The Halo Series Boxed Set

by Kimberly Knight

  “Go ahead. You came from California and haven’t seen her,” I said, giving Bailee a tight smile.

  “Thank you.” She leaned down to hug me.

  “How long is she here for?” I asked Nicole when Bailee was out of earshot.

  “She leaves Sunday early afternoon. I think the flight I booked is leaving at one in the afternoon.”

  “No wonder you knew she was coming. You know Brooke is going to kick your ass, right?” Avery asked.

  “I don’t care. I thought Bailee should know in case something happened.”

  “I’ll protect you, Nic. I think you did the right thing,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Thank you.” She stuck her tongue out at Avery. He leaned over and kissed her.

  I was jealous—I just wanted my Superwoman.

  Bailee returned a few minutes later. “She’s sleeping, but the attending nurse said that everything went as planned.”

  “Why didn’t they tell us she was out?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. Apparently, she’s been out an hour or so. They said they’re waiting to move her to a room.”

  “An hour? And no one told us?” Nicole shouted and stood up.

  “Baby, sit down,” Avery said. “Nothing we can do about it. Let’s think of the positive—Brooke made it out of surgery and everything went fine.”

  She stared at him for a few beats and then sat back down. “You’re right. It just pisses me off that we’ve been waiting here.”

  “Me too. Did they say how long until she gets into a room?” I asked.

  “No, but they said they would come and tell us.”

  “Yeah right,” Nicole huffed and crossed her arms. “I’ll be checking in every thirty minutes. This is bullshit.”

  Now that Brooke made it out of surgery, I took a few minutes and called my mom to update her and Cheyenne. While we talked, I went to the cafeteria and got our group a few sandwiches. We hadn’t eaten much all day.

  “Chey wants to talk to you,” my mom said as I looked at the menu. She put her on the phone.

  “Daddy, what kind of flowers should I bring Brooke?”

  Jesus, my daughter knew how to pull at my heartstrings. “Any that you think look pretty.”

  “Well, all flowers are pretty, but what does she like?”

  “Well, I know she likes roses.” I smiled, trying to keep my emotions in check.

  “Okay, I’ll have Grandma take me to get red roses on the way. She told me they mean love.”

  “Yeah, Peanut, they do.”

  “You mean to tell me that my sister has been out of surgery for over an hour and no one told us?”

  Bailee? When did my sister get here? How did she know?

  “She’s in here, but she’s still sleeping. I’ll let you all see her for a few minutes, but visiting hours are over. You’ll need to come back in the morning.”

  “Can I stay with her?” Easton asked. I could tell that it was Easton, but I didn’t know who the lady was because I was still drifting in and out of sleep.

  “She’ll probably just sleep all night. It’s best for you to go home and get a good night’s sleep.”

  I woke to the sound of people talking. I looked to my right and saw that a door was open and nurses were talking in the hall. I put two and two together and realized that I must have been in my hospital room. My mouth was dry and other than that, I felt good. I wasn’t in pain like I thought I would be from having a tumor removed the size of a bouncy ball.

  I looked to my left and no one was in the room with me. I thought that Easton was going to stay, but I guessed he changed his mind or maybe the nurses didn’t let him.

  “Oh, you’re awake,” a nurse with a Filipino accent said as she walked towards me.

  “Y … ye … yes.”

  “Would you like some ice cubes?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  I sucked on a few ice cubes and lay there, staring at the dark ceiling. I wanted to ask about the surgery—ask if they got the entire tumor, but my throat was killing me. I looked down at my chest and it didn’t look like they needed to go through it. I sighed with relief; I was dreading having a scar there.

  A few minutes later, the nurse came back. “How are you feeling? You think you’ll be able to keep the ice down?”

  Ice down?

  “I think so,” I said, raising my eyebrows in confusion.

  “In a few minutes, I want to see if you can keep some apple juice down so your blood sugar doesn’t get too low.”

  “Okay.” I was pretty sure I could keep liquids down. I mean, apple juice and ice? Why wouldn’t I be able to?

  The nurse turned on the TV and flipped to the channel that I told her to stop on. I had no idea what I was watching, but it wasn’t ESPN or some news channel, so I didn’t care.

  She returned and handed me a tiny box of apple juice. I took a few sips and watched as she imputed things into the computer in my room.

  “I think I’m going to throw up,” I said after a few sips.

  She handed me a tub and I did throw up the little bit of apple juice.

  What the fuck?

  “It’s normal to not be able to keep anything down with the medication you were given during surgery. Just rest and we’ll try again in the morning.”

  When I woke the following morning … or should I say later that morning, I smelled his cologne before I saw him sitting in the chair next to my bed. I smiled to myself—I missed him.

  “Hey, Superwoman. How’s my girl feeling?”

  “Eh … worse than I did last night,” I said, trying to turn a little to face him.

  “Careful. You have a tube in you,” Easton said.

  “I do?” I asked and looked down at my right side. All I saw was a bandage.

  “Yeah, I asked the nurse and it’s a drainage tube for your lung.”

  “Gross,” I said, wrinkling my nose.

  We both laughed. It was gross and to think it was just lodged in my side and draining liquids without me knowing. Eww!

