“Can we go in?” I stared at the door across from us, fearing what I’d find on the other side.
The door opened and a doctor in a white coat appeared, his expression dour.
Mum pushed to her feet. “How is he?”
The orthopedic surgeon approached us. “I’m Doctor Patel.”
“Max.” I reached out to shake his hand. “I’m Nick’s brother.”
Dr. Patel gave a nod. “Nick’s given permission for me to talk with you. His anterior cruciate ligament, which crosses in front of the kneecap, is torn. It helps control mobility of the knee.”
My mouth went dry. “Nick tore his ACL?”
Shit.
“What does that mean?” asked Mum.
“It will affect his ability to play football,” said Dr. Patel.
A somber silence played out until the doctor cleared his throat.
“I’m sorry it’s not better news,” he said. “I’ll operate as soon as we confirm a theatre is available. Until then, he’s NPO.” His brow furrowed. “That’s nothing to eat or drink.”
“They pushed him too hard.” I leaned against the wall. “They did this to him.”
Patel gave me a curious stare. “This injury wasn’t sustained during training, Max. It happened early this morning during a scuffle.”
“What the fuck?” I hissed under my breath.
“Max!” Mum frowned at me.
“Are you saying he got into a fight?” I asked.
“Go see him,” the doctor replied, compassion in his tone. “Nick will explain.”
I gave a nod and walked over to my mother’s side. “Mum, after you.”
“You go,” she said, tearfully. “He’ll need to talk.”
“This is where big brothers come in handy.” Patel patted my shoulder. “It’s a long road back and he’ll need emotional support.”
That gesture of kindness helped me focus. I entered the private room.
Nick was wearing a hospital gown. He sat up in bed with his right knee resting on a pillow and wrapped in a bandage. A discarded icepack lay beside it. Dark shadows blemished his eyes and his pale face wore a desolate expression.
I pointed to the icepack. “Shouldn’t that be on your knee?”
“Intermittent icing,” he replied. “They don’t want to freeze my leg off, apparently.”
Leaning forward, I patted his back before pulling a chair closer to the bed.
“How’s it going, bro?” I asked, after taking a seat.
He looked around, lifting his arms in a frustrated gesture. He was here and not on the pitch where he belonged. The stone-cold fear of a sportsman shone in his eyes.
“I heard the doctor talking to you.” Nick pushed himself up a little. “You can hear everything in this place.”
“Athletes come back from injuries like this all the time.”
“My stock went down.” He squeezed his eyes closed. “MU’s coach is on his way in right now. No doubt to deliver the news that I’m cut from the team.”
“You don’t know that.”
He gave me a look that told me he expected the worst case scenario.
I looked around for a piece of paper. “I want his name, Nick. Whoever did this to you.”
“Max, don’t make things worse.”
How the hell could I make things worse? I suppose he understood why I had the urge to find the bastard—I’d make him pay for what he did to my brother.
“Where’s Morgan?” I tried to change the subject, for now at least.
“She’s shaken up that I’m in here. She’s with a friend.”
“She’s not hurt?”
“No.” His jaw tightened. “She’s fine.”
“What happened, Nick?”
He rested his head back against the pillows, looking defeated. “We were at a pub, me and Morgan. The Spread Eagle…you know it? It’s on Woodstock Street. We were just having a drink. I had no idea…”
“No idea of what?” My body chilled as I watched his face turn grey.
“The place is full of Liverpool United fans.”
Jesus, the arch enemies of MU were Liverpool fans.
“There was nothing in the place to indicate it was their hangout,” added Nick. “This guy just walks up to me with his mates. I didn’t know him. Found out afterwards he’s Hugo White…Morgan’s ex. She dated him right before me.”
My back stiffened. “Did he pick a fight?”
“He and his friends started throwing beer mats at us. They were drunk. We went to leave. Got outside the bar and he tried to get Morgan to stay. He wouldn’t let go of her arm.”
“Who threw the first punch?”
He sighed. “It was all very quick.”
“What was White saying, Nick?”
He shrugged. “He insisted they were still together.”
I started to ask if they still were, but then thought better of it.
I rubbed a hand over my face. “Was this reported to the police?”
“There were no other witnesses. It’s their word against ours.”
“Street cameras?”
“Maybe.”
“We’ll look into it.” I could sense he thought the effort would be futile.
We’d all invested our hearts into getting Nick to the top, and in one evening his universe had been tilted off its axis. Ours, too…
His eyes filled with tears. “I’ve thrown it all way.”
“You’re getting the best care possible. We’ll have you running around in no time.”
He nodded, a hopeful expression appearing on his face. “Dr. Patel’s the best there is. Mum made sure of that.”
“We’re here for you, Nick. Whatever we can do.”
“I’m such an idiot,” he said. “I had a few drinks and wasn’t thinking straight. We should have just walked away.”
“What was Morgan doing during the fight?” I asked softly.
Nick shook his head, refusing to answer. I didn’t want to go there, didn’t want to think of her making the scene worse.
I rested my hand on his shoulder. “Are you in pain?”
