The Rules of Dating My Best Friend's Sister(79)

“Don’t think about that now. One of the guys could always drive you, if you needed.”

“Holden, what happens if my mom…” She got choked up.

Fuck, I wished I was there to hold her, to go with her, to be by her side. “She’s going to be okay, sweetheart.”

“You can’t know that!”

I raked a hand through my hair. “She’s okay now, and she’s in a hospital where she’s going to get the help she needs. What hospital is she in?”

“Jefferson.”

“That’s a great hospital. It’s known for cardiac care. She’s in good hands.”

“I need to hang up.” She looked around the room and zipped up a duffle bag. “I’ve got to get on the road.”

“Maybe we should call one of the guys? I don’t want you driving in the dark while you’re upset.”

“No, I’m fine.”

I frowned. “Can you do me one favor before you go, at least?”

“What?”

“Sit down.”

“I can’t. I need to leave, Holden.”

“Just for one minute…I promise.”

She sighed, but sat. “What?”

“Take a deep breath.”

She took a small one.

I smiled. “A bigger one. Actually, close your eyes and give me three deep breaths.”

She didn’t look happy about it, but she nonetheless did what I asked. I watched as she closed her eyes and counted three deep breaths. When she opened, I smiled.

“Thank you. She’s going to be fine. Drive safe, okay?”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Okay.”

“Call me after you get there. Or shoot me a text. Whatever is easier. Just let me know how Mrs. E is doing and that you arrived safely.”

She nodded. “I will. Bye.”

***

I didn’t sleep at all. Lala hadn’t called or texted. The drive from Manhattan to Philly shouldn’t have been more than two-and-a-half hours at the time she left, but four hours had gone by without a word. Every bad scenario played out in my head.

She had an accident.

Mrs. E had another heart attack and didn’t make it.

She and her father are too much of a mess to call anyone.

Fuck. I hated that I wasn’t with her. And as selfish and immature as it was, I also couldn’t help but worry about what would happen when she was in Philly again. Would she turn to Warren for comfort? Lala’s mother—a woman who’d been like a second mother to me for most of my life—was in the hospital with a serious medical condition, and I was so damn self-absorbed that I couldn’t stop thinking about Lala being near her ex. That made me feel like an even bigger piece of shit.

More hours went by. I tried to convince myself that maybe she’d fallen asleep on the chair next to her mom’s bed and everything was fine. But by 7 AM Philly time, I was pacing my hotel room and figured it was a somewhat okay time to call.

Her phone rang once and went straight to voicemail. I hated not reaching her, but left a message anyway.

“Hey, sweetheart. It’s about seven your time. I just wanted to check in and see how things were going. Just let me know when you get a chance.” I paused. “I’m thinking about you and your mom, and I’m sorry I’m not there with you.”

A half hour later, I had to start packing for our next stop. The band needed to get on the road this morning, and we were supposed to meet downstairs for the free breakfast before that. Just as I opened my hotel room door, my phone buzzed with an incoming text. I stopped to read it.

Lala: Sorry I haven’t called. Mom is stable, though she’s still in Afib—atrial fibrillation, where the heart beats irregularly. They don’t allow phones to be used in the ICU, so I had mine off. I haven’t wanted to leave the unit in case a doctor came by. Rounds finally just started. There’s a group of doctors going bed to bed, and they’re currently three beds away from us. Hopefully, they’ll get to us soon. I’ll try to call you after.

Holden: Okay. Good luck.

I didn’t hear from her while we had breakfast, loaded the SUV with all of our equipment, or for the first two-and-a-half hours into our drive. I tried my best not to be a pest, but eventually I sent another text.

Holden: Sorry. Just wanted to check in. Did you get to meet with the docs yet?

My phone rang a few minutes later. I was in the backseat with two guitar cases on the seat between me and Dylan, while Kevin was up front with Monroe, who was driving. I had zero privacy.

“Hello?”

“Hey, I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner with an update. It’s the first time I’ve left the ICU since I got here. I came outside to take a quick walk and get some fresh air.”

“No worries. I just wanted to see how your mom was doing. And how you’re holding up?”

She blew out an audible breath. “They took Mom into surgery a few minutes ago. They’re doing a bypass. The blockage couldn’t be cleared with angioplasty.”

“Shit, I’m sorry, babe. She’s young and strong, though. I’m sure she’ll do okay.”

“The doctors are optimistic, but I can’t help being terrified. And I could tell Mom was, too, before she went in.”

“Yeah, of course. It’s got to be scary.”