Cami’s Georgia Patriots Romance Collection

by Cami Checketts

  “Grubber?” Hyde laughed, more from relief than anything. Josh was awake.

  “Yeah, that.”

  “My mom was wrong. I definitely want you around.” He shook his head. “We’d better get your family, buddy. They’ve all been here and been so worried about you.”

  “Worried enough that I can get out of chores for a year?”

  “I would think maybe, buddy.”

  Josh grinned.

  Hyde stood to leave.

  “Hyde.”

  “Yes?”

  “I love you. Thank you for being my friend.”

  “I love you too.” Hyde squeezed the little guy’s arm. Josh’s love was a gift he didn’t know that he deserved after the harsh things he’d said to Lily. Oh, that she could be as forgiving as her family. “I’ll be right back with your mom and dad and brothers and sisters.”

  “Thanks.” Josh rolled his head to the side and smiled tiredly.

  Hyde flung the door open and hurried into the hall. Lily was pacing the hallway. She saw him and stopped, staring.

  “Josh is awake!” he shouted.

  “Shh,” the nurse admonished.

  “He’s awake?” Lily gasped and ran to Hyde, flinging herself into his arms.

  He caught her willingly, picked her up, and whirled her around. “He’s okay!” Hyde wanted to laugh and cheer. He really wanted to kiss Lily.

  Time slowed down as he gently lowered her to the floor, cradling her close against his body. She stared up at him, her dark eyes liquid and so entrancing. Hyde lowered his head.

  Lily jerked away from him, slipped out of his arms, and darted into Josh’s room.

  Hyde turned and watched their reunion, biting back the disappointment of her not wanting him. Josh was the focus right now, not him and Lily.

  Lily hugged Josh, tears wetting her smooth cheeks. Josh talked excitedly like he hadn’t even been in a coma, telling her how he remembered the accident but now he was fine, just thirsty and hungry. He wondered if Caleb would still buy him a shake. Hyde chuckled. The scene was miraculous and beautiful, and he wished he could be part of it.

  He forced himself to turn away and walk to the nurse’s station. “Josh is awake.”

  The nurse beamed at him. “I heard you yelling. We’ll get right in there and check his vitals.”

  “Thank you.”

  Hyde pushed through the doors to the ICU, suddenly exhausted. He trudged to the waiting room, where Lily’s family lay sprawled on cots and couches. Lily’s mom stood by the window, staring out into the darkness and turning a pendant on her necklace around and around. Hyde walked quietly to her and touched her arm.

  Gabby turned to him, and her eyes widened. “What are you doing here so early?”

  “He’s awake!”

  “J-josh?” she stuttered out.

  “Yes.” Hyde loved being able to share this news with her.

  “Oh, praise the Lord!” She threw her arms around his neck, and Hyde picked her up off the ground, swinging her around like they’d just won the Super Bowl. She laughed and cried.

  Lily’s dad sat up on the couch. “What’s happening?”

  “Josh woke up! Josh woke up!” Gabby cried out happily.

  The entire room started moving then. Hyde let her mom go and took turns hugging each of her family. When Caleb was clasping him tight, the tears came again.

  “Thanks, Hyde,” Caleb said. “Thanks for being here.”

  Hyde nodded, unable to speak. Lily’s mom and dad had rushed out of the waiting room and into the ICU. The rest of them trailed behind and congregated outside the door. The nurse told the siblings they’d still have to visit one at a time, as this was an intensive care unit, not a party.

  Hyde laughed at that. It was a party for them, but he sobered as he realized many other patients in this unit were still struggling and their loved ones might not have the happy ending the Udys were going to have.

  Lily emerged through the doors to the ICU, and the siblings started jumping, celebrating, and hugging again. Hyde stood next to Caleb, and after Lily hugged her brother, she focused on him for an all-too-brief second. Caleb nudged her and whispered something. Lily shook her head and turned back to Mary, pulling the little girl close.

  “So he’s really okay?” Mary asked.

  “Looks like it. He was chatting my ear off, and he’s already telling the nurse that he’s hungry, and wondering if Caleb will still buy him a shake.”

