Until Cobi (Until Her/Him #7)(49)

“Go on. I’m gonna drink another before I head home to chaos and more talk about the pool.” He lifts his beer.

“Just give in and the conversation will end.” I grin at him.

“Kid, you think it works like that, you’re in for a rude awakening in about five years. If it’s not one thing, it’s another, and sometimes you gotta put your foot down to prove a point.”

“Well, old-timer, you’ve been married to Stacey for what, twenty-three years? I say stick to what’s working for you.” He grins, and with that I stand, tossing some cash on the table. “See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, tell Hadley I said hi.”

“Will do.” I give him a chin lift and head for my truck.

I stop on the way home and pick up a pizza with everything from Marco’s then drive to my place. I don’t see Hadley’s car until I hit the remote for the garage, which means I’m smiling as I pull into one of the lot spaces. I told her for three days I wanted her car inside my single-car garage. For three days, she ignored me and parked in the lot, telling me it didn’t make sense, since she normally left before me in the morning.

After I shut down the engine, I get out, taking the pizza with me through the garage. I hit the button to close the door then head up the stairs. Maxim doesn’t greet me at the door, and I know why when I see Hadley at the island, head tipped down with a glass of wine in front of her. Seeing her posture, I know she parked in the garage not thinking about what she was doing; her mind was on other shit.

Fuck.

I should have met her at her appointment, done a quick pulse check, and then decided if she was good to drive, especially after what just went down and what talking about it could bring up for her.

“Baby.” Her head comes up and her blank eyes meet mine, freaking me right the fuck out. “What’s going on?”

“My mom’s in the hospital.” At her statement, I pause and she lifts her glass of wine to her lips.

“Say that again?” I walk to the counter and set down the pizza.

“My dad had been calling me. I was fed up, didn’t want to deal with him, so I blocked his number from my phone. He tracked me down tonight when I got out of my appointment. He caught me at my car after I sent you the text to let you know I was heading home.”

“He told you your mom’s in the hospital?” I ask, getting close to her.

“Yes.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

She chews the inside of her cheek before answering. “He said he thinks she got ahold of Fentanyl pills. When he found her in her bed, she was barely breathing, her lips and nails were blue, and it was obvious she’d overdosed.” She takes a breath as I wrap her in my arms. “He couldn’t get her to wake up, so he called an ambulance. She’s been in the hospital for three days and hasn’t improved. The doctors told him that they don’t think she’ll make it much longer and that everyone needs to know so they can say goodbye.”

My eyes close as I rest my chin on top of her head. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Me too,” she whispers.

“Do you want me to take you tonight?” I question, leaning back to look at her, but her eyes are pointed at my throat.

“No.” She shakes her head then glances up at me, looking conflicted. “But I know I need to go.”

“Then we’ll go.” I kiss the top of her head then release her. I help her into her coat then lead her to my truck and help her inside. She’s silent on the way to the hospital, but the moment I reach out and take hold of her hand, her fingers close tightly around mine.

I park near the entrance and lead her to the nurses’ station, letting them know who we’re looking for and getting a room number. When we make it to the door to her mom’s room, I stop her outside and turn her toward me. Getting her attention, I slide one hand around her back, the other around the nape of her neck.

“Cobi,” she starts, but I cut her off, tightening my hands where they’re wrapped around her.

“Whatever happens, you are not alone, baby. Remember that when we walk through those doors and back out of them when it’s over.” Her eyes warm and she nods. “I’m here for whatever you need.”

“Thank you.” Her bottom lip trembles, and my stomach muscles constrict at the sight. It kills me to see her in pain.

“It’s gonna be okay.”

“Okay,” she agrees softly.

I kiss her then let her go, taking her hand as she reaches for me. When we walk into the room, it’s empty except for the bed where her mother is lying on her back, the covers up to her shoulders. Her hair is almost the color of Hadley’s, with silver mixed in. It’s on top of her head in a bun, and her skin is so pale it looks almost blue. Even from the door, I can hear a rattle in her chest every time she takes a breath—a sound I know means she’s just like the doctors said, probably not going to last much longer.

I let Hadley set the pace and lead me to the bed, her steps slow, and I can feel her hand shaking. When we stop near her mom’s head, I slide my arm around her waist when she lets my hand go to reach out and touch the side of her mom’s face.

“I wish things had been different,” she says quietly, her words filled with pain, longing, sadness, and defeat. “I wish….” Before she can finish, she sobs and turns toward me, burying her face in my chest and wrapping her arms around me, clinging to me like a child who’s lost.