Page 103 of Stick With Me
“It’s cool. I know it was an accident,” I tell him.
Knolls gives that awkward continuous nod, clearly working up the nerve to say whatever else is on his mind. I’ve got to admit, seeing him rattled is kind of satisfying. Not that I trust whatever he’s about to say, but still, it’s nice to see him sweat for a change.
“I’m also sorry about everything else,” Knolls mutters, so low I barely catch it.
“About what?” I ask, even though I know exactly what he means. Sue me, but I want to hear the words come out of his mouth. After seven years of knowing the guy, and six of hating him, I’m going to soak up all the apologies he’ll give me. And he owes me a few.
“Well, for starters, moving in on Hannah when I knew you were pretty much in love with her. Could’ve avoided all the other things I need to apologize for if I’d never done that…”
I let out an unamused huff. “No shit.” But then I catch myself. Hannah is sitting right here, and I’ve never told her how deeply my feelings ran, or how long I’ve had them for her. Sure, I told her I had a crush in college, but “crush” doesn’t scratch the surface of how badly I had it for her back then—and now.
I glance her way, searching for any sign of how she’s taking this. She saves me the stress with a soft smile. “He kinda told me before you woke up,” she says. I lift her hand to my lips.
“Go on,” I say, failing to hide the smugness in my voice as I turn my attention back to Knolls.
“I’m sorry for all of it, okay? I’m not going to interfere with your relationship or your contract. I was stupid to think I could.” He runs his hand down his face, muttering something under his breath that I barely catch, but it sounds like, “Not that my dad would listen anyway.”
I knew his sincerity would only go so far, but it’s better than nothing, I guess. As long as he sticks to his word and stays out of our business, I’ll be happy. But right now, I wish he’d leave so I can have a moment alone with Hannah.
“All right, thanks,” I say, hoping he’ll catch on and leave.
“Yeah, all right. Hope your arm’s okay. See ya.” He finally stands, offering a small awkward wave before heading out the door.
As soon as the door clicks shut, Hannah says what I’m thinking, “Well, that was weird.”
“Very fucking weird. You think aliens took over his body or something?”
We both laugh at the absurdity of his change of conscience. His departure takes with it the tension that previously filled the room.
But all too soon the worry creeps back into Hannah’s expression. “Are you really okay?”
“Yeah, Sunshine. They gave me the good drugs.”
She swats my uninjured shoulder, only to immediately cringe. “Oh crap. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Come here.” I grab her hand and tug her toward me until she’s forced to sit on the edge of the hospital bed.
“I’m gonna hurt you,” she protests, yet cuddles into my side. Her head rests on my chest, and her leg is thrown over mine. I breathe in the familiar scent of her coconut and vanilla shampoo and press a soft kiss to the top of her head.
“Thanks for coming to be my nurse.” I try to keep my tone light, but my voice cracks. Fuck, why do I feel so emotional? It must be the drugs. “You didn’t have to, but I’m glad you did.”
I feel her smile against my chest, her fingers tracing idle patterns on the hospital gown they insisted I wear. “How’re you feeling? Not physically… but with all of this.”
As the pain medicine works its way out of my system, the thoughts of what this all really means come rushing in. Do I even have a future in hockey now? What team is going to sign me? I’ll be out for months recovering from this injury. Will I even fully recover? How complicated is the surgery? What if something goes wrong? Then how will I support Hannah? Our future family?
“Hey, hey,” Hannah says, bringing my attention back to her. “I know that face. You’re spiraling, and we’re not doing that. No matter what lies ahead of us,we’regonna be okay.”
“Are you a mind reader now?” I joke, trying to relieve the lump forming in my throat.
“For your mind, yeah, maybe. I know all your tells,” she says softly.
“Oh, yeah? Like what?”
She brings her finger and touches the spot between my eyebrows. “You get these little lines here. It looks like you’re thinking too hard, like you’re trying to solve a complex calculus equation.” She kisses the spot before moving her fingers to the corner of my mouth. “And here, your lips tip down just a fraction. Not enough to look sad, but enough to let me know you’re worried.” She kisses that spot, too.
When she pulls back, my gaze catches on her lips, and watching them transform into a smile makes it impossible to feel anything but grateful.
I meet her eyes, and they look as glassy as mine feel.
