever seen. As a matter of fact, his normally level-headed, quiet, roll with whatever’s tossed his way Jace wouldn’t settle down for a minute. Jace only took his seat and buckled in after the flight attendant’s third most stern look. Even then, Jace kept his eyes on Colt the entire time, from takeoff till landing.
Almost from the time he had opened his eyes after having this accident, Colt learned to hide any discomfort from Jace. If his brow lowered a centimeter, Jace was right there, stopping everyone from their duties until he could see for himself that Colt was okay. A really sweet gesture. Sort of.
Turning less sweet with each mile that passed. There were two sides to how Colt felt about his overprotective honey. One, he’d never been so completely cared for in his life. Jace took care of him like he’d always wanted someone to. He was attentive, and considerate, on top of his medicine and every one of his needs. The other side had Colt wanting to cuss up a streak.
His pain levels were at an all-time high and his attitude low as they drove through the streets of Dallas, Texas. Between the pressures of hiding the pain from Jace and his inability to move, he constantly bit his tongue. His only recourse was to voluntarily take the drugs he’d been denying himself, which made Jace unreasonably happy.
The funny part was Dr. Knox had his medicines ready. There was no pulling bottles, checking doses. The pills were in his hands, waiting for Colt to give in. Clearly, Dr. Knox could see how Jace acted and actually whispered to Colt that he held out longer than Dr. Knox would have in the same situation.
Mitch rode with them the entire trip. The guy stayed in full official enforcer of the law mode. He didn’t crack a smile or chat the entire way. He stayed focused and vigilant. He took this seriously and for some reason that bothered Colt the most. If Mitch was so worried, did he fear another attack? Was there something Mitch knew about the accident that he wasn’t telling them?
The Dallas Broncos finagled things to where Colt was going into his rivalry team's camp to hide. The team spared no expense in providing care for Colt. They gave him the best hospitals with the best staff and most up-to-date equipment, and all while almost no one knew Colt Michaels was on the premises. The privacy wouldn’t hold, but every extra minute Mitch had to continue the investigation in private was better for them.
Other than the hovering new husband, Colt’s intense pain, the investigation, and the hiding, the other big white elephant in the room had to do with how extensive his injuries were. Colt would work hard, do everything they said to do, but he knew this next season was a wash for him. His right arm was shot. It was too badly broken. He’d be going under the knife again in the morning to place all the screws and rods just right. The operation would last hours, mending three solid breaks along just that arm.
In Colt’s mental, never to breathe out loud again, estimation, the Compartment syndrome was the final nail in his throwing arm’s coffin. At best case scenario, he was faced with many, many months just to get his arm back to functional. There could be a random miracle and Colt would work for it, but he wasn’t delusional. He knew the odds were stacked against him.
Since he was a man in love, even to a protective mothering type, Colt never had time to get too far down. He had actually taken on the full attitude of being thankful he had been in that car, not Jace. His entire attitude focused on live, laugh, love Jace Montgomery, and keeping him safe was paramount in his overall plan.
Besides, that cheerleading gym was Jace’s life. For him to be incapacitated, and so solidly out of the day to day operations, would have done damage to the gym’s reputation and crushed everything he’d worked so hard to achieve. The idea of Jace being hurt caused Colt to want to drink again on a level he’d never experienced before. He absolutely couldn’t take even the thought of Jace hurt. In Colt’s estimation, things had worked out the way they were supposed to work out.
“Babe, you’re locked in. We have to lift you,” Jace said, pulling Colt from his thoughts. He was right in Colt’s line of vision; Jace’s concern visible on his face but his eyes held so much compassion and tenderness Colt could easily lose himself in them.
“I love your eyes,” Colt responded. Jace’s cheeks turned red, and his gaze darted up to the two Medical City staffers who stood by to help Colt into the bed.
“He’s on pain meds,” Jace immediately spoke up, tucking his arms under Colt’s torso and almost lifting him onto the bed himself. Jace moved him with care, but the pain became too much for even the medicine to help and Colt hissed.
“Goddamn motherfucker,” Colt yelled out into the room, his body recoiling as he tried to move away from the agony. Dr. Knox picked that moment to enter the room with a new doctor in tow and Mitch trailing close behind them. Mitch chuckled as Dr. Knox ran to the bed to help Colt.
“Shit, Doc, they’re trying to kill me!” Colt said once he was in bed. He pulled in a slow measured breath, calming himself as the pain started to dull. Laying his head back against the pillow, he closed his eyes. Jace was right there, fussing over him again. Colt could smell his cologne, but never looked at him. He needed the minute to gather himself.
“We can give you more pain medicine, Colt. You aren’t taking enough,” Jace said, gently lifting Colt’s legs to get the blanket up around him.
“Jace, I need some water,” Colt said. He kept his eyes closed, not wanting to look at anyone in the room. He hated being so helpless.
