Turn Over(26)

The boy shook his head. “I do. And I love Lexi too.”

I smiled. “Thank you.” I bent over his bed to hug him. “You’re so sweet.”

Luke signed the ball and tossed it so the boy could catch it. “Nice grip you’ve got.”

I’d never seen a child smile like that. Clearly, I was taking a backseat to Luke.

“Really? Do you think I should play? My mom won’t let me, but maybe if you talked to her…” Daniel’s eyes were wide.

“She won’t let you play? That’s bull—”

I quickly elbowed him in the side and glared at him.

“I mean. That’s a shame.” He tried to cover up his mistake. He was an expert on a lot of things, but kids weren’t one of them.

“But could you talk to her? She’ll be back any minute.”

Luke nodded. “Sure, but I’m not making any promises. Mom’s make the rules sometimes.”

I smiled. “How about we play a song until she gets here? Any requests?”

Daniel looked at the ceiling, sorting through his choices. “Can you play ‘Heaven Sent’?”

“Of course I can. Let’s see if Luke knows the words.” I eyed my new duet partner as I settled on the edge of the bed and propped my guitar on my knee. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

After three songs we said goodbye to Daniel and his mom Stacey. She followed us to the door.

“Thank you.” She squeezed my hand.

“You’re welcome. I hope it cheered him up.”

She leaned closer to us. “He’s on the transplant list. We’re praying for a miracle.”

I closed my eyes. I had no idea Daniel’s condition was so desperate. “I’ll pray for you too.”

Her gaze drifted to Luke. He shifted on his heels. I could tell he was uncomfortable. He shoved his hands in his front pockets. “Ditto,” he mumbled.

“Thank you, both. Thank you so much.”

“Is there something else I can do? Anything else?” I didn’t want to walk out of this room with a little boy fighting for his life and powerless to help.

Stacey gave me a grim smile. “This will be something he’ll never forget. Never.”

I pulled her into a hug. Music could heal people. It brought them together, and today it had brought Daniel and Stacy into my life, but there wasn’t enough music in the world to promise him he’d get his transplant in time.

“Take care,” I whispered in her ear.

I turned reluctantly, knowing there was another child in another room waiting to hear me sing.

I felt Luke’s hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”

“I wish there was something else we could do. It doesn’t seem like enough.”

“For the kid?”

We stopped in between rooms. A nurse walked past us. She kept stealing glances at Luke. I studied the funky artwork on the wall. Even with sadness around us, there was hope and light in the halls.

“Yes. I want to do something.”

“You made him smile. That’s something. What the mom said is right. He won’t forget today.”

“I think you had something to do with that too.” I grinned.

Luke looked away. “We have some more to see?”

I nodded. “The entire hallway. But you don’t have to. It’s okay if you need to leave. I understand.”

He shook his head. “No way. I’m just starting to learn these songs. And at least now I know if I get injured I have an alternate career.”

“And what’s that?”

“Lexi Wilde’s backup singer.”

I burst out laughing. “Okay, let’s pray you never get hurt.”

I tapped on the next door and we started our show all over again.



Luke walked me to the parking garage after we had visited every child on the floor. I promised Jake I’d meet him at the airport. There wasn’t much he could say in front of Luke, and he begrudgingly let me walk away. I wasn’t sure where we were headed. Drinks at his place again sounded perfect.

I hoped drinks was code for more mind-blowing sex.

“I can’t believe you got me to sing.” Luke puffed out his chest as if it restored some of his masculinity.

I laughed. “I think your voice is adorable.”

“Adorable?” he huffed. “There is nothing adorable about me.”

“Why? Because you’re a strong, domineering quarterback?” I challenged.

I didn’t know why I was provoking him, only that the hours we spent upstairs not touching, drove me insane. I wanted him more than I wanted him last night. I sang, knowing his eyes were on me, burning into my skin, and reminding me of everything we did together.

He pulled me against his chest, pinning my arms behind me, roughly. “Call me adorable again,” he dared me.