RUINED - The Price of Play: Everhide Rockstar Romance Series Book 2

by Tania Joyce

  “Shit.” Kara swore and tousled her hand through her hair. “Why are they still here?”

  “Who?” Hunter eased his pace and looked around for a familiar face.

  “My parents.” Kara cast her chin toward a couple who stepped out of the elevator and strode toward them.

  Hunter’s skin prickled, and he slowed to a halt in front of Kara’s father. He was a tall man with peppered hair. His stride was as stiff as his shirt collar. Her mom oozed with Upper Westside class—designer suit, jewelry and heels.

  “I told you to go home,” Kara said to them, adjusting the throw rug across her lap.

  “We had a quick bite to eat in the cafeteria and were coming to check on you once more before we headed off. But this is a surprise.” Her mother stood two inches taller. “Kara, darling. Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

  Kara flicked her hand toward them. “Hunt, these are my parents, Walter and Carol. Mom, Dad, this is Hunter. And you know Kyle and Gemma.”

  Hunter stepped around Kara’s wheelchair and held out his hand for Walter. “I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, but nice to finally meet you.”

  Walter looked down his nose at Hunter’s hand as if he’d dipped it in the sewers. What the hell?

  Hunter withdrew his hand. He didn’t have time for people with no manners. He turned to Kara’s mom. “Hey, Mrs. Knight.”

  She extended her hand toward him. “Please, call me Carol.”

  Her long skinny fingers felt cold as ice, bony, and she lacked any form of grip when he shook her hand. She reminded him of his fragile grandmother.

  Carol was quick to pull away and turned to give Gemma a hug. “Nice to see you again, Gemma dear. Hello Kyle.”

  Walter ignored Kyle and Gemma and stared straight at Hunter. Hate flared in his eyes. “You shouldn’t have come. You’ve done enough damage to my daughter to last a lifetime.”

  “Dad?” Kara slouched. “He has more right to be here than you.”

  Hunter had dealt with people like Walter before. They were quick to judge, quick to belittle, and yeah, formed an opinion of him based on his public reputation. But Walter’s thoughts of him were the least of his worries. Didn’t even cause a blip on his care factor radar. “Mr. Knight, I understand you may have your reservations about me. I’m more than happy to talk to you later. But I’ve just flown halfway around the world to be here. So please, excuse me. I want to see my son.”

  Hunter grabbed the handles of Kara’s wheelchair and went to push past her parents when Walter caught him on the arm. His firm grip caught Hunter off guard. “A quick word before you go.”

  “Fine.” Hunter nodded.

  Walter led Hunter a few steps away from the others and lowered his gravelly voice. “I know this is a difficult time for you both, but when it is over, I swear, I will do everything within my power to keep my daughter and my grandson away from you. Do you hear me? I will never forgive you for what you’ve done to her. I don’t care who you are. Your lifestyle is not for my daughter and my grandson.”

  Hunter’s ears rang, and his fists clenched at his sides. Under Walter’s threatening glare, a shudder ripped through him. This prick didn’t know him. Hunter’s past and issues with Kara didn’t leave much room for a positive impression, but Hunter had changed. He’d had to. For Ryan.

  “Screw you.” Hunter reefed his arm from Walter’s hold and realigned his jacket. “Who do you think you are? No one will keep me from my son. Not you. Not Kara. Not anyone. My son is my priority. Got that?”

  He stormed back toward Kara, Kyle, and Gemma, who had worry etched across their faces. He held onto the handles of Kara’s wheelchair so tightly he thought he would snap them off.

  “Your father’s delightful,” Hunter said to Kara, a bitter taste in his mouth.

  “Why? What did he say?”

  “Said he wants to keep me away from Ryan. From you.”

  “What?” Her voice pitched high. She pointed at her father who had stepped in front of her wheelchair. “You have no right to say that. Hunter is Ryan’s father. Accept it, or you’ll be the one cut off from seeing your grandchild. Do you hear me? I don’t need this. Please . . . go home. Hunt’s here, and he’s all I need right now.”

  Hunter placed his hand on Kara’s shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze.

  Walter’s nostrils flared; his jaw clamped. His eyes blazed with get-your-hands-off-my-daughter rage, so Hunter threw him a nope-I’m-good kind of smile. Walter puffed out his chest and straightened his tie. “He will never be what you need, Kara. I know what’s best for you.”