“Okay, ice water?” Jace asked, moving around to the other side of the bed.
“Yes, ice water,” Colt said, thinking he would take longer to find both ice and water. He finally opened his eyes to see Jace staring down at him, apprehension etched all over his face.
“I’ll be right back,” Jace finally said, turning to Dr. Knox. “You’ll stay?”
“Of course. Mitch, go with him, show him around.” Colt prayed that meant, show him the furthest ice machine away. Colt wanted a minute alone with the doctors.
“Sure thing, Pops.”
“Remember, I’ll kick your ass,” Colt tossed out halfheartedly at Mitch. He was really starting to like the guy.
“Waiting… Bring it,” Mitch said over his shoulder, laughing as they left
the room.
“Colt, this is Dr. Hauser, he’s your new orthopedist,” Dr. Knox said, coming closer to the bed. Dr. Hauser could be Dr. Knox’s twin. He was older, white-headed, and just had that scholarly look about him. The look always made Colt feel like his care was in good hands, but he didn’t have time for that right now. He needed answers.
“Hi, Mr. Michaels, I’m sure sorry to hear about all this—”
“We don’t have long, Jace’ll be back soon. Do we have a plan? I know this can’t be good.” Colt cocked his head toward his right arm.
“With surgery and rehab, you have a chance.” Dr. Hauser looked down patiently.
“What kind of chance?” Colt went straight to the bottom line.
“I’d say with lots of work you have a good chance.”
“Give me the numbers,” Colt said, clearly getting frustrated. These minutes without Jace were rare. No time to be pussyfooting around the truth!
“Fifty-fifty,” Dr. Hauser shot back.
“Really, that good? I wouldn’t have thought so,” Colt said, thinking over the answer.
“Colt…” Dr. Knox began.
“No, really, I’m thinking an injury like this might be a small miracle to recover from and still continue to play,” Colt said, looking from doctor to doctor.
“We’re going to do everything in our power to get you where you need to be. You’re young and strong, Colt. Let’s take this day by day. I’ll be upfront with you, and you stay upfront with me,” Dr. Hauser said, effectively navigating around the issue.
“I don’t want Jace to know how bad it is. We need to talk when he’s not here. He’s already blaming himself. I don’t like it,” Colt said. He wasn’t certain Jace blamed himself since he hadn’t come out and said it, but he knew how Jace thought. Okay, and yes, thinking from Jace’s viewpoint, he’d most definitely be blaming himself.
“Jace already knows your condition,” Dr. Knox began again, but stopped as the door opened and Jace came in carrying ice, a pitcher of water, and several empty disposable cups. Mitch was a couple of steps behind him, shrugging as he came through the door. It was a guy code shrug, one that said he had tried to keep Jace gone but wasn’t successful. Jace moved quickly, pouring Colt water and positioning everything close to his bed.
“It’s tap water, I can get bottled water when you’re resting,” Jace said, hovering again.
“I’m gonna sleep now,” Colt said.
“I’ll see you two in the morning. Right now it looks like we’ll put that arm back together tomorrow afternoon. We’ll discuss those plans more in the morning. Rest tonight, you have a long road ahead of you,” Dr. Hauser said. He nodded and shook Dr. Knox’s hand before leaving.
“Guys, I’m heading back to New York in the morning. I’m needed there when they brief the team. We’re also going to have to tell your father. Coach Atkins and I talked about it, thought we might drive out to his place tomorrow after the meeting, before word gets out. Mitch will be coming with us. He wants to question your father. I’ll be back by the weekend to check on you, Colt,” Dr. Knox said.
“I don’t want my old man here at all,” Colt specified. He was as convinced as Jace of his father’s involvement.
“We’re going to let him know he’s restricted, pending the completion of the investigation. By morning, a restraining order will be issued. I’ll put it in his hands myself,” Mitch stated, a smug grin lighting his face by the end of the statement. Mitch gave an exaggerated wink toward the room, making sure everyone knew he was looking forward to that exchange.
“He doesn’t have to know where I am, right?” Colt asked.
“Of course not. We’ll tell him about your desire to have him stay away,” Dr. Knox assured him. Colt knew if the team backed him, they could flex their muscles, and that alone was bigger than anything he could do on his own.
“I also have someone on this door. None of that changes,” Mitch added.
“Can I pay to have someone on Jace? Is that possible?” Colt asked.
“I’ve taken care of it.”
Colt nodded at Mitch, reassured by his answer, before flipping his head straight to Jace.
“I want you to go home, too. Get some rest.” It took a second for Jace to realize Colt spoke to him, then he immediately started shaking his head no.
“I wanna stay here with you.”
“You haven’t slept in days,” Colt scolded. He knew if he wasn’t firm, Jace would drive himself right into the ground.
“Yes, I have,” Jace shot back. The exhaustion on his face gave a completely different answer.