  A nurse came in a few minutes later and told us that it was time for my morning medication. She also looked at the bandage and told me that it was looking good, but it would need to be changed the next day. She administered medication through the IVs in my hands and left Easton and me alone again.

  “Where’s Nicole and Avery?”

  “They should be here soon. I drove myself this morning.”

  “Where did you stay? I woke up and you weren’t here.” I frowned.

  “Sorry, baby,” he said, rubbing the top of my head. “I stayed at Nicole’s. The nurse wouldn’t let me stay last night.”

  “Why didn’t you stay at my place?”

  “Ah …” He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “Your sister stayed there.”

  “What? Bailee’s here?”

  “Yeah, Nicole flew her in yesterday.”

  “Damn it. I didn’t want her distracted when finals are in a few weeks.”

  “I know, baby, but you know how Nicole is. She doesn’t listen.”

  “Ain’t that the truth,” I huffed and tried to cross my arms over my chest. It didn’t work with all the IVs and heart monitors attached to me.

  “Don’t worry about it. Just rest. I’m here and Peanut should be here later this afternoon.”

  “Okay.” Having surgery and all the medication was making me sleepy anyway.

  I woke to quiet laughter. I willed my eyes open, but I was just too tired and fell back to sleep.

  “Brooke, it’s time for your afternoon medication,” a nurse said, waking me up.

  I didn’t know why she needed to wake me since all she had to do was administer the medication through the IVs, but she woke me anyway.

  When I finally opened my eyes, I saw four sets of eyes staring at me plus the nurse.

  “How are you feeling?” Easton asked.

  “Tired.”

  “You can go back to sleep as soon as I check your bandage,” the nurse sa
id.

  My eyes fell on Bailee and I smiled. “Next time, you better tell me the moment you find out,” she said, placing her hands on her hips.

  “There better not be a next time,” I groaned as I tried to sit up.

  The nurse looked at the bandage and I saw Avery cringe, which made me smile. It really was gross. After she’d left, I stayed up talking to everyone. Dr. Bloom stopped by to check on me, and I introduced him to my friends. He assured them that I was in good hands.

  I took another nap and woke about five minutes before Cheyenne and Easton’s parents arrived. The room was small, so Nicole, Avery, and Bailee excused themselves while I visited Easton’s family.

  “Here, I brought you these,” Cheyenne said, coming up to the edge of the bed and showing me a vase of red roses. “Grandma told me that red roses mean love.”

  “Thank you.” I smiled.

  “Here, Peanut, hand them to me and I’ll put them on the table,” Easton said.

  My heart swelled in my chest as I watched her bring Easton the flowers. I didn’t know if she was the one to have the idea or his parents, but I didn’t care. They actually brought a vase full of assorted flowers and Easton put them with Cheyenne’s and the ones that Nicole and Bailee gave me. My tiny room smelled like a botanical garden and when I looked at all the flowers, they reminded me that I was loved.

  “Did you win?” I asked Cheyenne.

  “Yes, that makes us three and oh!” She beamed.

  “That’s awesome!” I smiled back.

  “How are you feeling?” Jane asked me.

  “Like I have a tube sticking out of my side.” I chuckled.

  “Eww,” Cheyenne said.

  I guess everyone was in agreement that it was gross.

  “You’ll be back to your old self before you know it,” Jimmy said, giving me a tight smile.

  “I hope so.”

  “Then you can come watch more of my softball games,” Cheyenne said, sitting on the edge of the bed like it was no big deal. Easton and his mom were about to say something, but I shook my head that it was okay.

  “As soon as I can, I’ll be there at every one of them,” I said with a hopeful smile.

  I started to get tired again, and that was Jimmy and Jane’s clue that they needed to hit the road. I really didn’t mean for them to go, but I was exhausted. I had never been so tired in all my life.

  When I woke again, the room was dark except for the light coming in from the hall. A nurse was quietly giving me my medications and checking the bandage. She put a finger to her lips and motioned for me to look over to my left. Easton was lying in the chair that folded out into a miniature bed, his feet hanging off the end and Cheyenne snuggled against him.

  Tears started to fall from my eyes at the sight.

  I didn’t want to leave Brooke, but I had to get Cheyenne back to New York so she could go to practice and then go to school the next day. Brooke was sleeping a lot, but when she woke up, I knew she liked having someone in her hospital room to talk to.

  Avery and Nicole drove Bailee to the airport on Sunday afternoon and then Avery left to return home. Nicole stopped in Monday morning before work and assured me that she would come and have dinner with Brooke when she got off.

  I was dreading leaving because I couldn’t return until Wednesday when she was getting released. I was going to stay with her for a few days and then go home for the weekend to coach Cheyenne’s game and spend time with her.

  Brooke had a doctor’s appointment the following Monday and after the appointment, I was bringing her back to New York so I could care for her twenty-four-seven—I wasn’t taking no for an answer.

  “Nicole’s going to the doctor today,” Avery said as he stepped on the treadmill at the gym for our morning workout.

  “Do you want her to be pregnant?”

  “Well, I didn’t plan it to be this way, but I love her and I do want to have kids.”

