Page 71 of Drop Pass

“Hey, how was it.”

She kept track of my schedule better than I did most of the time. It amazed me how much she was able to balance. “Good. I think we’re feeling pretty confident.”

“That’s great.”

“How was work?”

She laughed lightly. “The same. Which is good. I can’t handle them switching things on me right now.”

I felt a bit guilty that my baggage was on her shoulders too. “If you need a break I understand.”

“Oh no. It’s fine, Nikolay. I just don’t want them to try to give me sports or another shift. Things here are fine.”

I had to trust her. Every time I brought up her not going to the hospital, she glared at me and told me that she cared about my family, too. I couldn’t argue with that. They loved her and after watching her with them I knew she loved them too.

If only I was as confident in her feelings about me.

I shook my head. Now wasn’t the time to worry about that.

“How is everyone?”

“Your mom is loving the tablet Emma bought her. She’s been reading and playing games with Yula.”

I smiled. I was grateful the women had been bringing distractions so time didn’t pass quite as slowly for them.

“How’s she feeling?” There was a pause, and I instantly worried. “What is it? Is Yula okay?”

“Yeah, she’s good. She’s just tired. They didn’t think the first round would be this hard on her but her body’s tired.”

My heart sank. “Do they think that’s a bad sign? Is her body giving up?”

“No, no one has said that. Yula’s a fighter. You’ve seen how stubborn she is. She’s going to beat this.”

I needed to hear someone say that. I had to believe my sister was going to be okay. The alternative was too much to consider.

“Thank you for being there for them.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

I smiled. “I’ll talk to you after the game.”

“Good luck. I… I’ll be watching.”

I caught her hesitation but let it go. “Thanks.”

We ended the call as the bus pulled up to the hotel. I got up and followed the guys out.

I didn’t know what I would do without Elena.

The thought shocked me. I’d never been one to depend on someone else before. And I wasn’t really depending on her. I knew I would have been able to get through this on my own, but knowing I didn’t have to was an amazing feeling.

I could trust her completely. I knew she cared about me and my family. I knew she would do everything she could for us.

I’d spent so long thinking I needed to be on my own. That letting someone in would be my downfall, but now...Elena showed me it wasn’t a weakness. I had to be vulnerable to show her how I felt and to lower my walls, but I didn’t regret it.

Elena was more than I could have ever let myself dream of. She was strong and almost as stubborn as I was. She was independent, and completely fine on her own, but she’d taken a risk and let me into her life as well.

I couldn’t imagine things going back to how they’d been before she moved in down the hall. I didn’t want to.