Page 126 of Pinch
My eyes go to her at once, and nothing matters when I see my beautiful Haddy, tears in her eyes, blinking up at me.
“Gavin?” Her voice breaks, and she’s on her feet. “Do you know me? Do you know where you are?”
“Fuck yeah, Princess.” My voice is scratchy like I’ve eaten a handful of sand.
She quickly hits a button on my bedside and grabs a plastic cup with a straw. “Water?”
I pull the plastic straw between my lips, but my eyes are drinking her in.
She’s exhausted. Her pretty eyes have dark circles beneath them, and I can tell she’s been crying. A lot.
It hits me in the stomach, and I just want to hold her, make sure she’s okay. “How long have I been here?”
That sip of water made a world of difference in the sound of my voice.
“Four days.” Her nose wrinkles, and she takes my hand again. “We were so worried.”
“Holy shit.” I push against the mattress, trying to sit up straighter.
That’s when the pain hits me hard, radiating through my skull like a spear. I can’t speak, it hurts so bad, but Haddy is on it.
“I’ll get the nurse. I pressed the call button, but they must be busy…” She starts for the door, right as it opens. “He’s awake!” Haddy announces.
My room is suddenly a rush of commotion. Doctors surround me, nurses take my vitals. Lights are shined in my eyes, my heart rate is checked, but all I want is something to kill this pain in my head.
I’m asked a million questions. They assess my cognition, my injury, my recall. What’s the last thing I remember?Trying to block that slapshot. Who was the first president?George Washington.
Finally, I’m given a massive Tylenol, which seems like aletdown, but I’m not asking for a drug problem on top of whatever this head injury is going to mean for the rest of the season.
For the next however long it takes, I’m inundated with family. Both my moms are at my side holding my hands, but my eyes keep going to Haddy. All I want is to hold her, talk to her, make sure the baby’s okay, make sure she’s okay.
“I only asked for one thing, Lane Knight,” my mom Elaine playfully teases.
I can see in her blue eyes how scared she’s been. She’s not as practiced at hiding her emotions as my mom Kenny is.
“My mouthguard must’ve got loose when I fell.” I touch the back of my broken tooth carefully with my tongue.
Mom Kenny is right beside her. “I hear they’ve made wonderful advances in the field of dentistry, Elaine.”
I manage a smile, but Elaine shakes her head when she sees my snaggletooth.
“I’m just so glad you’re okay.” She presses a kiss to my forehead. “I love you, Laney.”
I squeeze her arm. “I know, Mom. I love you, too.”
MK watches with amusement in her bright blue eyes. I can tell she’s relieved as well.
“Maybe we should give you and Haddy some alone time?” She steps forward to kiss my cheek carefully. “Can I bring you anything?”
“Yeah…” I look around, thinking about unfinished business. “I need my phone.”
Her lips tilt in a frown. She disapproves that my first request is a screen, but she doesn’t know what I had planned to do before it all went to hell.
“I think Haddy has it,” is all she says.
“I have to be sure…” I look around the room, lowering my voice, “...something’s secure.”
She shakes her head, putting the phone in my hand. “I’ll be back. Love you, babe.”
