He shrugged it away. “What’s she doing here anyway, Gavin? Just because you’re fucking her doesn’t mean she’s family.”
Tired, wired on bad coffee, and worried about his dad, Gavin didn’t need this right now. But he understood Mick probably felt the same tension. “Whatever beef you have with Elizabeth doesn’t belong in the halls of a hospital. Dad wouldn’t want this, and Mom sure as hell doesn’t need it. Let it go.”
“It’s okay. I can go. I don’t want to be the cause of family tension when you all need to be rallying around your mother.”
Gavin swiveled and grasped her arm as she turned to leave. “You’re here because I asked you to come with me. You have as much right to be here as anyone else.”
“Gavin, really, it’s all right. Your brother doesn’t want me here. I’ll go.”
“Nonsense, Elizabeth. I want you here. You’ll stay.”
Gavin turned at his mother’s words. She stood outside the door to his father’s room, looking small and lost, but her eyes burned fire as she looked at Mick.
“Michael, this is the last time I want to hear you say an unwelcoming word to Elizabeth. Is that understood?”
Mick gave a curt nod.
“I need all of you here. I need all the support I can get right now, and that includes Elizabeth, who I consider family. It’s times like this that forgiveness is more important than anything. Come here, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth walked slowly over to Gavin’s mother, who wrapped her arm around her.
“You’ve been family a long time. Remember the talk we had. You’re always welcome around us. Gavin will need you now more than ever.”
She lifted her gaze to his mother. “I’ll do whatever I can to help all of you.”
She kissed the top of Elizabeth’s head. “Thank you.”
“Mom, let me take you home so you can take a shower and get some clean clothes,” Jenna said. “I figure you’ll want to stay with Dad.”
She nodded. “I’ll wait until he gets settled in a room. The nurse said that might take several hours, and I don’t want to leave him alone in there. You can run me home after he gets moved. The rest of you, go home and get some rest and something to eat. When Jenna and I are ready to leave, I’ll call and one of you can come up here and sit with your dad.”
It was hard to leave his dad—and his mom—but Elizabeth pulled him away, and they headed back to her place so he could pick up his SUV. She grabbed a change of clothes and followed him to his house.
He let her inside, wanting nothing more than to just crash and sleep for like twelve hours. Or maybe twenty-four.
“I’m going to fix you something to eat.”
He raked his fingers through his hair, not even able to think. “I’m just going to sleep.”
“You need to eat something first because if your mom calls you won’t eat then.”
He sat at the table, too tired to argue with her. She had scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast on a plate in a hurry. He downed the glass of orange juice and dove into the food, not realizing how hungry he was until he’d cleaned his plate.
“I was starving.”
She scooped the last of her eggs onto her fork. “Obviously. Would you like more?”
“No, this was enough. Thanks for cooking for me.”
“You’re welcome. Not quite the gourmet cook you are, but I can manage the basics.”
He leaned over and kissed her. “You cook just fine. Now let me help you with the dishes.”
She laughed. “I can handle those. I’m sure you want to take a shower, maybe change clothes.”
He pulled her against him. “What I really need is to sleep. At least a couple of hours.”
She took his hand and led him upstairs to his bedroom. He felt like he was on autopilot, like none of this had really happened.
He sat on the edge of his bed and kicked off his shoes, stared down at his feet.
Elizabeth sat next to him, silent but there.
“He’s not old enough for this, Lizzie.”
She rubbed his back. “I know.”
“He’s so strong, always out there playing ball with us or tinkering around with something or working at the bar. I thought he’d live forever.”
“He’s still here, Gavin. He’s going to be fine.”
He stood and moved to the window. It was daylight now. Hell, he didn’t know what time it was. He barely even registered what day it was. Sunday? He had a game today.
“I need to call Coach, let him know what’s going on. I have a game this afternoon.”
“Already taken care of.”
He turned to her.
“I called him when you were in with your dad. They have you covered. Coach said not to worry about a thing.”
He nodded. “Thanks.”
“It’s okay to fall apart, Gavin.”
He blinked, looked at her. “What?”
“You don’t have to be the big, strong man. Not in front of me. I’ve known you too long for that.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She came up behind him. “You’re crushed about this. You’re father could have died.”