Chapter 12

Brynn’s entire body ached. She opened her eyes to find the lights in the hospital room dimmed. She didn’t know how long she’d been sleeping, but it hadn’t been enough. One thing was different. Ry was no longer next to her. She missed his warmth. He might be the most attractive man she’d ever seen, but his caring heart trumped his handsome face.

You’re not alone. I’m here.

Affection for him overflowed. But where was he?

“You’re awake.”

Brynn stiffened. Pain sliced through her bruised muscles. Coach Frederick sat in a chair on the other side of the bed. “I didn’t know anyone was here.”

“Dr. Wu’s been in and out. I sent Ry to eat dinner.” Coach pointed to a cinch sack on the counter. “Amelia packed some things for you. Lila gave her your cell phone. Though it may have exploded with all the text messages. The team wants to see you, but I told them not until after the slalom tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” This was the Mike Frederick she respected, the take-charge coach who ran a tight team and took care of the skiers. Nothing distracted him. Not even knowing he had a daughter. She swallowed. “How did everyone do today?”

“Top three for Regina, Ella, and Lila.”

“That’s great for them.” Brynn hoped she sounded excited because she was. She hated being in the hospital, but her teammates’ podium finishes pleased her. “Coach Tolliver must be thrilled.”

This was awkward. Beyond skiing, Brynn had no idea what to say. Mike Frederick had seen her at her best and her worst but always as a coach. Even though he knew about being her father, she wasn’t sure how to bring up anything not involving skiing. “Coach…”

“Brynn,” he said at the same time.

Heat rushed up her neck. She peered down at the blanket covering her.

“You go first,” he said finally.

Inhaling slowly, she raised her gaze to meet his. “Did you ever…think about my mom?”

“Yes.” He didn’t hesitate to answer. “More than you can imagine. I…cared about her.”

He sounded sincere. That was good. “Did you think there could have been a baby after…?”

“Honestly, no,” he admitted. “Never crossed my mind.”

Of course not, since her mom had told him not to contact her and then kept the pregnancy a secret. Brynn had known that, but she’d needed to hear from him.

“This isn’t a situation I thought I’d find myself in.” As he brushed his hand through his hair, an exasperated expression crossed his face. “I’m not close to being over the shock of finding out about you.”

Shock. Not excitement.

Brynn’s heart seemed to rip in half. Her body tensed again, sending more slivers of pain through her. Squeezing her eyes closed, she waited for disappointment to hit. Regret and anger, too. A numbness, however, set in as if each nerve ending had gone into hibernation. Self-preservation? Or perhaps the nurse had given her extra pain meds when she was asleep. Brynn should be freaking out and throwing herself a pity party because Coach didn’t want her, either.

Unless she’d reached the point of acceptance.

Many people didn’t have fathers. Some through no fault of their own. Others by choice. Having Sully out of her life would be better for Brynn in the long run. She could shrug off the blame she’d carried for never being enough for him and repair the damage he’d caused to her self-esteem and confidence. As for Coach…

She’d lived without her biological father her entire life. Even though she loved the idea of having a dad, the reality of that was a big unknown. Other than how she saw Sully with her brothers, she didn’t know what having a father meant. It appeared she never would.

He touched her right shoulder. “I’ll get the nurse.”

Brynn opened her eyes. “That’s not necessary.”

“You’re in pain.”

“I’m sore, but it’s not my injuries.” She didn’t feel comfortable saying more. After a lifetime of rejection from Sully, she wouldn’t make the same mistake with Coach by forcing a relationship or trying too hard to please him.

Brynn was tougher than she realized and would get through this, albeit not without scars, but she would survive. She finally realized, except for Jax and Ace, no one else had considered her part of the family. She adjusted her blanket.

“I’m not sure what girls like, and you’re not a girl anymore but…” Coach picked up something from beside his chair, stood, and handed her a stuffed Siberian husky dog. “This is for you. I thought it was a good idea at the time.”

Her breath hitched. “Thanks.”

Holding the animal against her chest, a ball of warmth formed around her heart. No matter what happened, even if they never spoke about her being his daughter again, she would cherish this gift from him.

Not once had Sully bought her anything beyond food and school clothing. Her brothers had top-of-the-line skates and gear. She’d worn her brothers’ hockey hand-me-downs when she’d played. Her ski equipment had been used, purchased with grocery money her mom had set aside each week. Once Brynn was old enough to babysit, she’d been told to buy her own stuff. It hadn’t seemed right given how expensive playing hockey at the highest levels cost, but nothing in her childhood had been fair. Life wasn’t.

