Page 93 of Player
That tone gives me unpleasant chills. It'shim. I try to remember where I am and what I'm doing here. Fragments of the play come back to me. Vernon… the hit.. the double thump of my head on the turf…
"Adams, I'm counting on you to give him what he needs."
Nausea twists my stomach.
"I pay you enough to ensure he gets on the field..."
My consciousness decides to pull the curtain, and when I hear again what's happening around me, it's still his voice that reaches me. I’m in the trainer’s room, not the hospital, but still he’s there, this time speaking right in my ear:
"You're going to wake up, and you're going to be out on that field for the bowl game. . I've bet a pile of money on you, so you're going to obey me. And if you don't, you'll have big problems, I can guarantee that."
I want to tell him to go fuck himself, that whatever sort of fucked up gambling issue he’s got isn’t my problem, but all I'mcapable of producing is a gurgle. My eyelids open slowly, and the light assaults me.
"I knew you could hear me," Bolton snarls. "Let me be very clear, either you do what I tell you, or your life will turn into hell. And if that's not enough, I won't hesitate to go after the people you care about."
Now that my vision is clear, I can read the hatred and rage distorting his features.
"First, I'll make sure your friend Emery can't play anywhere anymore, then it'll be your bitch of a girlfriend's turn."
Dixie!
"Leave her alone!"
But my voice is too weak, and my response doesn't have the intended effect. A nasty sneer twists Bolton's lips.
"Do what I tell you, and everything will be fine."
With those words, he turns on his heel and leaves the room. I don't hear anything else, and I couldn't say how much time passes before a team doctor finally comes to check on me.
As if I need a doctor to tell me I’ve got a concussion.
I wakeup in the hospital feeling like I've been hit by a train. The doc finally put his foot down and said I had to be observed overnight, for which I am reluctantly grateful. I turn my head and see that someone delivered flowers after the staff finally let me sleep. Seems someone cares about me after all.
"Player!"
Dixie's voice reaches me before she materializes in front of me. Worry and relief battle across her beautiful face.
She smiles at me, and I do my best to smile back. "Hey, you."
She squeezes my hand, and I try to squeeze, but my hand feels weak. The fuck?
Dixie notices, and bites her lip. I can sense there’s something going on. “What is it?”
"They didn’t say, I’m not family, but I overheard…" she starts, and I can see the look in her eyes.
"Is it serious?" I ask, cutting through the proverbial Gordian knot.
"The doctors say you'll recover," she informs me. "But they need to run more tests."
She looks at me, tears welling in her eyes.
"I was so worried about you when I saw you go down…"
I squeeze her fingers as hard as I can. It’s not much, but it’s something.
"I need to tell the doctor you're awake," she announces reluctantly.
She walks away and I hear the door close behind her.