  “Calm down, Walter. Let them be.” Carol gave Hunter a sympathetic smile and kissed Kara on the cheek goodbye. “We have to head back to the office. We have a dinner tonight, so we’ll come and see you tomorrow after work.” She waved farewell to Kyle and Gemma, grabbed Walter on the arm and guided him into an elevator.

  Hunter leaned over the back of the wheelchair toward Kara. “Don’t think your parents will invite me over for Sunday lunch anytime soon. Are you okay?”

  “No. My dad’s a jerk.” She dabbed her eyes with her fingertips.

  Hunter stepped around in front of her and squatted. His gut sank when he saw that the brightness in her blue eyes had faded. “Don’t worry about your dad. I’m here for you and Ryan.”

  She cupped his cheek. “Thank you. Let’s go and see him.”

  Hunter pushed Kara along the corridor toward NICU, Kyle and Gemma by his side.

  Kyle slapped him on the back. “Hunt, not sure that charm of yours will win Walter over in a hurry.”

  “I wouldn’t waste your time trying,” Gemma said, taking two steps to Hunter’s one. “He doesn’t like me either.”

  Kara glanced up at him. “Promise me you’ll never be an ass like my dad. Not to our son.”

  “Never,” he replied. Her beautiful smile pushed Walter from his mind. “We’re going to rock this parenting thing.” Not that he had any clue what he had to do.

  “Yes, we will.” She pointed to turn around the corner. “This way. He’s in Room Two.”

  Hunter’s palms sweated as he stopped outside the entrance. He glanced at Kyle and Gemma, not sure if he had the strength to step through the door and deal with what he was about to face.

  “We’ll be over here in the waiting area.” Gemma gave him a quick hug and drew Kyle over to the seats.

  Kara gave Hunter a warm smile. “Ready?”

  His heart pounded against his ribcage, and he drew air deep into his lungs. He gave her a short nod. “Yes. Let’s do this. I want to meet my son.”

  Chapter 18

  Hunter pushed Kara into the room. The rubber tires of her wheelchair squeaked on the linoleum floor. Five humidicribs, surrounded by monitors, machines, cords, and cables, filled the space. The subtle smell of newborn baby he recalled from holding infants in the past filled the air. His legs wobbled as he gawked at the cribs. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he’d have his own child. Now, he was only steps away from his new reality.

  “He’s at the end on the left.” Kara pointed.

  Hunter pushed Kara down the row. Nurses’ and the other moms’ eyes widened at him. Their mouths gaped, but no one said a word. With shaky hands, he helped Kara to stand. She gripped her IV pole in one hand, took his hand in the other, and drew him over to the crib.

  Slipping her arm around his waist, she clutched onto his jacket. “I’d like you to meet our son.”

  What he saw took the breath from his lungs. A chill shuddered through his bones. Ryan was barely the size of Hunter’s outstretched hand. “Oh shit, Kar. He’s so small.”

  He placed one hand on top of the crib to steady himself, and a tear slipped from his eye.

  An uncomfortable-looking respiratory ventilation mask and tubing covered Ryan’s nose. Hunter’s chest hurt watching Ryan’s ribs rise and fall, thanks to the machines that blipped and whirred. Monitor pads stuck to Ryan’s chest looked like they pulled on his skin. A drip and splin
t were bandaged to his petite arm. A miniature blue beanie covered his head. A doll-sized nappy was wrapped around his legs.

  Hunter stroked his chin and wiped his damp cheek. He’d do anything for Ryan—give blood, his kidney, his lung. Absolutely anything. Was there something he could do? He’d never felt so helpless and useless in his life.

  “Ryan’s going to be okay.” Kara clutched onto him harder. “He has to be.”

  Hunter drew her into his arms and hugged her. “Yeah, he will be.” He rubbed her back. “You scared the shit out of me, Kar. Don’t do that again.”

  When Hunter glanced back at Ryan, more worry embedded into each fiber in his body. How were they going to get through this? How could anything so small survive?

  “Can I hold him?” he asked, desperate to connect with Ryan, to touch and cuddle him.

  Her heart thudded against his. “No. Not yet. He’s not stabilized. Hopefully in a few days. The only thing we can do is touch him through the window. Wash your hands first.”