“No, you need to go home. Mitch, can you get him home?” Colt shot out.
“Of course, I can…” Colt totally got this was one of those relationship moments where you weren’t sure who to side with.
“It’s for the best, Jace. I’ll sleep better knowing you’re sleeping tonight. Get your car and come back tomorrow.”
“Colt,” Jace began.
“No, I’m serious, Jace. You were supposed to be home yesterday. You have a business and life here. You have to get back to it. Come back tomorrow, but rest tonight. Check in at the gym. You have Worlds coming up. They need you. You deserve to take it all this year,” Colt said.
Jace was silent as recognition dawned and Colt grinned. “I told you, I’ve followed your life. I know what’s going on in it.”
That earned Colt a kiss, right on the lips, and he loved they were past the point of caring who saw them.
“All right, but just because it’ll be better to have my car. If you can’t get me home, I can call Haley,” Jace said to Mitch.
“No, I’m heading out. I can take you now.”
“Take your medicine. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Jace advised and tucked his covers, making sure Colt was settled before he took off.
“Remember, he’s taken. And I’ll kick your ass,” Colt called out as a nurse entered the room. He knew Mitch was harmless, but he still hated the fact Mitch was such a good-looking guy, leaving with his own good-looking guy.
“Blah, blah, blah,” Mitch teased, sliding his arm across Jace’s shoulder and giving Colt a parting wink before the door closed behind him.
“Doc, your son needs a spanking. I know you raised him better than that,” Colt joked with Dr. Knox.
Chapter 33
“You’re good at reading people. Is he trying to protect me or push me away?” Jace finally asked about halfway to his house on the ride home. Until then, he and Mitch had stayed relatively quiet.
“Definitely the first one,” Mitch said. “He’s worried about you.”
Jace let Mitch’s words sink in, trying to convince himself he spoke the truth. And if that were the truth, Jace wanted to go straight back to the hospital. If it wasn’t the truth, then Jace needed to give Colt space. Damn, what should he do?
“He doesn’t blame you. It wasn’t your fault,” Mitch said, never taking his eyes from the road.
“Someone cut my brake lines, so yeah, it was meant for me. His dad hates me. I made Colt call him.” There Jace said it, and his eyes stayed focused on the dash.
“It’s an open investigation, Jace. I can’t really talk about it. But here’s my problem. You definitely have that whole angle of his fucked up dad. It’s solid. He had motive, you can’t discount that. What you don’t know is that you weren’t the only ones targeted. There’re a few others. Could they be tied together? Don’t know yet. Your face was all over the news when ESPN highlighted your gym. That same segment still airs,” Mitch said matter-of-factly, his eyes never leaving the road.
“Should I worry about the kids or the gym?” Jace asked. He turned completely toward Mitch. That had never occurred to him.
“It’s why I brought it up. I honestly don’t know if it’s connected. I swear I don’t, but I’ll find out. Until then, it might be wise. Especially when it gets out that you and Colt are a couple. For the time being, I have someone following you. He’s designed not to be seen, but he
’s there if anyone makes contact, or you need him.” Mitch still hadn’t looked at Jace. They rode another several minutes in silence. Jace worked at his phone, sending immediate messages to his security company, asking if they did things like security guards and twenty-four hour surveillance. He scrubbed a hand over his face and through his hair. His long hair that had done nothing but get in the way since all this happened.
“Do you think security guards are enough?” Jace asked.
“For now, it should be fine. If things change, I’ll let you know.” Mitch didn’t say another word as he pulled to the front of Jace’s townhome.
“Sleep wouldn’t kill you. You need to be rested for the long haul, and trust me, it’s gonna be a long ass haul. Call if you need me,” Mitch said as Jace got out of the car. Sleep wasn’t likely.
“Thank you for everything. Call us once you talk to his father,” Jace said. How had it never occurred to him the gym and teams could be in danger? Jace tugged his stuffed backpack from the backseat and slammed the door. He waved as his phone sounded off that he’d gotten a new message. Security could be arranged as early as tonight.
Now, he needed to get a haircut, ASAP. He dialed quickly as he entered his townhome.
“Haley, who do we know that can give me an immediate haircut?” Jace asked.
“I’ll arrange it if you tell me what’s going on?” Haley shot right back.
“Arrange it. I’ll be at the gym in about twenty minutes.” Jace ignored everything else, hung up, and headed straight to the shower. He wanted to be back at the hospital before dark.
The parking lot was packed as Jace drove to his reserved parking at the front doors of the gym. Tonight was open gym, which generally meant hit and miss on how full the classes were. But school cheerleading tryouts were beginning, and everyone who wanted to tryout was at the gym sharpening their skills, hoping to increase their chances of making the team. Jace barely got the driver’s side door open before several young girls came running over to his car.
Nice Guys Collection With Added Bonus Material Page 27