A snowball-sized lump formed in her throat.

Coach shifted his weight between his feet. “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do or say, Brynn. I’m a coach. I know alpine skiing. This is… I’m not sure what this is.”

The numbness remained. Her fantasies about Coach Frederick taking on the father role from the beginning had died the moment he mentioned being shocked. Not that she was surprised. Real life seldom came out as wonderful as one’s daydreams. But he was still her coach for now. Focusing on being one of his skiers and nothing else would be best.

As she raised her chin, she ignored the pain on the left side of her face. “Nothing has to change…”

“Is that what you want?”

“I…” Brynn was afraid to answer. She might be strong, but a person could only take so much disappointment. She’d exceeded her quota, and the season wasn’t over yet. “I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You’re not,” he answered quickly but firmly. “But I need time.”

That was more than she thought he’d say. She nodded, which hurt, too.

“It’s always been just me. On my own. I’m going to make mistakes.” He cleared his throat. “I made Ry get out of your bed earlier.”

She’d heard Frederick tell Dwyer to stay away from the younger women on the team. “That’s something a coach would say.”

“True, but I wasn’t feeling like your coach when I said it.”

An unexpected thrill shot through her. Maybe she would have a dad or a father figure. Not today or tomorrow, but someday. The kernel of hope was enough for now. “There’s no rush to figure this out.”

“No, but we will.” He reached for her before pulling his arm to his side. “I promise.”

A promise was more than she’d gotten from either Sully or her mom. Brynn cuddled the stuffed dog. “Thanks.”

♥ ♥ ♥

After dinner, Ry returned to the room on the second floor. The scene was similar to when he’d left—Coach sitting in the chair staring at Brynn asleep in the bed. The only difference was the stuffed animal against her chest. Ry hadn’t seen that before.

He’d been thinking about Brynn while he ate. Okay, she’d been on his mind all day, not only here at the hospital, but now he wanted to move closer, touch her. Because of Frederick, he kept his distance. “How is she?”

“Sore.” Coach straightened. “Brynn woke up for a short time before falling asleep again.”

That didn’t tell Ry what he wanted to know. He shifted his weight between his feet. Might as well ask. “Things go okay between the two of you?”

“It’ll take time.”

That didn’t sound good, but Ry saw no tissues on the bed tray, so he assumed tears hadn’t fallen. That was good given how upset she’d been after speaking with her mom. He wanted something to finally go Brynn’s way. Nothing had the past three months.

The dark circles under Coach’s eyes stood out more than they had when he arrived.

“You should go. Eat. Sleep,” Ry suggested. “Tomorrow is a big day.”

Coach’s gaze remained on Brynn. “She shouldn’t be alone.”

“I’m staying. That’s why the guys sent clothes for me.”

His expression hardened, the lines on his face deepening. Not with anger but concern. He started to speak, but Ry held up his hand.

“I’ll take good care of her,” Ry said. “The team needs you to be rested for the slalom. Skiers are counting on you. Brynn would want you at the course.”

Coach hesitated before patting the chair arm. “You sleep here. Not on the bed.”

With her was implied.

Ry nodded, but if Brynn wanted him next to her, he wouldn’t say no. Coach would never find out unless a doctor or nurse mentioned it to him. Maybe Ry would stick to the chair tonight.

Coach stood. “If her condition changes or she needs me…”

“I’ll call you.”

His hand hovered above Brynn’s arm, but he never touched her. “I should go.”

As Coach headed to the door, he glanced over his shoulder at her as if he wanted one last look to make sure she was real.

Ry forced himself not to smile. “Goodnight.”

He waited for the door to shut before moving closer to the bed and pushing the hair off Brynn’s face. So beautiful. “You’re going to have a dad. An overprotective one, but you’ll be good for each other.”

That much was obvious given Mike Frederick’s concern about Brynn. One that went beyond the normal coach-athlete relationship. Ry hoped she recognized that. Or would soon.

As he smoothed her hair, his phone rang.

Brett Matthews’s name flashed on the screen.

Ry raised the phone to his ear. “I doubt you’re calling to tell me my portfolio is up. I’m assuming I would have heard if the market crashed.”

Brett laughed. “Always the jokester, Guyer. No crash. You’re making money, or I wouldn’t be doing my job, but that’s not why I’m calling.”

The way his tone became more serious worried Ry. He pictured Brett’s wife and baby girl. “Everything okay with Laurel and Noelle?”

“My family is fine,” Brett replied without missing a beat. “It’s Henry.”

