Chapter Twenty-One
Kelley spent the next week in the hospital before he was discharged and he walked into the lobby of the hospital to find half of the football team waiting for him along with Jesse. Applause rang out and the guys all slapped Kelley on the back. Even Lee gave him half a smile. Kelley looked around at the faces of his teammates and the surprise showed in his eyes.
“There he is!” Jesse grinned and gave him a bear hug.
“What are you all doing here?” He had expected Jesse to be there but not Mason, Lee or the guys from the team. He had an idea of what it was about, one of their own had gotten hurt and they'd want revenge, for him.
“You’re officially Public now.” Arlo’s voice was slightly overconfident.
“It took me getting beaten up to be official? I didn’t know I was your type, O’Neill.” Laughter rang out around them and Arlo grinned broadly.
“You’re not that hot, Kelley.” Kelley grinned at Arlo and shook his head, feeling all kinds of emotions swirling inside of him. This was what real friends did, they showed up when it mattered.
They all walked to the parking lot with Mason carrying Kelley’s bag and Kelley was surprised to see his Escalade in the parking lot. The guys all made their way to various vehicles, some of which didn’t look roadworthy at all, and drove off with well wishes. Cheers and whistles could be heard as the guys laughed and yelled about retribution being paid in blood.
“Thanks, Mason … for everything.” Jesse had told him that it had been Mason and Lee who had brought him to the hospital and essentially had saved his life.
“You’re welcome, Kelley, I mean it. Now, it’s time to take you home.” He was a bit surprised at Mason's words. He'd been in the locker room when he'd told Arlo about his home situation.
Kelley froze in his steps and looked at Mason. “I don’t have a home to go home to.”
“I was talking about my house. It’s not what you’re used to but it sure beats that crappy motel.”
“Mason …”
“Don’t Mason me, you can’t drive, Kelley, you can barely wipe your ass.”
Kelley couldn’t help the smile that appeared as Mason looked stoically at him. “Are you planning on wiping my ass?”
Mason laughed suddenly, loud and deep. It sounded almost foreign. “Shit … just get in the car, wiseass.” Kelley shook his head but got into his Escalade with Mason.
Mason and Kelley drove in silence to Mason’s house. It was located in lower Yorkdare Bay and even though it was one of the poorer areas in town, the houses were neatly painted, gardens were tended and Kelley smiled despite himself. It felt more like home than his home ever had.
Mason opened Kelley’s door and he climbed out of his car. A shiny, black truck stood on the street in front of the house and Kelley followed Mason up the paved walkway to the front door. The house was bigger than Kelley expected and when they walked inside, Kelley almost choked on his breath. He had never before felt at home like he did at that moment. It was surreal and just a little bit disconcerting.
“Mason? Is that you? Did you bring Kelley?” A voice rang out from the kitchen and Kelley stood in the living room, feeling slightly awkward. Never in his life had he thought that he'd be Mason's charity case. He swallowed at the thought of his former Elite friends trash-talking the kids from Public and especially Mason.
“Yeah, Mom!” Mason turned and gave Kelley a small smile. “She’s making breakfast, come on.”
Mason and Kelley walked into the kitchen and Kelley did another double take. Standing in front of the stove stood Carey James, the nurse who had tended to him in the hospital. She turned toward them and smiled brightly, her blue eyes lighting up with genuine feeling.
“Sit down, guys, food’s almost ready.”
“Thank you, Mrs. James.” Kelley pulled out a kitchen chair with his left hand and sat down next to Mason.
“Call me Carey, please.” Her face held so much emotion that Kelley couldn't help but stare.
She was a beautiful woman, with slightly tanned skin, and bright blue eyes and her dark brown hair was chopped just below her jawline. She still wore scrubs like she had just gotten home from the hospital and her face was void of any makeup.
“If you keep staring at my mom like that I might have to pull you outside and beat the shit out of you.” Mason's voice pulled Kelley out of his daze and he looked away from Carey.
Carey gasped and turned around with large eyes. “Mason!”
“I’m sorry. I just never knew moms did these things.” Kelley looked down and Mason frowned.
“What things? Make breakfast?”
“No, be nice and welcoming, be normal I guess.”
“Shit Kelley … what kind of life did you escape?” Mason seemed genuine. His tone wasn’t mocking or condescending. It was hard not to feel overwhelmed and emotional.
“You don’t have to explain anything, Kelley. We all have a past but our past never defines us.” Carey’s eyes were kind and Mason lowered his gaze as Carey placed two full plates of food in from of them. She then proceeded to cut Kelley’s food for him so he could eat only with a fork. She seemed to really care even though she didn't know a thing about him.
“Thank you.”
“You’re a leftie, aren’t you?” Mason motioned towards the fork in his left hand.
“Yeah … lucky me.”
Carey smiled and placed her hand on Kelley’s right arm, just above his cast. “You are lucky, Kelley, that hit to the head could’ve been much worse.”
They ate in silence and Kelley felt warm, inside and out. Carey was very hospitable, treated him like she treated Mason and when she spoke, it was with interest in what was going on in Mason’s life, never judging, but giving advice where she deemed it necessary. Kelley liked her, really liked her.
“I filled your prescription at the hospital, you need to take two painkillers now and then go rest.”
“I really appreciate everything you’ve done so far, you and Mason.”
“Stop saying thank you, Kelley. This is what people do for other people.” Carey’s smile was there again, lighting up her face.
“Not where I’m from, but still, I appreciate you both.”
“I’m still not wiping your ass.” Kelley burst out laughing as Carey frowned slightly and then Mason laughed too.
“I don’t want to know what that’s all about. Mason, show Kelley to his room.”
“I have a room at the motel, thank you for breakfast. I’ll take the pills when I get back, I promise.”
“Kelley … you don’t have a room at the motel anymore. I checked you out, packed your stuff and Mom’s already made up your room and unpacked your clothes.”
