Ryan's POV

I watched in horror as all the color drained from Kelsie's face. The phone slipped from her hand, and she slid to the floor shaking.

Not sure what else to do, I picked up the phone. I looked at Kelsie for confirmation and she nodded, so I spoke. "I'm Ryan, a friend of Kelsie's. Is everything okay?" I was worried for Kelsie. Whoever was on the other end obviously didn't have good news. I hit the speaker on her phone so that she could hear everything that was said.

"Mason had a skateboarding accident. We think his arm may be broken. We are on our way to the hospital with him now. I should have said that first. I knew she was going to freak out. Please tell Kelsie I'm sorry about that."

After hanging up the phone, I looked at Kelsie, she was crying and still shaking and her face was very pale. I helped her up off of the floor, taking a moment to pick up our discarded shirts. She quickly pulled it on and fastened her jeans. Our passionate encounter only moments earlier forgotten.

"Come on. I'll drive you to the hospital." I offered.

Kelsie sobbed quietly in her seat on the way to the hospital. I took her hand and squeezed it. "He's going to be fine Kels. A broken bone is almost a rite of passage for boys."

"Somehow that doesn't make me feel any better." She sniffled.

I knew nothing I could say would make her feel any better. Only seeing Mason would do that, so I put some Riley Green music on, knowing he was one of her favorites. She gave me a weak smile.

********

"Mason has a right radial fracture. Clean break. Should heal without any complications." The doctor explained to Kelsie as he showed her the X-rays. Kelsie looked to be on the verge of tears again, and before I could step in, the doctor continued on. "He's going to be just fine Mrs. O'Connor. The same exact thing happened to my son, about the same age. Boys will be boys." The doctors eyes were kind and he patted her shoulder reassuringly.

"How long will he be in the cast?" She asked

"About six weeks, depending on how fast he heals. He should be done with getting that cast right about now. You can go in and see for yourself how he's doing."

Kelsie thanked the doctor, and we made our way to Mason's room. Kelsie started crying again as soon as she saw her son. His knees were scraped up and the bright yellow cast looked so bulky on his thin arm.

Kelsie threw her arms around him hugging him tightly. "Ryan! What are you doing here?" He asked excitedly.

"I had to see how my little buddy was doing." I said, giving his good hand a fist bump.

"Look. My cast matches your car." He exclaimed.

"It sure does." I replied.

"How are you feeling baby?" Kelsie asked, taking a seat next to him.

"Pretty bummed. This really stinks mom. It's summer break, and I can't do anything because of this stupid cast." He frowned.

"Just think of all the cool autographs you'll get this weekend though." I said trying to cheer him up.

"Really? I can hang out with you again this weekend?"

"Absolutely." I told him, and Kelsie gave me a grateful smile. Damn. What I wouldn't do for that smile.

We waited around the hospital the next thirty minutes or so while they got all of Mason's paperwork together, along with a prescription for a mild painkiller.

On the way back to Kelsie's house, Mason was beginning to get groggy.

"Why am I so tired mom?" He asked.

"It's the medicine they gave you honey. It's going to make you sleepy." She explained.

"But I'm not ready to go to sleep." His voice had taken on a slight whine, making him sound much younger than normal.

"I know you're not baby, but you need to rest so you can heal." She had a soothing, calm tone, obviously from years of being a nurse.

*******

"Ryan, would you come upstairs with me and mom, so you can tell me goodnight?" Mason asked, his eyes getting heavier and heavier.

"Sure I will bud." I followed them up to Masons room, and watched as Kelsie tucked the blankets around him and kissed his forehead.

"I love you baby. Sweet dreams." She said.

"I love you too mom. Can I talk to Ryan alone for a minute?" He looked at Kelsie, then at me. Kelsie left the room, closing the door softly behind her. I sat down on the edge of the bed.

"What's up bud?" I asked.

"Can I ask you something Ryan?"

"Sure. What do you want to know?"

"Will you start dating my mom?" I wasn't sure if he was asking me to date his mom or if I was going to date his mom.

"Do you want me to date your mom?" I asked, and he nodded.

"I think that would be the coolest thing ever." He grinned sleepily. "So will you?"

I had to choose my words carefully. "That's not just up to me bud. That's up to your mom too."

"But she likes you. I know she does, and I think you like her too."

"How do you know she likes me?" I was curious.

"Because she smiles a lot more since you became our friend. Please Ryan. I like seeing her smile. She's not as sad as she used to be."

My heart went out to him. He really was a great kid, and I would love to tell him I would be more than happy to date his mom, but I just wasn't sure where Kelsie's head was with all of this.

"Why don't you get some sleep and we'll talk about it another time." I knew I was putting him off, but I just didn't know what to tell him.

"Okay. Will you come back and see me tomorrow Ryan!"

"Sure will bud. I'll be here."

I closed the door behind me and went downstairs into the living room. Kelsie was sitting on the couch with her dog Riley's head in her lap. I was starting to miss my own dog. Good thing my younger sister had taken him for a couple of days since I had not been home since early evening yesterday.

Kelsie looked exhausted, like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Maybe I should leave and let her get some rest.

She looked up and saw me standing there watching her. She moved Riley off her her lap, making room for me.

"How are you doing?" I asked, sitting down next to her.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Okay I guess. It's the worst thing in the world seeing your child hurt." A tear escaped from her eye and rolled down her cheek.

I pulled her to me and wrapped my arms around her. "Mmmm. I need this so much right now." She said softly.

"What? A hug?" I asked.

"Yeah. A hug from you." I felt her begin to relax in my arms. She was letting some of her walls down.

"You've had a rough day." I commented.

"Most of it was really good though. What did you and Mason talk about?"

I hesitated a bit. "Uhm. Mason thinks we should date."

"Oh does he now?" She laughed. "What did you tell him?"

"I said we would talk about it later, but he said he knows I like you, and he's right. He also thinks you like me too. His words." I noticed her cheeks were flushed, and it was really cute.

"He is right. I do like you." She placed a soft kiss on my lips. "I think we should see where this goes."