“Zeke? Can you hear me? I have to go get Darby,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry to have to leave you here alone. I’ll be right back. Hang in there, okay? You promised you would.”

“He’s stable,” Steph said. “Leave your number. If he wakes up while you’re gone, we’ll let him know you’ll be right back. If he gives us permission, we can call you.”

I scribbled the digits on a piece of paper lying on the counter then ran out. Concentrating on driving was difficult, and by the time I reached the hotel, I’d been so lost in thought I was surprised I’d made it unscathed.

Darby was already gone when I arrived. Another girl had already taken over and said Darby had taken a cab home. I raced to Trex’s house, but she wasn’t there either.

I went back to the hospital, dreading telling Trex that Darby wasn’t home, but hoping to see Zeke with his eyes open. A woman at the front desk with fluffy blonde hair and square glasses attempted to stop me, but just as I tried to explain to her who I was, the nurse came out.

“Naomi?” Steph called.

I turned. “Yes?”

No one had contacted me, so I tried not to get my hopes up, and I also tried not to panic at the solemn expression on Steph’s face. “He’s awake. He’s been asking for you.”

Once she opened the doors, I rushed in ahead of her, smiling when I saw the relief on Zeke’s face.

“Whoa, what happened?” he asked. “They said I wouldn’t wake up?”

“You scared the hell out of me,” I said, taking his hand in both of mine, careful not to disturb the tubing.

“I imagine it did. I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice scratchy.

I frowned with my eyebrows and smiled with my mouth. “Don’t apologize, dummy. We just need to figure out what’s going on.”

He grinned. “Merry Christmas.” He looked at Steph. “I signed that paper, so can you tell her what you told me?”

“As soon as Dr. Steers returns—” Susan began.

“Hello,” the doctor said with a stiff smile. His round glasses sat high on his nose, and he looked over his tablet. He then gave me a once over. “This is…”

“Naomi, my girlfriend,” Zeke said.

“Ah! Nice to meet you, Naomi. Due to some arrhythmic behavior from his heart, I ordered an ECG. We’re still waiting on the results, but I suspect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, more commonly referred to as HCM. Has anyone mentioned enlargement of the heart, inherited cardiac muscle disorder disease, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to you, Mr. Lund?”

Zeke stared at him, confused. “Uh … no?”

Dr. Steers continued, unfazed “Do you have any family history of premature sudden death?”

“I don’t know,” Zeke said. “I grew up in foster homes.”