Dylan
I wake with a start, my heart pounding. The sterile white walls and beeping monitors slowly come into focus through blurry eyes. Hospital. I’m in the hospital. Alone.
My breathing quickens as I take in the empty room. No teammates crowded around my bedside with get-well-soon balloons and inappropriate jokes. No coaches checking in with grave concern in their eyes. No one.
I grab for my phone, my fingers fumbling over the screen. No service. Of course.
Panic rises in my chest. I’m stranded on this island of starch white sheets without a lifeline to the outside world. Abandoned. Again.
I squeeze my eyes shut and try to steady my breathing, but the monitors betray me, beeping faster in time with my racing heart. This sterile white room feels more like a prison than a place of healing.
I have to get out of here. Now. Before I’m trapped in this cold, lonely place forever.
Just as I’m about to rip the IV from my arm and make a run for it, the door bursts open.
“Surprise!” Noah, Killian, and Jayden chorus, sauntering into the room.
My jaw drops. They’re wearing my women’s rugby practice jerseys, the tiny polyester stretched obscenely tight across their massive chests and bulging biceps.
Killian flexes, the seams threatening to split. “We wanted you to feel at home.”
Noah does a little twirl, his stomach spilling out from underneath the too-short hem. “We found these back at the apartment. Aren’t we pretty?”
Jayden strikes a bodybuilder pose, the jersey barely containing his pumped up pecs. “We thought about getting you flowers instead, but we didn’t want to make you sneeze.”
Their ridiculous getups are so absurdly incongruous with their hulking rugby player physiques that I can’t help it—I burst out laughing. It’s a deep belly laugh that shakes my whole body and makes my healing neck ache, but I can’t stop. Tears stream down my cheeks.
“When I said I believe in the law of abundance, I had no idea it would take quite this form,” I giggle. “I guess you really can manifest anything. Even three hot rugby players in way-too-small rugby jerseys.”
The three exchange satisfied grins. Mission accomplished.
When I finally catch my breath, wiping the tears from my eyes, Jayden sits on the edge of the bed.
“We know hospitals can be lonely, so we brought you something.” He holds up a small black device—a wi-fi hotspot device. “Got one for every floor in this place. You’ll have better internet here than at home.”
Noah pulls a phone from his jersey pocket—a brand new phone, I realize. “And this is for you, the new top of the line model. And it has full bars. You can FaceTime us anytime. We’ll take shifts keeping you company.”
Killian squeezes my hand. “You’re not alone anymore.”
The panic fades, warmth flooding my chest. With these ridiculous, thoughtful men by my side, I know it’s true. The isolation ends here.
I nod, overcome with gratitude.
Just then, an orderly wheels in a towering bouquet of tropical flowers—orchids, birds of paradise, anthuriums. The riot of color and scent fills the stark hospital room.
“Delivery for Ms. Dylan,” he announces.
Killian lets out a low whistle. “Kai went all out, eh? Must’ve bought out the whole island’s supply.”
I breathe deep, inhaling the sweet fragrance. Kai’s note reads:
My heart blooms for you. See you soon, my love.
Noah squeezes my shoulder. “We’ve got your back until he gets here.”
Jayden pulls a deck of cards from his pocket. “Anyone up for poker? Loser has to wear the jersey for a week.”
Laughing, I deal the cards. Loneliness vanishes in the presence of their playful warmth.