  Everyone laughed at that. Caleb wiped at his eyes. “I’ll buy him one every hour if he wants.”

  “What else did he tell you, Lily?” Brandon asked.

  “Yeah, what did he say?” Trudy piped in.

  Lily glanced at Hyde again. She blinked and turned away. “Just chattering. Caleb, you should go in now. I think there can be one other person besides Mom and Dad now that he’s responsive.”

  Caleb nodded and gave Hyde one more look before pushing the button on the wall and getting buzzed in. Hyde felt suddenly awkward without his buddy. He didn’t know the rest of her siblings as well as he knew Caleb and Josh. Lily was blatantly ignoring him, talking with Sariah in low tones, and casting awkward glances at him every so often.

  Hyde turned to Brandon. “I’m going to go grab everyone some breakfast. Do you have any preferences?”

  Brandon grinned at him. “No, food’s food. Thanks. I’m starving.”

  Hyde nodded and turned to go. Mary waved to him and Sariah looked at him sadly, but Lily didn’t even acknowledge that he was there or that he was leaving. He’d hoped that Josh waking up would heal some of their wounds, but maybe this rip was too deep for stitches or a complete recovery.

  Chapter 21

  Lily overheard Hyde say something to Brandon about breakfast, and then he was gone. She inhaled deeply, relieved to be able to breathe again. Having Hyde here was like an elephant sitting on her chest—oppressive and life-threatening. Okay, maybe not life-threatening, but heart-threatening.

  When Josh had awakened earlier and Lily had gone in, he begged Lily to forgive Hyde and love him again. She was thrilled that Josh was awake and seemed to have no permanent damage with his cute mouth going a mile a minute again. She didn’t appreciate the dating advice, especially when the nurses came in to take his stats and he kept going on and on about Hyde. They were obviously hiding smiles.

  The next hour sped by as they all got a chance to see Josh. Lily waited to go last, since she was the first one to see him after he’d awakened—well, except for Hyde.

  Hyde returned, much too quickly, with an entire breakfast spread from Chick-fil-A. He kept shooting Lily these begging glances. She ignored him and grabbed an egg sandwich and an orange juice, eating quickly. Her parents were now in the waiting room with everyone else, so it was finally her turn to be with Josh uninterrupted for a few minutes.

  Things had settled down by the time she got back into Josh’s room. He looked tired but great, like he’d been through a battle and come out victorious. The nurses were gone, so that was a relief. At least she wouldn’t have to ignore the knowing smiles when Josh brought up Hyde.

  “Hey,” he said when she closed the door.

  She sat by his bed and brushed the thick hair from his forehead. “You tired, bud?”

  “Yeah. It’s pretty fun, though. Everybody being so excited to talk to me and stuff. Even Trudy and Brandon were nice to me.”

  “We all love you a lot, bud.”

  “I know.” He stared at her perceptively. “And you love Hyde too, right?”

  “Oh, Josh.” It hadn’t taken him twenty seconds to get to Hyde. “It’s not that easy.”

  “Yeah, it is. He’s the best, Lily, and I know he loves you. It wasn’t his fault that mean guy wrote stuff about you. He said his mom’s sorry too.”

  His mom. Anger flared, and she tried to tamp it down for Josh’s sake. Josh would forgive and love his archenemy if the person apologized. Scratch that. Josh didn’t have any archenemies. He was too happy and friendly.

&
nbsp; “So …” He smiled expectantly at her.

  “So what?”

  “Are you going to forgive him?”

  “It’s complicated, Josh.”

  Josh glared at her. “Did you feel bad when I was in the coma?”

  She reared back. “Bad? I felt horrible. I cried more last night than I have my entire life.”

  “I got Mom to agree to no chores for two months.”

  Lily laughed.

  “Brandon’s going to play catch with me when Caleb can’t, Mary is going to give me her model car, the Bugatti, Sariah’s going to take me to swim at the hotel pool where she works, and Trudy’s going to save up and take me to Cake for cinnamon rolls when I get home.”

  “You’re a little conniver.”

  “That’s right.” He grinned. “So if you felt bad, you have to promise me to talk to Hyde and give him a chance.”