“I’m taking hydrocodone.” He gave me a tired smile. “Mum’s scared I’ll get addicted.”
“No, because we won’t let that happen.”
“Thank you for coming here.”
“I’m in England for you, you know that.”
“But apparently you’ve met someone?”
I frowned at him. “Who told you?”
“Mum.”
I studied his face, waiting for him to say her name.
He smirked. “When do I meet her?”
“Soon?” It came out as a question. “I’m going to stay another week.”
“For me?”
“Let’s get you through surgery and go from there.”
“You can afford to take more time off?”
“My team will handle everything.” And they could. It was time to share the workload a little more.
Nick’s gaze flitted to the door. “Daisy!”
She paused in the doorway and gave me a questioning look.
Concern must have flashed over my face because she said, “I came as soon as I got your text, Nick.” She glanced at my phone hinting she’d tried to get in touch with me.
Nick patted the bed, inviting her to sit near him. “Come here.”
She approached him with a bright smile. “I can bring in chicken soup.”
“You’re so cute, Daisy.” He reached for her hand. “This place costs a fortune so they’d better have soup.” He paused. “Thank you for coming to see me.”
“Of course.” She glanced at me for reassurance. “What happened?”
“I was attacked.”
She looked horrified. “Did the police arrest them?”
“They’re investigating it.”
She stared at his knee, swallowing hard at the sight of his injury. “You’ll be okay though, right?”
Nick swapped a wary glance with me. “You’ve always b
een there for me, Daisy.”
“So…you’ve been messaging each other?” I tried to sound casual.
Nick brought Daisy’s hand to his chest. “I didn’t know who else to call. I texted Mum and you—” His affectionate stare fell on Daisy. “And then you.”
She was probably wondering where Morgan was, too. “It’s going to be okay, Nick.”
“I fucked up.” He shifted to get comfortable.
“One day at time, buddy.” Reaching over, I rested my palm on his shoulder and squeezed.
Nick turned to look at me. “We were groomed by our dads to keep their dream alive. I just hope I haven’t blown it.”
A cold sweat formed on my brow.
We had been groomed and at no time had we been asked what we wanted to do with our lives. Still, Nick was obsessed with football and I’d once believed law was my destiny. It was in our blood, at least…though my heart fought against the urge to fulfill someone else’s ambition.
“Shall I get your mum?” asked Daisy.
“Yes, let her in. I’ve got to face her sometime.” Nick shrunk back in the bed. “I’ve let everyone down.”
“That’s not true,” I said. “You were doing what you believed to be right. Sounds like you were trying to protect…”
“And now look at me.” He cringed. “I’ve thrown it all away for someone who doesn’t appreciate it.”
My heart stuttered as I saw how Nick’s focus had returned to Daisy.
“On a happier note, Max met someone in London,” Nick told her. “He’s dating.”
She swallowed hard but didn’t break his gaze. “He deserves to be happy.”
“I can’t wait to meet her,” he said.
I pushed to my feet. “Mum wants to see you.”
“I should let you have some time alone with her.” Daisy rose. “I’ll go get you something to drink.”
“I’m NPO. I’m not allowed to eat or drink until after the surgery.”
Daisy’s gaze fell on his leg again, her expression showing that she now realized the seriousness of the injury.
“I’ll be right back.” She fled the room.
Nick’s gaze followed her out. “This is hard on her…to see me like this. She still has a thing for me.”
“You’ll bounce back.” My gut wrenched at the fact Morgan had pissed off into the ether when he’d needed her.
Mum came in showing the kind of brightness a mother forces to give her child courage. I made some excuse that I wanted them to have time to talk.
And then I went after Daisy.
She stood at the end of the hallway looking out at the miserable view of the medical building opposite. I walked over to her. I hadn’t expected that the next time I’d see her would feel this strained.
“I texted you.” She looked up at me.
“I’d just arrived when I got it. Sorry I didn’t call you to explain. I should have.”
“It was understandable. You wanted to see Nick as soon as possible.”
“Still…”
She reached for my hand and then withdrew it quickly, glancing down the hallway as though she feared getting caught. “He doesn’t know about us.”
I shook my head. “Unless Mum’s telling him. I doubt she would, considering.”
“When should we tell him the truth?”
My shoulders slumped. I’d been holding on to this tension since getting the call he was here.
“It can wait,” she said, reading my reaction.
Don’t ask the question.
Don’t doubt what you have with her.
Fuck it.
“How did you feel walking in there?” I watched her carefully.
Her frown deepened.
“I mean, Nick really did look happy to see you.”
“Which was a surprise considering he’s been avoiding me for the last few weeks.” She reached out and took my hand. “You have nothing to worry about, Max. My feelings for you will never change.”
I should have called her. “I’m sorry you have to see him like this.”
“How does his future look?”
I shrugged, doubt all over my face.
“Oh, God.” She closed her eyes.
“One day at a time. We need to get him through surgery before we make any major decisions.”
“He’s spent his entire life getting here and now this…” She looked up at me. “What really happened, Max?”
“He got in a fight with Morgan’s ex-boyfriend outside a pub.”
Daisy’s eyes widened in shock.
