“I know. But my dreams changed when I met you. My dreams now include you. Sure, I could tell you to pick South Carolina, but you would be incredibly unhappy, which would only make me feel guilty.” She turns in her seat to face me, taking my hands in hers and looking me dead in the eye, “Robert, if I was willing to go to Ole Miss for you, then why wouldn’t I be willing to go to Arizona? I can get a degree from anywhere. It doesn’t matter what it says on my diploma as long as I’m with you, and we do this together.”
“You’re serious?”
“Absolutely! I love you too, and I want a life and family with you too.”
“So, we’re going to Arizona?”
“We’re going to Arizona!”
Chapter Twenty-four
-March 29th-
Tonight is one of my toughest games of the season. Both Presley and I are still riding a high from yesterday, which is why I think I have been able to remain relatively calm and focused tonight. There is no more uncertainty between us.
It’s the bottom of the ninth and the score is tied 5–5. I throw out the pitch and it makes solid contact with the bat. It’s popped up and I sprint forward to get under the ball, hoping to get the catch and get not only one, but two outs and end the inning. I’m so focused on the ball I don’t notice the bat has split, and the larger piece is flying straight for my head. I feel it make contact, and then everything goes black.
*****
It’s as if time stands still, and I’m taken out of my body. I’m an observer standing on the sidelines, completely helpless to do anything. I see the ball. I see the bat. I see Robert lying unconscious on the field. Liv shakes me and brings me back to reality and I jump up from my seat, fighting through the crowd of people who move to get a better look at what happened.
I shout at people, “Move out of my way, now!” I’m down on the field, but Trey blocks me from running any further.
“Presley, stop!”
“Please, Trey. I need to be over there.” For the first time, I realize I am sobbing hysterically. My words come out broken.
Trey gives me a sympathetic look as my eyes dart back and forth between him and Robert, who is now surrounded by Coach and several of the trainers.
“Let them take care of him.”
I feel utterly useless as I watch them strap Robert onto a backboard and secure him. Trey grips my shoulders and places his face in front of mine.
“Presley. Look at me.” His voice is firm, and he gives me a small shake. I pull my eyes away from Robert for a split second. “Go to the field house. Coach will tell you everything you need.”
I nod and sprint down the hill towards the field house. Thankfully this is a home game, and in the last few months, I’ve become very familiar with this part of the school. I can see why Robert feels at home here. I get down the hill in time to see the ambulance pull away.
“Where are they taking him?”
“Saint Mark’s Hospital. I’ve already called his mom. She will meet you there.” Coach throws me Robert’s truck keys.
I thank him and give him a quick hug before I go. I know he didn’t have to tell me anything, but he did.
I find Robert’s truck in the parking lot and speed off. So many thoughts coursing through my mind.
Diane and I are sitting silently in the waiting room. She looks as if she had been crying on the way into town, but then turned stoic the instant she walked through the doors of the hospital. I don’t know if it’s for my benefit or hers, but I don’t want her to feel like she’s alone in this. He may be her son, but he’s my future. Yesterday we were sitting on the front porch talking about family and a house with a picket fence, and now I’m sitting in a hospital waiting room, completely clueless.
The sliding doors open and in walk Coach, Trey, Liv, and Marcus. I give Marcus a death stare as vile spews from my mouth, “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Presley, I’m sorry. I messed up. I didn’t think.”
A humorless ironic laugh seeps from my lips. “God, that’s the understatement of the century. But you’re wrong, Marcus, you did think, but with the wrong fucking head.”
Trey seems to choke on air as he lets out a whispered, “Damn.”
“You’re right, and I’m sorry. But Robert and I have been best friends since he was ten, and I want to be here for both of you.”
“Some friend you turned out to be.” I roll my eyes at him and sink back into my chair. “You know, had you been man enough weeks ago to apologize to me, we might be in a better situation, but you were too busy being a fucking pussy.”
“I deserve that.”
“Hell, yes, you deserve that! And you deserve a lot more, but tonight isn’t about you, so you can stay, but this does not mean I forgive you for formal and it doesn’t mean we’re even friends. You betrayed me by bringing her. You knew she wanted Robert. You knew she would do anything to get what she wanted, and you didn’t fucking care.”
The sliding doors open again and in walk Mom, Gramps, and Grams. Mom rushes over to Diane and me, giving us both a tight hug before sitting down next to Diane. “It’s gonna be okay. Just you wait and see.”
The doctor appears and Diane immediately stands up.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting. We have Robert stabilized. He is currently in a medically induced coma. He had quite a bit of swelling due to his injury, I want to give his brain some time to come down from the swelling before we wake him up. Hopefully we should be able to wake him in twenty-four to forty-eight hours. He’s young and strong. I’m expecting a full recovery for him.
Diane lets out an exhale, “Thank you. Can we go back and see him?”
“Yes. No more than four people at a time, though.”
“Thank you.” Diane looks at me, “Presley, Tina, would you like to go first?”
I nod and get up.
“You too, Liv. I know you’re Presley’s support.”
Liv stands and threads her arm through mine as I rest my head on her shoulder.
Suddenly I feel a heavy burden settle on my shoulders as I walk to his room; my heart races as we get closer, and I see him lying in bed. Besides the light bruising on his face from where he was hit, he looks peaceful. My instincts say to curl up next to him, but I hold back. Liv whispers in my ear, reminding me of the doctor’s words and his optimism.
Mom and Liv stay for a few minutes before leaving, allowing the rest of the group to cycle through before going home for the night.
“Why don’t you go home, dear. Get some rest. It’s been a long day for you, and the doctor said it would be tomorrow night at the earliest before they would wake him up.”
“I don’t want to leave him, Mrs. West. Please let me stay. You can have the couch, and I’ll sleep in the chair. Please don’t make me go.”
There’s a knock on the door, signaling the end of visiting hours. The nurse states that only immediate family is allowed at this point, her eyes trained on me as I silently plead with Diane.
“She’s his fiancé. She stays.”
The nurse cocks her head, not quite sure what to make of Diane’s statement, but writes something down and closes the door.