  “That’s not fair, Josh.” Her heart hammered at the thought of talking to Hyde. She didn’t want to deal with the confrontation and she wanted to hold on to her anger, but there was a piece of her that was softening and missed him horribly.

  “I’m the one with the brain trauma here. You’re not supposed to upset me, and you’re supposed to agree to my demands.”

  “Says who?” She couldn’t help but laugh at the little tyrant. Though he was the youngest, he didn’t usually act spoiled. He was obviously having fun with this situation.

  He closed his eyes and winced.

  “Josh?” Lily leaned forward.

  “My head kind of hurts.”

  “Are you being serious, or are you playing me?” She didn’t know, and it was too close to the terror of losing him to risk not responding appropriately.

  He pressed a hand to his forehead. “It hurts, Lil.”

  “I’ll get the nurse.” She stood.

  “No.” He grabbed her arm. “They gave me some pain stuff a little while ago.” He slumped down. “I’m pretty tired.”

  “Okay. I’ll let you sleep.”

  His eyes flew open. “No! Not until you promise to talk to Hyde.”

  Lily didn’t know whether his head actually hurt, but she had no desire to mess with him right now. “If I promise, will you try to rest?”

  “Yes.” He stared at her expectantly.

  “I promise to talk to Hyde.”

  He gestured, sweeping his hand at her. “And …”

  “And give him a chance to explain.”

  “And …”

  “What?”

  “Kiss him and all that stuff.”

  “I don’t know about that, Josh.” Delicious tremors spread through her as she remembered Hyde’s kisses. She pushed the thought to the back of her mind. She could not let herself go there.

  “Okay.” He sighed dramatically. “Now go tell those nurses I want some more chocolate milk and maybe a donut or something good. Those eggs were nasty—runny and no salt.”

  Lily shook her head. “You promised me you’d rest.”

  His dark eyes twinkled at her. “I will. As soon as I eat.”

  “You’re spoiled.”

  “Can’t be spoiled when you deserve it.” Josh laughed, but then he really did close his eyes like he was in pain. “Love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you too. I’ll get the nurse and some good food for you.”

  “Thanks, Lils.”

  Lily closed the door quietly and headed straight for the nurse’s station. “He said his head is hurting.”

  “It will for a while. The medication will kick in soon, and he’ll be sleepy.”

  “He wanted chocolate milk and a donut.”

  The nurse cackled. “That little cutie. How do you ever tell him no?”

  “We don’t.” Lily laughed, feeling a strangled sort of relief in the ability and desire to laugh again. “But he’s not usually this demanding.”

  “Guess he can’t be with that many siblings.”

  “True. Thank you. Should we give him some time to rest?”

  “Probably. He’s doing fabulous, but his brain will need time to heal. I’m sure your mom will be back in here as soon as she wolfs down the breakfast your handsome boyfriend brought.”

  Lily smiled weakly. “Probably. Thanks.” She walked slowly out of the intensive care. She’d rather stay with Josh, especially when she had to fulfill her promise to talk with Hyde.

  The waiting room was like a party as the other families shared the Udys’ happy news and ate the food Hyde had brought. Lily stood just outside the door and watched for a few seconds. Hyde glanced up and caught her eye. She swallowed. Maybe if she inclined her head, he’d come her way and they could find a private spot and get this talk over with.

  “Lily?” a soft voice said at her elbow.

  Lily turned and recoiled upon seeing Hyde’s mom, Teresa, and her best friend, Allie. “What are you doing here?” she asked in a voice that was much too harsh, like they had no right to be here at all.

  “Teresa needs to talk to you,” Allie said in a no-nonsense voice. “If you’ll just come with us, please.”

  Lily raised her eyebrows in what she hoped was a challenging way.

  “Oh, come on now, girl. You’re not a brat, and we all know it. Drop the attitude and give my friend a chance to apologize.”

  Lily’s eyebrows really did pop up then. “Wow.” She sighed and turned. “Okay.”

  Allie took her elbow and led her down the hallway to some couches. They all sat, and they stewed in awkwardness for a few seconds. Lily had promised Josh she’d talk to Hyde, but she was not ready to talk to his mom. Josh would expect Lily to forgive her, and that was awfully hard.

