Total pages in book: 11
Estimated words: 9744 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 49(@200wpm)___ 39(@250wpm)___ 32(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 9744 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 49(@200wpm)___ 39(@250wpm)___ 32(@300wpm)
My forever.
I tuck his hair behind his ear, and he meets my gaze, a tight smile on his lips. It’s okay, I mouth. He nods. Though, I know he knows I know it’s not. He lifts our hands and kisses the back of mine just as the doctor clears her throat.
She doesn’t look at us, but our gazes are like razors as they cut to her.
Dr. Lothrop doesn’t look happy, and I know she’s about to ruin my husband’s life. She is one of the top sports doctors in Nashville, Tennessee. She’s on the younger side, but she graduated very early as a teen. Her glasses sit low on the end of her nose as she uses her pen to outline the front of Jayden’s temporal lobe on the scan. I know what she’s indicating because I’ve watched her do this many times.
“Mr. Sinclair, I’m sorry to have to say this, but there is still damage to your brain, which is why you continue to have the migraines and the balance issues.” He grips my hands tightly in his. Her gaze moves from the screen to us. “I know this isn’t the answer you want, but in my opinion, you should not continue your career as a hockey player. There is too much risk of doing more damage and causing more extensive injury to your brain.”
She says more—hell, she doesn’t stop talking for over fifteen minutes—but all I can do is watch Jayden. His breathing has sped up, his eyes are glassy, and his jaw is so damn taut. I know he is replaying the injury in his head, or maybe he’s even thinking that everything he has ever known is gone. He comes from a hockey family. His eldest sister is the wife of a retired hockey player, and their daughter is engaged to an up-and-coming hockey player. His eldest brother plays for Tampa, and his youngest plays for Fort Lauderdale. Hockey is all Jayden knows, and I know he’s scared. But he isn’t alone.
I’m by his side, and I’ll do everything to remind him he’s more than just a hockey player.
He’s everything to me.
When he looks up at me, I smile confidently and squeeze his hand. “It’s okay. Everything is great. We’re going to be great. Together.”
His lips tip up at the sides. “I never thought you’d have to use my words against me.”
My smile grows, remembering the moment he told me the same when I was riddled with injuries. “Hey, you were right, and I will be too.”
He leans his head into mine, and our lips touch lightly. “Thank you, Bay.”
I kiss him once more. “Always, Jay.”
CHAPTER 2
Bullshit
Jayden
I know Baylor knew I was done when I got injured. She never said it, but I can read her like a book. She’s so intuitive. And while she’s been supportive and uplifting throughout this, I know she did it out of love, not because she believed I’d come back. I think I knew too, which is how I’m able to keep the tears at bay. In all honesty, I cried enough when everything first happened and the migraines started. I think that’s when I grieved my career.
When I knew I wouldn’t be my boys’ hero anymore.
As we walk out of the clinic, with paperwork for my next appointment and a new treatment plan along with prescriptions, I FaceTime my brothers. I know they’re both gearing up for a new season, and I don’t expect them to answer. But they both knew I had this appointment. It’s a blessing that I grew up with my best friends. Jude and Jace are my ride or dies, and not once did we consider I would be done. We all figured we’d retire at the same time and enjoy being old and crusty together.
I got old and crusty first.
When their faces come up, both of them radiating concern through the screen, my stomach drops. I don’t want to tell them.
“So? What did she say?” Jude asks first.
“You good? You heading back?” Jace asks then. My niece Ashlyn sits in his lap, reading a book. She’s a bookworm and fucking cute as a button. She wants to be an author, which makes sense since Avery is a songwriter and is creative as hell. Ashlyn leans her head on Jace’s chest, side-eyeing the screen, and I smile.
“Hey, baby girl,” I call to her.
She grins at me. She is the spitting image of our older sister, Lucy. “Hi, Uncle Jay. Hi, Uncle Jude.”
Jude waves. “Hey, Ash.”
“How’s Aunt Claire? When’s the baby coming?”
He smiles proudly. “She’s doing great, and very soon. A couple weeks, I think. You excited to find out what it is?”
She nods. “I think it’s a girl.”
We all grin, Jude most of all. “Man, I hope so!”
Jace picks her up then and whispers something in her ear before getting up. “Sorry, what’s up? I need to know.”