Page 92 of Body Check

After Gavin had swigged down a couple of large gulps, he set it aside.

Dakota reached out and took his arm, pressing two fingers to the inside of his wrist. “Look, I only have basic level first aid certification,” he said slowly. “But let me check your pulse manually. Even the best fitness trackers aren’t completely accurate.”

He pulled out his phone, pulling up his clock app and counting as he watched the seconds tick away. “It’s definitely fast,” he agreed when the minute was up. “Probably faster than it should be for someone who’s as fit and active as you are. But I didn’t feel it skip?—”

He broke off because he could feel it suddenly, an odd stutter-step in Gavin’s pulse.

“You felt that, right?” Gavin rasped, his palm pressed against his chest once again.

“Yeah, I did,” Dakota said slowly. “What exactly did you take? Is there any chance it’s messing with your heart?”

“Uhh.” Gavin suddenly looked uneasy as he glanced down at his lap. “I took a Viagra. I—I’ve taken it in the past without any issues though.”

“When we’ve been together previously?” Dakota asked.

“No! Not since … not since Rory,” Gavin admitted.

“Well, it can sometimes be an issue for people with high blood pressure,” Dakota said slowly. “Do you—do you have a family history of heart problems?”

“My grandfather died of a massive heart attack,” Gavin said, glancing up at him. “That’s one of the reasons I’ve tried to stay so active since I quit hockey.”

Dakota nodded. “Well, you’re not having any symptoms of a heart attack, right? No shooting pains or tightness or?—”

But Gavin looked up at him, eyes filled with worry. “No, but—but Thad told me today our father had heart problems last year. I don’t know what kind. What if …”

There was another odd flutter beneath Dakota’s fingertips and he heard Gavin’s sharp indrawn breath.

“Gavin,” Dakota said slowly. “I think we better get you to a hospital.”

TWENTY

Dakota sighed and stood, pacing the small private waiting room, too restless and worried to sit.

It had been hours.

He’d drunk several cups of green tea already and nibbled at the graham crackers available on a little cart nearby. But there was still no news of what was going on with Gavin.

The good thing about being connected to the Harriers organization was that a call to the team doctor had allowed Gavin to skip the line in the emergency room at the local hospital.

Unfortunately, testing still took time.

No amount of mindfulness and meditation had managed to calm Dakota’s anxiety, and he was debating if he should go pace the halls for a while when a nurse walked through the door.

She smiled at him. “You’re here for Gavin Racine?”

“Yes.” Dakota swallowed hard. “Is there news?”

“We can take you back to his room to speak to him, if you’d like.”

Oh, thank God. “Please,” he croaked.

When Dakota followed her into the small observation room and he saw Gavin, he was hit with a wave of relief so strong it left him dizzy.

Gavin looked tired. Dressed in a hospital gown and sitting upright at the end of the bed, he seemed drawn and haggard in a way Dakota had never seen before. But he also looked solid andalive.

Dakota had feared the worst.

The nurse slipped out the door, closing it behind her.

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