  Hunter slipped from her hold, stepped over to the basin, and scrubbed his hands clean. “So . . . can you fill me in on everything? How is he doing?”

  Kara’s eyes glassed over and she stared at Ryan. “He can’t breathe on his own. His lungs aren’t fully developed. His eyes are still fused shut and they have to feed him through all that tubing.” The lifeless, mechanical tone in Kara’s voice ripped at Hunter’s soul.

  “He’s doing fine.” A nurse stepped over and analyzed his monitors. “Hello, Mr. Collins. Nice to meet you. With Ryan extracted this early, he has a fifty to eighty percent chance of growing into a healthy young boy.” Hunter felt the color drain from his face. Ryan was not out of the danger zone yet? The nurse wrote on her chart. “Every day, his chances improve. We’ll do everything possible to ensure he makes it.” She pointed to Ryan. “When you’re ready, you can open the little door on that side of the crib.”

  Hunter’s heart barreled up toward his throat. He flicked the latch open and reached inside. Holding his breath, he placed his trembling fingers on Ryan’s arm. With gentle strokes, he touched his son. “Oh my God.” His voice snagged in his throat. “He’s so warm. And soft. And hairy.”

  Ryan almost didn’t feel human.

  “He’s covered in down,” the nurse explained. “That will disappear as he grows.”

  “Why is he so red?” Hunter took in every inch of Ryan’s tiny, curled up body. Ten tiny fingers. Ten tiny toes.

  “It’s his blood close to the surface of his skin,” the nurse said with a compassionate smile. “All his vitals are within the range of normal for his stage of development.”

  Hunter stroked Ryan’s teeny hand. Ryan’s fingers slowly curled around his index finger. So delicate. So fragile. So amazing. The air rushed from Hunter’s lungs. “Kar, look. He’s trying to grip on to me.”

  “He knows who his daddy is. I’ve been playing your music to him, so he’ll know your voice.”

  “You did that?” He fought back the tears welling in his eyes.

  “Yeah.” She nodded. “I’d sit with my headphones on my belly and play your albums. He might know you, Kyle, and Gemma better than me.”

  “That’s so cool.” Kara had done that for Ryan? She left him speechless.

  Her smile didn’t reflect in her wet eyes. She touched his arms. “You stay here, and I’ll go send Gem and Kyle in one at a time. I’ll see you soon.”

  Holding onto her wheelchair, Kara shuffled out of the room.

  Gemma came in. She snaked her arm around his waist and leaned over the crib. She covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, Hunt. I’m so sorry.”

  He drew her close and kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad you’re here. Wouldn’t be able to face this without you. You’re my rock.”

  Kyle and Gemma were his life-support. His strength. His grounding. He relied on them too much sometimes. But what were friends for?

  “I can’t believe you’re a daddy.” She rested her head against him.

  “Me either.”

  “He’s going to be a badass rock star like you. Looks like he’s got the nurse swooning over him already.”

  The nurse smiled as she changed Ryan’s IV bag.

  “God help us.” Hunter squeezed Gemma to his side.

  “He’ll be fine, right?” Hope swung in her voice, worry flooded her eyes.

  “Only time will tell.” He couldn’t bear the thought of losing Ryan.

  “Okay.” Glancing at Ryan, she fidgeted with her necklace. She edged out of Hunter’s hold. “After Kyle’s been in, we’ll go home. You and Kar need to spend time together. I’ll go get him for you.”

  “Thanks, Gem.”

  She slipped outside, and Kyle came in. The moment Kyle stepped in beside him and put his arm around his shoulders, Hunter’s breath jolted in his lungs, and he lost it. Tears slipped from his stinging eyes—he didn’t have the strength to hold himself together anymore. Kyle drew him into an embrace and hugged him.

  “Hey, bud.” Kyle patted his back. “How’re you doing?”

  “I stuffed up bad, didn’t I?” From getting Kara pregnant, to causing her grief about wanting to keep the baby, to this . . . Ryan born premature. Had he put too much pressure and stress on her? Was this his fault somehow? Hunter stepped back and wiped his face on his jacket sleeve.

