Page 87 of First Down Promise

“No, he’s not awake yet,” Josh answers, and Glenn nods. “Does everyone know?” My pulse spikes, and I stare at Josh. “About the accident?” he asks.

“It’s all over the news.” I twist the ends of my sleeves around my fingers. “Reporters are outside.”

Josh scoffs. “Can’t they respect that he’s in the hospital?”

“Anything for the story,” Coach adds dryly.

Moments later, a nurse comes out. “Pete Wilson’s family?” she asks with a plastic clipboard in her hands.

Josh lets go of my hand as I stand. “That’s me. Is he okay?” I ask, pulling my sleeves over my hands. “Is he awake?”

“Yes, he just woke up. He’s stable but injured and will probably need to be here for a couple more days,” she answers. I suck in a breath and glance back at Josh, who gives me a small, reassuring smile. “Is there a Coach Murphy here?” Her question scrapes through me like nails on a chalkboard.

Glenn turns in his chair and flicks his index finger up. “That’s me.”

“He’s asking for you,” she says.

My stomach drops. “What about me? I’m his sister, Abby.”

“I knew it. I fucking knew it…”

My chest caves in around the thought.

She purses her lips and softly shakes her head. “He just asked for the coach.”

I sink back into my chair next to Josh as Coach stands and follows her through the double doors, and my breath catches in my throat.

“He didn’t want to see me,” I say to Josh.

“She said he’s stable. That’s good news. He’s just putting the team first. It’s admirable of him as a captain,” Josh says.

“But I’m family. I should see him first. And his condition could change. What if they missed some internal bleeding or something?” I ramble.

“Abby, I’m sure they didn’t. Please, just…I don’t know. You’re stressing yourself out, and I don’t need you to get admitted for a heart attack.” He drags a hand down his face.

“That’s not funny, Josh,” I murmur.

As we continue to wait, I stare at the double doors, my heart leaping every time they open. Josh stays by my side even as the sun sets outside. It’s getting darker earlier now, but it still means we’ve been here for hours since his accident.

Coach finally emerges and stops by Josh and me without taking a seat. “I think the three of us should meet tomorrow morning at the facility with Mark.”

A meeting with him and the general manager could only mean one thing…

It’s time to face the firing squad, but, in the grand scheme of things, it feels so small. Like an echo at the end of a tunnel. And despite the turbulent day, Josh and I get to walk out of here free to be with each other.

Then my stomach tightens. Unless they decide not to renew Josh’s contract, but they could risk losing Dane too.

“How’s Pete?” Josh asks.

“Bruised and broken ribs, a punctured lung… He’s lucky and will recover by next season, but this one’s over for him,” Glenn answers, and Josh’s face falls. The Stallions won’t have a chance at the playoffs without their starting quarterback, and I resist the urge to reach for his hand with Glenn in front of us. “He wants to see you, Abby,” he adds.

“Okay.”

“I’ll wait for you,” Josh whispers as I stand.

“Thank you,” I mouth to him.

I walk through the double doors, gazing over my shoulder at Josh before they close behind me. He smiles and nods. I was always meant to be with him. Time to own it because I’m not the same girl I was at the start of the season.