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"I'h," I say suddenly, and Max's head whips to me

"No fucking way," he says hotly

"Were you not just telling me I had to try?" I throw back at him as the plane taxis toward the terminal

"Well, yeahbut not at the expense of a play-off ga out of the hospital tomorrow"

"Yeah, but she'll be there by herself tonight," I say as I pull up Safari on h

"The baby is fine," Max practically sputters, unwilling to believe I' to ditch my team and the play-offs

"Yes, but Stephanie isn't," I say assuredly I know this is the right thing to do It's what I fucking should have done two ether I should have rubbed her face in et used to it I should have never played it casual with her, because fro casual about e had with each other

"Lucas," Max says softly

I look up from my phone and lock eyes with him "Don't try to talk me out of this"

His lips curve upward and he inclines his head at ood luck and hurry back The team needs you too"

I smile at him "I will I just want to see her and make sure she's okay, then I'll hop on the next plane back I won't ame four"

"You better run this by Coach, you know," Max says

"I will," I say as I go back to browsing flights "But nothing he says is going to change my mind"

"You alere a hardheaded rin because he is so right about that

--

"What do youbehind the information desk in the hospital lobby

"She was never admitted, sir," the woman tells lasses She has to be a hundred years old and I wonder if she's reading it right I have to restrainbehind the desk so I can look at her screen Finally, she looks up and she lances around the lobby before leaning toward , "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but it looks like she checked out against medical advice"

"What does that mean?" I whisper back to her as I lean over the desk

"Itto be admitted but she refused"

God, that woerous level

"Thank you," Idoors

Stephanie's apartood twenty minutes from the hospital, and for the life of o home by herself with a broken wrist and a concussion It's fucking insane

I call Jules as I pull onto the Beltline and she answers right away "Have you seen her yet?"

Max had called to tell her I was returning and to pump her for any other pertinent information

"She never got adainst medical advice"

"Jeez, she's a bonehead sometimes," Jules mutters

"Got that right," I concur "I'ive you an update"

Jules makes a sound of surprise that I'd be so considerate She and I haven't been on the best of terms since she laid into me last week

"I really hope you work things out with Stephanie," Jules says softly "I think you both are good for each other, and LucasI really want you to be happy"

Damn if I don't feel a little mushy from those sincere words from a woman who happily would have castrated me last week "Thanks, Jules That means a lot"

"Let's double date once you get it all worked out, okay?" she teases

I let h "Deal"

I promise Jules I'll call her later and let her know Stephanie is okay I e to find a parallel spot outside of Steph's apart to walk fro deck The elevator see out of the doors when they open on her floor

Her apartment door comes into view and I have awith a wooing to do it inadvertently by trying to push er bully than she can be tofor ure I can probably talk circles around her Not to mention, she's in no shape to ently of course--if she tries