Page 102 of Little Do You Know

Sebastian’s knees buckle as he tries to take a step. He slumps forward immediately, making no movement to catch himself as he falls to the ground.

I stand frozen as medics run on the field, and then my feet start to move of their own accord.

He’s just lying there, and I need to get to him so Bash knows he’s not alone. He thinks he’s alone, but he’s not. A set of arms catch me by my waist, stopping me before I get more than a few steps off the sidelines.

I try to push the arms off, desperation taking over. “Thalia, no. You can’t be out here,” Chris’s voice says firmly, pulling me tightly against him to lead me back to the sidelines. “You can’t help Bash right now. Let the medics do their jobs.”

I can’t stop the hot tears streaming down my face. “He got hit hard. Bash is going to be okay, right?”

He hesitates, and I try to look back. I could slip under his arm, but Chris is right. I can’t help him right now. “He’ll be fine. He gets hit all the time, and the good thing is Sebastian got up. Owen, you need to get her off this field right now,” he says, and then I’m passed off to my brother.

“Thanks, Chris. Now go talk to Evan. I’m sure he’s shitting his pants right about now. Just cover a few plays with him, and I-I don’t know,” Owen says breathlessly. “Lia, what were you thinking? You can’t fucking run out here,” he snaps harshly, but I know my brother. Owen’s afraid because he saw the exact same thing I did.

CHAPTER FORTY

Sebastian

I’VE LOST TRACK of how many times the medics have shone a light in my eyes. Owen is hovering in the corner of the training room, and I’m livid. After I passed out, they brought me back here to do a full assessment. Owen was only able to come back once the game was over, and he told me we won by a field goal. A fucking field goal. We were up by two touchdowns before I went out. “I’m fine, I just stood up too fast,” I snap, moving to get up off the exam table. One look from Lyndsey has me staying right where I am.

“Walker, I don’t think I need to tell you that this is all standard protocol. We have to make sure you don’t have a concussion. You collapsed on the field after getting hit. I shouldn’t have to tell you how serious that is.”

“Lyndsey’s right. You need to get checked out,” Owen agrees gruffly, crossing his arms as he leans against the wall.

I don’t think I have a concussion. I know that I blacked out or whatever, but I’m fine.

Coach C walks in, radiating about as much unhappiness as I feel. There were penalties called, and we still won, but I mean, come on. We should have blown this team out of the water. “Lewis, get your ass up on that table next to Walker. Malik is going to come look at you when he’s done checking on Tyler and Ryan. I saw you favoring your left leg. And I’m assuming she belongs to you guys,” he says, motioning to Thalia, who is right behind him.

Her green eyes are red and swollen from crying. Oh fuck.I’ve been so pissed off about not getting to go back in that I didn’t consider how much seeing me go down would have scared everyone. Now I feel like an ass.

“Coach, I’m sorry. I should have stopped her sooner,” Owen starts to apologize, and now I’m lost. I guess the confusion on my face is caught by Lyndsey, who frowns.

“Fill this form out while I go help Malik. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Carl, will you make sure he stays sitting? I don’t need him passing out again.”

I set the clipboard down next to me. “It’s fine. She’s not going to get in trouble. She only made it a few feet before Price caught her,” Coach says, rubbing his temples before looking at Thalia. “You don’t step on my field again, got it?”

She nods quickly, and I piece it together. Lia ran onto the field. I know I shouldn’t, but I’m kind of flattered she tried to do that. Thalia walks quickly to my side, hugging me tightly. I wrap an arm around Thalia protectively. I didn’t mean to scare her.

“How are you feeling?” Coach asks, and I tap my fingers on my knee rapidly.

“I’m fine. I could have finished the game.” Actually, I’m sore as hell, but I still could have done it.

He gives me a look of annoyance. “No. If you were fine, you wouldn’t have collapsed on the field. I don’t care if we would have lost that game. There’s no way in hell I was letting you step back out there. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I had.”

I look over at Owen for help, but I’m not going to get any from him once I see the stony expression on his face. “What happened to your leg?” I ask Owen, and he shrugs.

“I slipped on the wet turf, and it’s tight now. I need Malik to stretch it out. Thalia, let him go so he can fill the papers out,” he snaps harshly. I give Owen a scolding glance because he really doesn’t have to be like this when she’s clearly upset.

I drop my voice to whisper in her ear. “Love, I’m fine. I promise. Why don’t you go find your parents, and I’ll find you after I’m done here?”

She looks up at me to see if I’m telling the truth, and I feel terrible seeing the worry in her emerald eyes. “Do you promise?”

“Yes.”

Thalia’s reluctant as she unravels from me. “Right after?”

I smile because while I know there’s nothing funny about this, in a few weeks, I’m sure I’ll give her plenty of crap about how worried she is. “I promise, go on.”

She disappears the same way she came in, and I roll my shoulders, feeling how tight I am already. I pick up the form and start to check boxes because if I don’t have this done by the time Lyndsey gets back, she’ll chew my ass out.

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