“Sometimes it sucks to be right.” I paused, trying to find the right words. “Daisy, listen…”
She took my hand and kissed my fingers. “I’m here for you.”
She meant all of us but was kind enough not to say it.
“I’m glad.” I studied her reaction, looking for any seed of affection for Nick that might have still been buried deep, listening for quiet whispers of her heart that might reveal her true feelings.
Nick’s relationship with Morgan was fraught with complications. That girl had potentially ended his career.
Staring at Daisy, I wondered if all this chaos would ricochet back on us, shattering our newfound happiness and breaking our hearts.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Daisy snapped. “It’s you. It will always be you for me, Max.” She changed her footing, looking up at me with soulful eyes.
“I’m sorry.” I dragged her into a hug and held her tight, sending out a silent prayer.
Down the hall, my injured brother was fighting for hope, fearing his life’s dream might be in ruins. I just hoped the world didn’t ask the impossible of me.
I’d always been the good brother. I’d always tried to do the right thing and put myself last. If fighting to keep Daisy meant destroying my brother, I wasn’t sure I could be that man.
But how could I ever bring myself to let Daisy go, now that I’d found her…
“Come on! Let me see you!” Max called through my bedroom door.
“I’ll be down in a minute!” I listened to his footfalls heading back downstairs.
I wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms, but I needed a few more minutes.
I can do this.
I could play happy family with Max’s relatives. I could face his mum again…see Nick with Morgan and finally tell him about us. There was nothing to it, really. All I had to do was walk back into their grand mansion in Hampstead and pretend that the last time I’d been there I hadn’t almost drowned in their family pool in front of all their friends.
The good news was I doubted anyone would recognize me anyway. Hell, I hardly recognized myself. After I’d shared with Max that I was thinking of getting my hair and makeup done, he’d arranged for a professional to visit the house. She’d spent the last couple of hours styling my hair and beautifying me. She’d made my eyes pop with eyeshadow, eyeliner, and then applied a pretty shade of lipstick. A hint of blush and I was ready.
I was going to enter Nick’s family home feeling that I deserved to be there just as much as Morgan. After all, she had singlehandedly threatened Nick’s career and she was still around.
Nick was recovering well from his surgery. It had been good to hear he was feeling optimistic, and he was eager to begin physical therapy.
Tonight, he would finally see me and Max together as a couple. It would feel good not to have to hide our relationship from him anymore.
All that was left for me to do now was don the gown Max had bought me at Harvey Nichols. This was like one of those fairytales that never happened in real life—except it was happening to me.
All those times I’d stuck my nose against that shop window, and not once had I ever believed this dress would be mine.
After leaving the bathroom, I eased on a pair of delicate heels and then approached the dress in awe. Maybe we could just pull up a couple of chairs and stare at it all evening—it was seriously that stunning.
I eased the gown off its hanger a
nd over my head, pulling down the wispy skirt and adjusting the sparkling bodice. I gazed at my reflection in the tall mirror, admiring the way my styled brunette locks tumbled in shiny waves over my shoulders. This was a big, bold improvement from my crazy clown look.
I, too, can rock the glamour.
Holding the fitted bodice to my chest, I descended the stairs.
“I need help fastening my gown,” I called through the kitchen door.
“I’m ready,” said Max.
I went on in with a big grin on my face, but then my breath caught when I saw how incredible Max looked. He was wearing a tuxedo. If it was even possible for him to go from dreamy to devastating he’d just managed it.
Max’s jaw went slack as he looked me up and down, his expression going back and forth from looking awestruck to looking mesmerized.
“You like it?”
“It’s…um…” His grin widened. “Wow.”
“I was thinking the same thing about you.” I let out a whistle.
He raised his hands. “You’ve seen me in this tux before.”
Yes, but I’d been distracted with trying not to drown that night.
“I’ve never owned anything like this,” I admitted breathlessly. “Thank you so much, Max.”
He came around behind me and helped fasten the hooks of the bodice. “Daisy, this dress was made for you. It would have been a crime to deprive you of it.”
“I look okay?”
He turned me around to face him and stared into my eyes. “Absolutely stunning.”
“Thanks to you.”
“No, it’s all you, trust me.” He smirked. “I’m going to have to stay close to you all evening.”
“I like that plan.” A nervous tingle shot down my spine.
He helped me with my silk shawl, gently pressing his lips to my shoulder before we headed out to his car.
During the journey out of London, Max weaved his fingers through mine and we held hands. I settled next to him, staring out the window and enjoying the classical music he played to relax me.
I no longer had a hole where my heart should be. Instead, I had butterflies buzzing around in my chest and stomach, setting off the kind of fluttering reserved for…
I wasn’t going to say what this felt like…wasn’t even going to think it. The emotion was different to how it had ever felt before. What we had was more precious, more powerful—a palpable connection that went soul deep. Max had stolen my heart and hijacked my every thought. Being with him felt so right and I couldn’t get over how lucky I was now. I wanted to go back in time and tell myself that all that pain, all that heartache, would soon be forgotten.
Maximum Dare Page 18