Henry Davenport, one of Ry’s closest friends, had inherited billions from his late parents and never worked a day in his life. He lived in Portland near Brett, enjoyed spending money, partying with friends, and dating beautiful women. Henry also liked sticking his nose into other people’s business and had recently decided his mad matchmaker skills were the reason Brett and Laurel fell in love.

“Henry was fine when I spoke with him a half hour ago,” Ry said.

“He’s concerned about you.”

That’s weird. All Ry had asked was if Brynn could stay in Henry’s guest house after the season ended. She wouldn’t have to pay rent and could train on Mount Hood. “Why?”

“The way you talked about Brynn reminds Henry of how you spoke about Pippa.”

Ry nearly dropped his phone. He gripped the device tighter. “Henry’s delusional.”

“Henry’s a man-child, but his heart is in the right place given what you’ve been through.”

Ry stepped away from the bed. Henry, who was a few years older than Ry, had been the one to pick up the pieces after he’d been dumped by Pippa. Henry had also been the one to find Ry when he’d hit rock bottom while recovering from his crash and saved his life.

So maybe Henry wasn’t delusional, but the guy was becoming a worrywart for nothing. “He could have called me himself.”

“If he wasn’t packing so he could fly to Sun Valley tonight, I’m sure he would have.”

Ry swore. That was so Henry, but still… “Stop him, please.”

The less Ry said, the better, or Brett might come, too. Brett knew his place and was a chill guy. Not Henry. The last thing anyone needed was the outgoing billionaire bursting onto the scene with his meaningful intentions with Brynn’s mother arriving. The reunion with Coach would be difficult enough.

“I’m fine,” Ry continued, eager to convince Brett everything was fine, and Henry’s presence wasn’t required. “Brynn is a teammate. A…friend.”

Saying friend left a funny taste in Ry’s mouth even though that was what they were. Okay, he liked her. He might be a little more concerned about her than other friends, but she’d been through so much. She also had no one but him right now.

Readjusting the phone against his ear, he stared at the bed.

At Brynn.

“Henry made her sound like more than a friend,” Brett said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“I hadn’t really talked to her until a few days ago.” That much was true.

No one needed to know about the night they’d slept in the same hotel room. Or the hot kisses they’d shared here in Sun Valley. Or how much he enjoyed being with her.

Whatever was happening between them was temporary. He wasn’t looking for a date, let alone a girlfriend. Except…

That hadn’t stopped Ry from wanting Brynn to be in Portland. He’d justified asking Henry about his guest house so she wouldn’t have to pay rent and would have nearby skiing. The fact Ry lived there, too, hadn’t been the reason he wanted this. He was trying to do what was best for her.

“Brynn’s had a rough season,” Ry added. “That’s why our coach asked me to help her. She may find herself homeless soon so that’s why I reached out to Henry.”

“You sure aren’t the same Ry-Guy you used to be.” Brett sounded surprised. “First you detour your flight to help Cara in the Bay Area, and a couple of weeks later you’re in Sun Valley helping Brynn. You’re making the rest of us look bad.”

“Just doing what I can.” So many had stepped up to help him recover, especially Brett and Henry. That was why Ry was happy when his two friends had asked if he could pick up Cara O’Neal, an employee at their favorite bookstore in San Francisco who’d found herself in the middle of a Hollywood scandal, and fly her to Portland. Saying anything other than yes hadn’t entered his mind. The same when Coach asked him to come to Sun Valley. Ry didn’t want to be known as the arrogant, self-centered skier he’d once been. “And I even got to attend Cara and Brody Simmons’s wedding.”

“Laurel loved the photographs you sent.”

“Thought she might, since Brody is her favorite actor. So, are we good now?”

Brett laughed. “Yeah, Henry’s overreacting. He must have read more into your earlier call because you sound the same to me.”

“I am the same.” Other than Ry’s concern over Brynn’s injuries and if she’d be healed enough to compete on Sunday and how tomorrow would go when her mom arrived, he was the same as usual. He just had more on his mind, all of which revolved around Brynn. “Did you call off Henry?”

“I texted him.” Brett sounded like he was smiling. “Invited him to tuck in his goddaughter tonight to make up for you not needing him.”

Ry blew out a breath. “Thank you.”

“If you need—”

“I know who to call.” But the only thing he needed was in this room—Brynn. “Tell Henry thanks. I’m flying home on Monday, and I’ll give you both a call.”

“Good luck helping Brynn.”

“Appreciate that.” Except luck might not be enough.

As Ry approached her bed, he had a feeling Brynn would need a miracle to get through the next few days. He hoped she got one.