  “Spit it out, girl,” Allie said.

  Lily stared at her, but realized she was talking to Teresa, not her.

  “Okay. Give me a second to breathe.” Teresa glared at Allie, then turned to Lily, and her expression softened. “Sweet girl. I’m so sorry.”

  “You are?” Lily had expected some sort of apology, but this was real. It was heartfelt and very, very lucid.

  “I’m a horrible person, Lily. I’ve been pretending my condition is worse than it is.”

  “And hiding her lies from her best friend, mind you,” Allie interjected.

  “I already apologized to you.” Teresa whirled on Allie. “Can you lay off for two minutes?”

  Lily gave a surprised laugh. This was a different Teresa than she’d ever been around, but this was insane. Hyde’s mom had been pretending to be out of it?

  “Lay off. I’ll give you lay off,” Allie snarled.

  “Sorry, my dearest friend of this lifetime. I’m very sorry, and I’m sure I’ll spend the next twenty years making it up to you.” Her voice dropped and she stared at her hands. “Well, at least until my condition really does progress.” She pinned Allie with a stare. “Then maybe I’ll be blissfully unaware and happy in my insanity, and you can be the one feeling guilty.”

  “Ha! I won’t feel guilty for at least thirty years.” Allie smiled at Lily. “Apologize to the girl so you can buy me breakfast at Café 13.”

  “Demand, demand. Give me a second to spit it out.”

  Lily pressed her lips together to contain another laugh, almost forgetting that this woman had hurt Josh’s feelings and called her a money-grubber to a national reporter.

  Teresa turned back to her. “Like I was trying to say, I’ve been horribly selfish and I pretended I was suffering from more dementia than I really am.”

  “Why?” Who would do that?

  “There’s really no excuse, Lily. My husband deserted me, and then I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I was terrified and scared, and all I knew was I couldn’t lose Hyde too.”

  Lily didn’t know how to respond to that. How sad. Yet she wondered if this woman knew her own son. Hyde was honorable and good. He wouldn’t desert his mom. He would never desert you, either, a little voice in her head said.

  “I didn’t want you to steal him away from me,” Teresa said.

  “Oh.” Tha
t made sense. This woman had been deserted by her husband and she was facing a debilitating mental condition that was only going to get worse, and she was so terrified of losing Hyde to another woman that she’d acted irrationally.

  “I understand you might not be able to forgive me, especially since I turned those cute brothers of yours away and then the accident happened.” She shuddered out a breath. “I’m so relieved the little one with the big smile …”

  “Josh,” Allie inserted.

  “Thank you—Josh is going to be all right.”

  “Thank you,” Lily said stiffly. She wanted to forgive, but she thought of Caleb and Josh trying to go apologize and Teresa telling them Hyde didn’t want to talk to them. She kept picturing the car hitting them and Josh getting walloped by the airbag so hard he had this horrible brain trauma. She recognized the accident wasn’t anyone’s fault, but it was all tied together in her emotional duress.

  Teresa grasped her hand, and Lily felt a warm surge toward this woman. She was kind of a mess, but she was an endearing mess.

  “Please don’t blame Hyde for any of this,” Teresa said. “He’s innocent like your brothers, and even though you haven’t known each other for very long, I’ve seen the signs that he loves you.”

  Lily bit at her lip. Again, she had no clue how to respond. Love was a pretty big step up from slapping a guy across the face.

  Teresa nodded. “I understand. You’ve been through a lot, and this is a lot to process. I hope you can forgive me and you and I can be friends someday.”

  Lily stared into her blue eyes. There was sincerity there. “Thank you.”

  Teresa nodded, then stood and tugged Allie to her feet. “Come on. Let’s go buy you breakfast. You deserve some reward for staying quiet for the last five minutes. That’s a new record.”

  Allie guffawed. “Trying to let you apologize right.” She bumped her hip into Teresa’s. “You did okay, friend.” Allie smiled at Lily. “Give your brothers a hug for us.”

  Teresa’s eyes darted around the couch. “Where’s the present? Didn’t we buy a bunch of stuff?”

  “I told them just to send it all up to his room.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Teresa exhaled and smiled.