  “This is a game changer.” Kyle stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and glanced at Ryan. “I’m no good with this shit, Hunt. Babies, that is. I don’t know what to say. On one hand, I should say congratulations . . . I think. But look at him.” Kyle peered into the crib. “He’s a runt, like you were until you were sixteen.”

  “So there’s hope for him.” Hunter looked down at his son’s fragile body nestled between the folds of a white baby blanket. It was hard to imagine that he was now responsible for this little human being. Nothing could be more surreal.

  “Maybe. Who knows?” Kyle shrugged. “You want me to get you anything before Gem and I head off?”

  “Nah. Thanks.”

  “We’ll come and see you tomorrow.” Kyle gave him a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder, then left.

  Kara returned to his side. Her eyelashes were wet. Her cheeks were red, and her whole body stooped. He brushed her hair back and drew her into a hug. It was so good to see her after being away for two and a half months, but he wished it was under better circumstances. He wanted the Kara who glowed back.

  He turned his head toward the baby. Ryan’s little hands and legs flinch and kick. Was Ryan dreaming? He wondered what about. Hunter would do his best to make all his son’s dreams come true. “He’s amazing, Kar.”

  “I know. But I’m scared.” She rested her head against his shoulder. “I don’t want to leave him, but I’m tired. I need to lie down.”

  “Okay. I’ll help you back to the room, but then, if it’s all right, I want to come and see him again. Can I do that?”

  “Of course it is. He’s your son, too. I’ll call an orderly to come and get me. You stay here with Ryan.” She squeezed his hand. “I’ll be okay.”

  Once Kara left, Hunter pulled up a chair by the crib and placed his hand inside next to Ryan. He stroked his baby’s tiny limbs, his feet, and his chest. The nurse shuffled around him when she made her observations, reassuring him he wasn’t in the way.

  Hunter watched the steady blips on the heart monitor. Running his finger over Ryan’s soft skin, uncertainty quivered in Hunter’s chest. While he was thankful his son was safe, alive and getting all the care he needed, what was he supposed to do now that Ryan had arrived early? The thought of leaving Kara by herself to deal with the long and tough road ahead was unfathomable. Touring and schedules and travel had suddenly been thrown into turmoil. Rubbing his tired eyes, he didn’t want to think about those things right now.

  “Can I sing to him?” Hunter asked the nurse. “I need to do something.”

  “Sure. But please keep it quiet so you don’t disturb the other nurses or moms in here. I t
hink Ryan would like to hear your voice.”

  Hunter lost track of time. He sang. He touched. He savored every moment spent by his son’s side. Ryan was a true miracle. But after traveling across the globe, Hunter’s energy was at an all-time low. His eyelids grew heavy and weary.

  He jumped when the nurse on duty touched his arm. “Hunter, it’s midnight. Why don’t you go and get some rest? We’ll call you if there are any changes? We’ll look after him.”

  “You sick of my singing?” He yawned, covering his mouth with his hand.

  “Not at all. It’s wonderful.”

  “I could do with some sleep. It’s been a while.” Hunter stood and stretched.

  “The window bench seat in Kara’s room is also a cot bed,” the nurse said. “Ask the nurses in the ward to get you a pillow and blanket.”

  “Thanks. I’ll do that.” He pushed his chair out of the way.

  He dragged his feet back to Kara’s ward. He eased the door to her room open and found her sound asleep. Her long hair fell in a tangled mess on the pillow. The blankets were pulled up over her shoulders, and she cuddled the bedding underneath her chin. Soft little snuffles came from her mouth. Was she snoring? He grinned and slid inside.

  At the sight of the cushioned bench seat, his body slouched. The seat looked just long enough for him to lie down. He could sleep anywhere—one skill gained from touring. He stretched out, tugged a cushion underneath his head, and closed his eyes. If Kara didn’t want him there when she woke up, he’d leave. But for now, he needed to rest.

  He folded one arm over his eyes and listened to the sound of nurses chattering out in the hallway, trolley carts wheeling up and down the corridors, and babies crying in other rooms within the ward. How long would it be until Ryan could cry? How long until they’d be able to hold him? Or feed him? Or take him home?

  He turned on his side and glanced at Kara. She looked . . . beautiful. Her features were smooth, not etched with stress and worry. He’d caused too much of that over the past few months, but not anymore. He’d do whatever was necessary to ensure that she and Ryan got home soon. Happily. Healthily. Safely.