Chapter 27: A Little Kindness
"Oh, no..."
The words slipped out before I could stop them. How had I forgotten? How had I been so consumed by everything that happened with Justin that I’d completely forgotten about the two people waiting for me at the hospital? Guilt crashed over me so hard it was almost physical.
I shoved my phone into my pocket and spun around, searching frantically for my camera bag. "I need to go."
Before I could take another step, Olivia lifted my backpack from beside the bleachers. "I packed everything."
I blinked. "What?"
She nodded toward the bag. "Camera, lenses, memory cards, battery chargers." Mia held up the small accessory pouch with a small smile. I stared at them both. "When did you..."
"While you were with Justin," Olivia said simply.
I looked down at the bag. Everything was neatly packed, organized, ready to go. Neither of them looked like they expected thanks. They’d just done it. The lump in my throat returned. "Thank you."
Olivia shrugged like it was nothing. "Go."
Before I could think better of it, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around both of them. For a split second they stiffened in surprise. Then Mia hugged me back. Olivia followed a heartbeat later. "You’ve got this," Mia whispered. I nodded against her shoulder before pulling away. "Thank you." The words didn’t feel big enough, but they were all I had.
I hurried toward the arena doors. "Harper!"
I turned just as Mason jogged toward me, twirling his truck keys around one finger. "I’ll take you."
I frowned. "What?"
"You seriously think we’re letting you figure out buses after today?" I had no answer for that. He shrugged. "Justin can’t drive with that injury. Someone’s got to get you to the hospital."
My chest tightened. "You don’t have to."
"I know." He smiled. "I want to."
I swallowed hard. "Thank you."
He opened the passenger door for me. "That’s what teammates do."
The drive across town passed in comfortable silence, not the awkward kind but the kind that doesn’t demand anything from you. Mason didn’t ask about Ethan. He didn’t ask how long my mom had been sick or why I’d been crying over Justin. Instead, he pointed through the windshield at a little family restaurant on the corner, its neon sign glowing warm against the evening sky. "Best burgers in town. Get the bacon cheeseburger." "I don’t even know if I eat bacon." He gasped dramatically. "Well, now I’m offended." Despite everything, I smiled.
The hospital appeared a few minutes later. He pulled into the parking lot and shifted into park. "You good?" I looked at the entrance. Not even close. "I think so." He studied me for a second before nodding. "You don’t have to be. You’ve had one hell of a day." His words stayed with me long after I climbed out of the truck.
By the time I reached Mom’s room, my heartbeat had climbed into my throat. The door stood slightly open. I pushed it gently. Emma sat beside Mom’s bed, both hands wrapped around a paper cup she’d long since forgotten to drink from. Noah occupied the chair across from her. Neither of them was reading or talking. They both looked up the moment I stepped inside, and their eyes were red.
They’d seen it. My heart cracked.
I quietly closed the door. "You saw..." The words died in my throat. Emma’s lower lip trembled. Noah looked down at the floor. That was answer enough.
Then Noah stood. "So..." His voice broke. "Is he okay?" That was all it took. Emma burst into tears. Noah blinked rapidly, trying to stop his own. He wasn’t fast enough.
I crossed the room in two strides and pulled them both into my arms. "I’m so sorry. I’m sorry you had to see that." Noah wrapped one arm around both of us, his voice barely above a whisper. "I’m sorry you keep worrying about me instead of letting me worry about you." That broke me completely. I squeezed them tighter. "I’m trying. I’m trying so hard."
Emma pulled back just enough to look at me. "We’re not mad at you." "I should’ve called." "You forgot." "I shouldn’t have." "You were scared too."
My eyes burned. "I keep thinking if I work harder, if I can just protect us better, maybe life will stop throwing things at this family." Emma reached for my hand and squeezed it tight. "None of this is your fault." I wanted to believe her. Instead, I looked toward Mom. Machines beeped steadily around her. She looked so peaceful. Too peaceful.
"You should both go home," I said quietly. "No." The answer came from Noah before I’d even finished speaking. Emma shook her head too. "We’re staying." "You both have school tomorrow."
"But Mom..."
"I’ll stay with Mom."
Emma bit the inside of her cheek. "I don’t want to leave you alone." I reached over and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, exactly the way Mom always used to do for us. "I’ll be okay." She looked at me with those same brown eyes we’d both inherited from Mom. She didn’t believe me. Neither did Noah.
"You promise?" he asked. I forced myself to smile. "I promise." The lie tasted bitter.
They hugged me one last time, all three of us standing there holding each other while the heart monitor filled the silence. It was Noah who finally let go. Emma leaned over and kissed Mom’s forehead. "I love you." Then she looked at me. "I love you." "I love you too." Noah picked up both their backpacks. "I love you, Harper." A lump rose in my throat. "I love you more."
They walked toward the door. Emma looked back once. Then again. Noah looked back too. I smiled at both of them and kept smiling until the door clicked shut behind them.
The room became unbearably quiet. My shoulders sagged and the weight of the entire day settled over me at once. Ethan. Justin. The blood on the ice. The cameras. The lies. The bills. Mom. Emma. Noah. I stumbled into the chair beside Mom’s bed and reached for her hand. It was warm. Familiar. I rested my forehead against it and just breathed.
A soft knock pulled me back. Mason stood awkwardly in the doorway, a brown paper bag in one hand and two large paper cups balanced in the other. "I, uh..." He scratched the back of his neck. "I wasn’t sure if you were still here." He lifted the bag slightly. "Remember that burger place I mentioned?" He crossed the room and placed it on the bedside table. "Bacon cheeseburger. Extra fries. And their vanilla milkshake, trust me it’s the best thing on the menu."
I stared at the food before looking back at him. "You didn’t have to do this."
"I know. But Justin would’ve complained if I didn’t." A laugh escaped me. "He actually wanted to bring it himself," Mason added quietly. "But the trainers won’t let him drive after taking that hit."
Silence settled between us. Mason glanced toward my sleeping mother before moving toward the door. "I should get going." "Thank you. Really." He nodded, his hand already on the doorknob when he muttered under his breath, "Guy’s got enough on his plate already."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
He froze. For a second he didn’t turn around. Then he sighed. "I shouldn’t have said that."
"Mason." He rubbed the back of his neck. "It’s just... Justin’s dad has been blowing up the team group chat since yesterday. He wants Coach to kick Justin off the team." I stared at him.
"Why?" Mason immediately shook his head. "I’ve already said too much." He opened the door.
"Mason." He paused. "Please don’t tell Justin I told you." And before I could ask another question, he slipped out into the hallway.
The room suddenly felt much quieter. Justin had spent the last week worrying about me, all while carrying something this heavy completely alone.
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