Page 56 of Nailing Heat
“You can’t spend your time there. You need to focus on the now.” She pauses and pushes a strand of hair from my face. “You know, we have some connections at the Blaze with some therapists if you would like to talk to anyone about anything.” Her voice trails off at the end. I nod. “’Promise me you’ll think about it.”
“I will.”
The rest of the time goes by in a whirlwind. I was able to get the MRI that was needed; however, no results. That was disappointing but I guess there are some limits to August’s reach. But both of my doctors tonight agreed that the meniscus was torn but might not need surgery. The scan will confirm that. But now I have a new knee brace attached to my leg and a schedule of ice and meds.
My heart sinks further into my chest as Dex drives me home. It gives me comfort that he’s not making small talk right now. I couldn’t handle it if he was, because I’m inches from falling apart. I want to get into my own bed so that I can completely lose it inthe confines of my own four walls, hoping that it’s not loud enough for him hear me.
Chapter Twenty
~DEX~
Iget her settled into her bed. She looks so small against the pale blue sheets and tan comforter that she insists on covering her body with.
“Do you want me to stay with you for a bit?” I lower myself onto her bed and sit beside her. I stroke a finger down her cheek. “Is there anything that you need? I filled up your Stanley with some water and ice. With the medications that you are on, you’ll want to make sure that you are drinking enough fluids.”
The only reaction I get is a small nod.
“I can stay with you until you fall asleep, it’s no problem.”
She clears her throat slightly, but her voice still comes out raspy, “No, I’m fine, I want to get some sleep.”
“Okay, well, I’ll be in my room if you need anything. But yeah, sleep is a good idea. It’s been a long night for you.” I rise and start towards the door. “Do you want that light off?” I point to the soft light glowing from her bedside table.
“No, it’s fine. Leave it on. I’m fine with it on.”
I nod. “Okay, well, I’m right next door to you if you need anything. And I have you turned on as one of my contacts thatbreaks through the silence, so if you need to get up in the middle of the night, call me. I’ll help you with whatever you need.”
She gives me a small smile, faint but it’s there. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” My feet move before I really register what it is I’m doing. I head across the bedroom and place my hands gently on either side of her shoulders. My lips come down and grace her forehead gently. I linger for a moment before pulling away. Looking into her eyes, I can see they are searching mine. “Get some sleep,” I tell her and then I flee the room, closing her door slightly. I leave enough room for a crack of light to seep through.
Once I’m back in my room, I fully close the door and sit on my bed, hiding my head in my hands. I can’t believe I went and kissed her like that. Sure, I’ve been thinking of her a lot lately, more than I should. My eyes linger on her body at workouts or when we’re at home. During the games she is who I’m watching ninety percent of the time. When she hit the ground like that and I heard those screams, I reacted on instinct. There wasn’t anything that would have kept me from reaching her. I can still hear her crying when I close my eyes. The sound is staying with me, and I hate it.
My phone ringing pulls me out of my thoughts. I look at the caller ID and see it’s August.
“What’s up, man? I have no new information, just what I texted you and Coach Watts earlier,” I tell him.
“Yeah, I figured as much. I wanted to check in on you, see how you were doing. If there was anything that the two of you needed over there?” There’s a playfulness in his tone, like he’s figuring out how much I enjoy being around her.
“No, we’re fine. I finally got her settled into her bed,” I tell him.
“What, you’re not tucked in there with her?” August teases me.
“No, I’m in my own room, thank you very much.”
“Just thought I would ask.” I hear ice clinking in a glass over the line. He’s had a rough night too, probably worrying about what losing their best defender will do to their season. I’m on the coaches texting thread and they are all worried. “Why would you sprint across that field the way you did and then carry her to the training room?”
“I wanted to make sure that I got to her quickly and also I wasn’t waiting for a cart. The cart was being used by Lucas, who was taking an elderly woman to her car,” I explain to him. “I needed to get her out of there, all those eyes on her. It’s not good for an athlete when they’re injured.”
“You don’t think it would be good for the fans and team to be there supporting her as she’s checked over by you? You know some of the fans feel like they have an investment in the team and now in her recovery. They wanted to see Amelia get up and wave to the crowd or something. Carted off, not rushed off, so they have time to also process what has happened on the field.”
I shake my head and laugh. “Now you sound like your old man. Always out to make a buck or to capitalize on the misfortune of others. Making sure that the fans are getting the premium experience.” I scold him, scoffing into the phone. “Come on, man, you are better than that. You and I both know that.”
He sighs. “I don’t get why you did that. I mean, I thought that you would have waited on a cart. I watched the NFL games and would catch peeks of you on the sideline. Not once did you run to a player like that or carry them off the field.”
“August, I would head out to the field in a run sometimes,” I remind him.
“That was a jog, you were particularly sprinting.”