  “So, are you going to propose?” I asked and increased my speed.

  “I don’t want to propose just because she’s pregnant … I mean, I do want to marry her, but I don’t want her thinking that is the reason.”

  “Understandable.”

  “How’s Brooke doing?” Avery asked, matching his speed with mine.

  “Better. They’ve been taking X-rays daily and everything seems to be healing. She’s doing good on the breathing treatments, so she shouldn’t get pneumonia or anything like she was worried about.”

  “That’s good. Doc think she can still go home on Wednesday?”

  “Yeah, he didn’t say otherwise.”

  “Let me know if you need anything. I could fill in at practice if you need me to.”

  “If she doesn’t get out on Wednesday, I might take you up on that.”

  My phone dinged with a text and I looked. It was from Brooke. I stepped off the treadmill to text her back:

  Brooke: I’m bored.

  Me: I’m sorry, baby. I wish I was there.

  Brooke: Me too. I’m tired of reading and there is nothing on TV.

  Me: Have you been walking like Dr. Bloom told you to?

  Brooke: Yes and I’ve eaten 2 popsicles and a cup of grapes already.

  I looked at the clock and it was only nine in the morning. While I had been with Brooke, she didn’t have an appetite. A cup of grapes was actually a lot for her and I was proud.

  Me: Good. Try to eat your lunch when they bring it.

  Brooke: The food taste like shit!

  I laughed. It really did. I was bringing in fast food because the hospital food was gross. I didn’t want to eat junk food, but I didn’t want to be away from Brooke for too long. I tried to get her to eat some of my cheeseburger once and she turned her nose up. I knew she liked cheeseburgers because I saw her eat one on the cruise. I just wanted her to eat because I wanted her to get better and get the hell out of the hospital.

  Me: Well, I’ll get Nicole to bring you something. What do you want?

  Brooke: Nothing sounds good. Just the grapes.

  Me: Okay, get more grapes!

  Brooke: Yes, Dad!

  I laughed again. Seemed like Brooke was already feeling much better.

  “Nicole’s calling me,” Avery said. “I’ll be back.” He stepped off the treadmill and walked towards the locker room.

  Me: I’m serious. I wan you better so I can take you home on Wednesday.

  Brooke: I know, I’m trying. I’m going to take a nap now. I love you!

  Me: Love you, too!

  Avery returned fifteen minutes later and I watched him sit down next to me at the leg press.

  “Well?” I asked.

  “I really am going to be a father,” he said and finally cracked a smile that turned into a shit-eating grin.

  “Shit, dude. Congrats!” I said and stood to walk over and give him a hug.

  We did a quick “bro hug” and then we both sat back down and started lifting weights. “Don’t tell Brooke, yet. Nicole is going to tell her next week.”

  “Yeah, no problem.”

  I returned to the hospital around noon on Wednesday. When I arrived, Brooke still hadn’t been released, but said that a nurse was going to call her doctor and see if she could go home.

  She looked a million times better. The tube that was in her right side was removed, she was out of bed, dressed and pacing the halls.

  “I’m tired of lying down,” she said as I gave her a questioning look.

  “I can tell.” I chuckled and gave her a light peck on the lips. I didn’t want to hug her—even though I really wanted to—because of her stitches in her side.

  I sat and watched TV as Brooke continued to pace. About an hour later, her doctor arrived and finally discharged her. He was reluctant at first and told her that once the good medication was out of her system, she would be in a lot of pain. She told him that she didn’t care and that she just needed to go home. He told her to get lots of rest and that he would see her on Monday.

  After we waite
d another hour for the nurses to get their shit together and for Brooke to get her medications to take home, we finally left.

  “Oh my God, I thought I would never leave,” she said. “I need a shower ASAP!”

  “How are you going to shower with your bandage? You can’t get it wet.”

  “Well, you can help me.” She looked over at me and smiled.

  I took a deep breath. It would be the first time seeing Brooke naked and not fucking her. I didn’t know when the next time would be that we would have sex and seeing her naked wasn’t going to help matters.

  “Of course, no problem.” I grabbed her hand as I drove.

  The first thing Brooke did was head straight to the bathroom, take off her clothes, and turn on the shower. She really wanted that shower and I didn’t blame her. It had been six days since her last one. She told me that the nurses gave her sponge baths, but they didn’t take her clothes off.

  I stripped myself of my clothes and helped her get in the shower. My cock started to harden and I had to keep my mind off her naked body. It was hard as she leaned back and I wet her hair with the removable shower head. Her breasts stuck up in the air and if I just leaned down half a foot, I could lick one of her nipples.

  Baseball: I wonder if the Angels will make it into the playoff this year?

  I grabbed her shampoo and lathered it in my hands and then in her hair, kneading her scalp and she moaned.

  Don’t moan!

  “This warm water feels so good!” She moaned again.

  Damn it!

  We rinsed her hair free of the shampoo and I stared at her breasts the entire time.

  Bacon: I wonder if Brooke has her appetite back? I could make her some bacon and pancakes. She turned and eyed my semi. “What did you expect?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

  “I didn’t say anything.” She laughed.