Page 42 of Home Ice

ALIENS TAKE ONE LOOK AND JUST NOPE RIGHT ON BY

BRANT

Everything happens so slowly I'm convinced I can stop it. Lily leaps using only one foot. It's an exercise I've done for years. I know the balance and coordination it requires. As soon as she pushes off the ground, I can tell she doesn't. I launch myself toward her when I see her awkward takeoff. My eyes are locked on her feet as she switches in midair. I'm sure she doesn't even give it a thought, but now her right foot is her lead. That's the ankle she just injured on Coach's goddamn tires. I try to speed myself, but I'm not close enough. Her right foot lands on the stone, and I know what's going to happen before it does. I watch as her ankle immediately gives out, and her foot rolls under. I'm too late. And hearing her cry out when I can't do anything to prevent her pain feels like being stabbed in the center of my chest.

I drop beside her and hold her calf, careful not to touch her ankle. "Stay down this time."

"I'm fine. We need to finish." The pain is obvious in her words.

"You're not fine. We need to have someone look at this."

She tries to peel one of my hands away, but I don't budge. "Hello? That's me. My job is literally evaluating and treating sports injuries, and I say I'm fine. I probably just need to walk it off. We can still win."

"Is that your official treatment plan? Just walk it off? Is that what you would tell one of us?" I don't give her a chance to answer because I wouldn't be surprised if she said yes. "Didn't think so."

I look up and see Kayden running up to Coach's side. Behind him, Poppy and his husband are jogging our way. "What's going on?" Kayden asks. "That didn't sound good."

"It wasn't good. We need to wrap this. Or better yet, an air cast. Someone get an air cast." Poppy and Zachary are here now, but not one of them is moving. "Right. Now!"

"Oh my god, Brant. Guys, it's fine. I twisted my ankle. Not a big deal. Someone help me up. Or get this stubborn man away so I can get up on my own."

"Not happening, Jams." I grip her shoulder to let her know I mean business. Her eyes go to the guys behind me, but I know not one of them will disagree with me about this. Just to be sure, I threaten each of them with a look. That's when I see the Princeling behind them all. "Princeling, what the fuck are you doing?"

He freezes in the center of the tire run. "Uh, I thought you would want us to finish the race."

"You thought wrong. Race is over." I pin him in place with my stare so he doesn't take another step.

"I was going to come help. Honestly. But it looked like you all had it under control. So I assumed?—"

"Princeling, you can shut the fuck up right now. Race is over."

I draw in a shallow breath when Lily rests her hand on top of mine. "Brant, he's fine. You don't all have to stop because of me."

But it's not fine. Just knowing she's in pain made my world stop, and everyone else's world should have stopped too. That includes rookies who are too fucking dumb for their own good. Hell, Kayden was the first one at our side, and he's as competitive as they come.

"What a year for Elijah to not be here."

"I saw Jason over at one of the tables earlier." Princeling says. He and his partner have finally come to their senses and joined the rest of the team in a circle around us. "Want me to get him."

"Fuck no." Poppy shakes his head at the rookie who has yet to learn you don't trust Jason with a hangnail.

"I'm taking you to my SUV. I have a first aid kit with a roll of athletic tape in the back. Hold still."

I slip my hands under her and she gasps. "Brant! Don't you dare!" She slaps at my arms and tries to push them away, as if she's strong enough to stop me. It might be cute if my brain were capable of processing anything other than the fact that she's in pain. "Kayden, tell him no!"

"Sorry, Lily. He's a dumbass, but even dumbasses are right sometimes."

"Somebody tell him I'm fine, please? Ow! Ow, ow, ow!"

She winces as I lift her from the ground, and I want to beat myself up for not stabilizing her ankle before picking her up. Too late now. But I'm extra careful as I carry her to my SUV. It would be a lot easier if she would stop huffing and complaining about being carried. If she would put her arms around my neck, this would— On second thought, maybe it's best if she doesn't. If I feel her arms around me, I can't promise I could stay friends like she wants.

By the time I get her to the parking lot, she's gnawing on her bottom lip and sucking in breaths through her exposed teeth. Whether or not she'll admit it, she's in pain. "Change of plans. I'm putting you in the passenger seat."

"Good. It's about time you came to your senses. It's only a sprain, and not even a bad one."

I carefully set her into the seat and then dash around the front of the SUV. I always thought it was stupid when I would see someone in a movie slide across the hood of their car, but I understand now. Going the extra distance makes the trip to the other side seem endless. But finally I get there and slip in behind the wheel. "Buckle up, Jams. I'm taking you to an urgent care."

"Oh my flipping god, Brant! I have a master’s degree in athletic training. Plus I've been working with professional athletes for the last four years. I probably have more experience with sprains than anyone at an urgent care."

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