“Let’s all go get something to eat while we wait for Ava to get to her room,” my mother stated as she looked at Nate. “Text Dani and Rich and let them know what’s going on. We’ll go to the Post Oak Café down the road.”
I wasn’t surprised at all my mother took over. Ever since my sister Kate died, whenever there was a crisis, she seemed to jump into action. Because she couldn’t help Kate, she tried to make up for it in any way she could.
“Food sounds amazing right now,” Courtney said with a smile.
Everyone made their way to the elevator as I stayed back. “Ryder? You coming?” Nate asked.
“Yeah, I’ll meet you guys there. I have something to take care of.”
Nate nodded and followed everyone down the hall while I pulled out my cell phone and started making calls.
I SAT IN the corner of Ava’s room while Courtney and Reed were on either side of her bed. When they brought her up from the recovery room, they had just given her a strong dose of pain med’s which put her to sleep almost instantly the nurse said.
“She’s waking up,” Courtney said as I stood up. Ava looked at her mother and smiled.
“Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
Courtney let out a chortle and said, “Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”
Turning her head, Ava looked at her dad. “I feel like a train hit me. Oh hey, Dad.”
Reed pushed a strand of hair away from Ava’s eyes as he gently spoke to her. “Hey there. Are you in a lot of pain?”
Ava let out a dry laugh. “I’m feeling okay. I’d feel better if Ryder was here.”
Reed glanced over his shoulder at me and smiled. “He is here.”
Walking up to the side of her bed, I leaned over and gently kissed her lips. “Hey,” I whispered as her eyes lit up.
“Thank you for carrying me down the trail. It was very swoon-worthy of you.”
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Reed said as I stole a glance in his direction. He smiled at Courtney and then gave me a head pop and said, “We’ll talk later.”
With a chuckle, I nodded and turned back to Ava, giving her a warm smile.
“So, how bad?” she asked.
I peeked up to Courtney as she motioned for me to talk.
Clearing my throat, I answered, “Well, to start with you have a small fracture in your ankle.”
Ava scrunched her nose up. “Ouch.”
“That’s not the bad part.”
“My leg?”
“You broke both the tibia and fibula.”
Ava frowned. “That explains the pain when my ankle twisted. I think that’s why I lost my balance and fell.”
Courtney sighed. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart, that you’re going through this.”
Ava gave her a weak smile. “For now it’s okay, but I’m not so sure how I’ll feel when the pain meds wear off.”
Reed chuckled and stood next to Courtney. “There’s another problem.”
“Another problem? Like three broken bones isn’t enough!” Ava exclaimed.
Reed stole a glance in my direction before focusing back on Ava. “I don’t think you’ll be flying back to Texas with us tomorrow.”
“Oh.”
I couldn’t help the small smile that spread across my face when Ava grinned and looked at me.
“So, I’ll have to stay here? In Montana?”
Reed cleared his throat and flashed me a dirty look that caused my face to drop.
“Only for a few days, until you feel like you can fly home,” Reed said.
Ava stole a glimpse my way before staring down at her hands. “How long will I be in the hospital?”
“They’re talking about releasing you tomorrow. Lucy and Nate Sr. offered to let us stay as long as we wanted and—”
Snapping her head up, Ava practically cried out, “No!”
Courtney’s eyes widened in surprise.
It was obvious the stronger pain meds were wearing off because Ava was now moving about and grimacing with each movement. “I mean, really Mom, you don’t have to delay your flight because of a broken leg.”
“Well, I mean, Ava, you’re my daughter and I’m leaving you behind with a broken leg and ankle? I’ve already talked it over with your father and he’s going to go ahead and fly back with everyone, and I’ll stay behind to help you out until you’re ready to come back home.”
Ava’s eyes closed and I knew she wanted a few moments alone with her parents. “Do you need the nurse, buttercup?” I asked.
Her head slowly nodded as I excused myself and left the room to find the nurse. I loved that Courtney wanted to stay and help her daughter, but I prayed like hell Ava talked her out of it.
OH FLIPPIN’ SHIT balls. The last twenty-four hours I had been trying to dream up some excuse to stay in Montana a few days longer, but never did I dream I would have broken my leg and ankle to accomplish that goal.
The moment my mother mentioned staying in Montana, I felt the claustrophobia setting in. I loved my mother, but she babied me and I was a grown woman. Plus, this was the perfect excuse to spend more time with Ryder … alone.
I closed my eyes and tried to adjust myself. The pain in my leg felt like it was getting worse, along with the headache I was getting.
“Do you need the nurse, buttercup?”
God. I. Love. Him.
Ryder had to have seen the way I lit up when I was told I had to stay behind. Then how quickly that joy was sucked out of the room by my sweet mother offering to stay behind.