Risky Rockstar: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 51
We arrive at Amy’s door, and Bridget kisses me on the cheek. “I’m heading out. Call me?”
“First thing.”
She says goodbye to Kade, and I watch her waddle off. I need a minute before I go into Amy’s room.
I feel those lazy circles Kade seems to enjoy tracing on my hand and look up at him. “You ready?”
“Are you?”
“No,” I admit. “What do I say to her?”
I shouldn’t have any tears left, but yet I can’t seem to stop my eyes from welling up. Kade pulls me closer and wraps his arms around me. His scent mixed with the leather jacket he has on envelops me in comfort like a warm fleece blanket. “I don’t think you have to say anything. I think all that matters is you’re here.”
“I don’t think it hurts that I brought one of her favorite rock stars along.”
Kade places a hand on his heart in mock pain. “You mean I’m not her favorite?”
I laugh, and it helps dispel some of the tension. “Let’s go.”
I push the door open, and we walk in quietly. The light underneath the panel above her bed illuminates Amy. She looks so peaceful, and if it wasn’t for the IV in her wrist and the cannula in her nose, I would say she looks like any other sixteen-year-old, dreaming of the future. A future she might not have. I push the thoughts from my mind and walk around to the other side of the bed while Kade remains where he is at the door. I want to tell him to come closer, but I’m not sure if he’s just being polite or if he is uncomfortable in hospitals. Sweeping the loose tendrils from her braid away from her face, I lean over to kiss Amy on the forehead. Her eyes blink open, and a tired smile spreads across her face. “I hope you didn’t cut the concert short?” she rasps.
“No, we were already done when Bridget called.”
“Dad didn’t want her to.”
“I know, but he can’t be mad at a pregnant woman.”
She laughs and immediately starts coughing. “How long have you been sick, Ames?”
Regret flashes in her eyes. “I just wanted to get through homecoming.”
I squeeze her shoulder. “It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay. What time is your biopsy tomorrow?”
“Seven a.m. Hayley, will you be there with me?”
My heart literally stops for a beat, but I cover it with a smile. How am I going to watch them stick a needle into her hip? “Of course I will, if it’s okay with your mom.”
The winning smile she gives me doesn’t do anything to ease the tightness in my chest. God, she’s so brave. How can I possibly support her when she’s braver than I am?
“Hey, I wanted to introduce you to someone.”
Amy looks to the foot of the bed. Kade’s been so quiet so as not to intrude on mine and Amy’s moment that she didn’t even know he was there. She sits up abruptly, yanking the sheet covering her Dalmatian pj’s up to her neck. “Holy shooting crapballs, Hayleeyyyy. Why didn’t you tell me you were bringing Kade.”
“Hey, Amy.” Kade steps forward and gifts Amy with one of his killer smiles.
“Oh my God! It’s Kade Tennick!” She looks at me. “You brought me Kade Tennick!”
A laugh bursts free from my lips. “I didn’t exactly bring him for you.”
“Oh…my…God, I’m in my pj’s. I’m in my freaking pj’s and Kade Tennick is in my room.”
I chuckle at her constant use of Kade’s full name. “I guess we could’ve given you some warning.”
She pulls the sheet further up to her chin, then drops it. “Screw it, I’m about to get diagnosed with leukemia again, who cares what I’m wearing, right? Can I get a selfie? Veronica is going to flip her shit when she sees this.” Amy digs in the bedside drawer and brings out her phone.
Kade looks at me and winks, and I can’t help but laugh. The girl has gone through more emotions in the last five minutes than most people do in a week.
He bends down, his head next to Amy’s, and allows her to take pic after pic.
“If you like, we can video chat the guys. I told them I was coming out to see you, and they’d really like to meet you too.”
Amy looks at me as if she can’t believe her luck. “Really?”
Kade reaches for his own phone. “Yeah, really.”
“But it’s 2:00 a.m.”
“We’re rock stars—who needs sleep.”
Amy bounces up and down while Kade sets up the call with the guys. They all come on, and I’m surprised the nursing staff don’t come in to tell Amy to quieten down with all the squealing going on. When Josh tells her he’ll be her date to homecoming if she promises to get well, Amy nearly launches out the bed she’s so excited. Kade’s eyes flick over to mine, and he mouths the word “sorry” to me. I stifle a laugh. I’m not concerned—Andrew would bury Josh on an unknown island before he allowed Amy anywhere near him.
The guys end the call with promises to all follow Amy on Instagram. I smile at Kade while he ends the call and asks Amy what her Insta handle is. He immediately follows her and asks her to tag him in the post she’s frantically typing away at. I watch as Amy grins up at Kade while she gives him a running commentary on how many followers she’s just got, and a huge yawn rips free from her.
I each over and kiss her again. “You better get some rest. Big