Free Cake by Nicole Reed

when he is discharged from the hospital. I can at least help him find a nursing agency that can provide that for him. Speaking of, another nurse walks in, smiling at me while she replaces his I.V. bag of fluids, so I smile back. She glances at our joined hands as she walks out, again smiling as she nods at me. A feeling of unease ripples up my spine, so I disengage my hand from his.
     
    Quietly standing, I pull my phone back out to switch the ringer to vibrate as not to disturb Dray. Taking one more look at him, I pull myself away, making myself walk out of the room. Placing my hand across my mouth, I lean my back against the closed door, taking deep breaths to calm my heart and racing thoughts.
     
    “Are you okay, Ma’am?”
     
    The sound of the security officer’s voice makes me jump out of place.
     
    “No,” I answer, shaking my head back and forth.
     
    “He’s going to be okay. I heard the nurses say so,” he replies, smiling at me.
     
    Letting out a un-lady like snort, I walk away from him. Yeah, but the question is, am I? It’s been a month since I’ve been with Jason. That has to be it. I haven’t even used B.O.B., my battery operated boyfriend, lately because of my hectic work schedule. Tonight. It’s a date. I’ll even surprise B.O.B. with a set of new batteries.
     
    Turning the corner, I run straight into Mary Grace.
     
    “Hey, Sweetie. I was hoping to catch you before I left. The doctor briefed the team that with some rest Dray will be okay. At least he’s only missing preseason and shouldn’t miss any regular season games.”
     
    I remember the conversation that everyone overheard before I was able to see Dray.
    Holy!
    Shit!
    Grabbing her hand, I head straight for the waiting area, weaving and dodging the nursing staff at break neck speed.
     
    “Um, Kylie. Where are we going?”
     
    Walking into an empty room, I look around, finally rounding on Mary Grace as I all but yell, “Where is everyone?”
     
    “Returned home, I guess. Most of the players and football staff have been here all night.”
     
    Placing my hands up to my face, I breathe a heavy sigh. “Okay,” I say once more to myself. Some of the players are the worse gossipers ever, not to mention their wives, who I’m sure they will tell first. “Mary Grace, I need your help.”
     
    “Sweetie, I realize that you probably didn’t want anyone to know what is going on between you and Dray, but now with the baby, I’m sure it will be a relief not to have to hide your relationship from the press anymore.”
     
    “Listen,” I start to say, when she interrupts.
     
    “No, judgment here. I understand how, if the local press knew that you two were together, you wouldn’t get any peace at first. I know how private you tend to be, so I totally get where you are coming from.”
     
    “No, you totally don’t,” I respond back. She is starting to irritate me. In my head, I rationalize how much she will likely spend at the shop in the next year versus cursing her out for not listening to me, and subsequently lose her business.
     
    “Kylie, you just told your secret to some of the biggest busy-bodies in Atlanta. Yours and Dray’s relationship, I’m sure, was the town gossip the moment you left that waiting room.”
     
    I try once again to cut her off, “Mary Gr...,”
     
    “No going back now.” She cuts me off again. Grabbing my hand, she pats it softly, before continuing, “It will be alright. Just you wait.”
     
    “Mary Grace, we need to leave.” Her husband replies from the doorway, literally minutes from my homicidal tendencies emerging.
     
    Air-kissing my cheeks she finger waves and turns to walk away before I can snatch the hair off her head. Okay, think Kylie. What to do first? A sudden buzzing in my pocket surprises me for a second, then I race to see who is calling. An unknown number pops up, and my heart drops knowing its Trent as I answer.
     
    “Hey.” I rush out. “He’s going to be