Page 99 of Bleacher Report
The world tilts, and then everything cuts to black.
When I come to, I’m flat on my back on the ice, the rink lights spinning above me.
Kendall’s crouched over me, her face sharp with worry, and one of the medics is already peeling my glove off.
"Hunter, look at me," Kendall says, voice steady but firm. "Can you hear me?"
I grunt, trying to nod, but the motion sends a jolt of pain so sharp through my shoulder that stars dance in my vision.
"Yeah," I rasp out.
"Good," she says. "You dislocated your shoulder. Don’t move. And you blacked out when you hit the ice.”
Fuck.
“How long was I out?” I ask.
“Seconds, but I’m still checking you for a concussion. You took a hard hit.”
My heart kicks into overdrive, and it has nothing to do with the pain.
If Everett hears about this—if he thinks I’m a liability—it’s one more excuse to trade me. Or even more reason if anything ripped when it dislocated.
I force my eyes open wider, trying to shake off the dizziness.
I need to get up. I need to show them I’m fine.
I—
My gaze flickers past Kendall, scanning the glass.
And there she is.
Peyton.
Standing, hands pressed against the plexiglass, eyes wide—her face almost ghost white—concern coating her beautiful face.
Not moving. Not blinking.
Just watching me.
And for a split second, the only thing I want to do is be next to her, comfort her, and tell her that I’m going to be okay, though I can’t promise that until Kendall looks at my shoulder.
Trey and Wolf skate over, dropping to their knees on either side of me.
"We’ve got you, Reedman," Wolf mutters under his breath.
They help lift me carefully, supporting most of my weight as I stumble toward the bench, cradling my arm to my chest.
Every step is agony, but worse is the sick, twisting panic in my gut. I can’t be sidelined. I can’t lose this team.
Not now.
Not after four years fighting to get back to the NHL. This can’t be my last game.
The crowd buzzes in my ears, loud and distorted, but I don’t look away from Peyton.
She’s still there, still watching, her hands curled into fists against her chest now.
