Page 99 of One More Time

From the moment we arrived at the hospital, it was a whirlwind. They wheeled him away and sent me to a waiting room where I paced back and forth in full hockey gear for what felt like hours.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, and when I turned around, half the team stood behind me. Preston handed over my kit bag and led me to a nearby restroom to change and freshen up. I spared only a brief glance in the mirror, confirming that I looked as pathetic as I felt. Stepping out of the bathroom, I headed towards the crowd forming for the man who seemed oblivious to how much he mattered.

A cluster of hockey players challenged the limited space but despite the nurses’ growing agitation, we stayed. Even Coach joined us, tapping his phone against his palm with a frown etched on his features.

Cal approached me, his hand resting on my shoulder. “I spoke to Jamie. Their Auntie has called the hospital and listed you as his emergency contact, so they’ll be updating you.” Thoughts of Tyler’s brother, alone in Australia, intensified the ache in my heart.

An hour later, the team was officially asked to leave. Though I was grateful for the relative silence, my phone and keys rattled in my pocket with the nervous jiggle of my leg. Eventually, a nurse emerged with a tablet. Lips moved, presumably uttering my name, but the sound failed to register as panic tightened its grip on my chest.

“Hunter Graves?” I nodded, rendered speechless.

“Tyler is currently under observation; he’s still unconscious. Our main concern was the concussion and the stitches he needed on the back of his head. Other than game-related bruises, he’s okay, and his vitals are stable. We anticipate he’ll regain consciousness once his body is ready, but we’re closely monitoring him in case of any changes.”

“When do you think he’ll wake up?”

The subtle change in her expression wasn’t lost on me. “That’s hard to say, Mr. Graves; head injuries are unpredictable. It could be a few hours or even days. We’re vigilant in case any developments require further intervention, but, for now, it’s a waiting game.”

“So, what? I just have to play the role of the worried partner while my boyfriend is unconscious, like some tragic movie?” I snapped, overwhelmed by the clichéd scenario unfolding. It felt like a combination of every tragic rom-com I’d ever seen.

“I can’t guarantee the outcome, Mr. Graves, but his vitals are promising. With time, we hope he’ll wake up on his own.”

I suppressed an eye roll and refrained from expressing my frustration. She then asked if I wanted to see him, and my incredulous look conveyed the absurdity of the question.

I followed her down a seemingly endless hallway before she gestured to a closed door and left me alone. As I stepped inside, my heart stuttered at the sight of Tyler—paler under the harsh fluorescent lights, the monitors beeping steadily, and an absence of his usual vibrancy. His long eyelashes, which normally fluttered, were still against his cheeks. Sitting there, holding his hand, I hoped that last night wouldn’t be our last.

Twenty-four hours of hell was the only way to describe the day that followed. Exhaustion clung to me, yet sleep remained elusive. I rested my head on his torso, attempting to catch his familiar scent through the overpowering smell of antiseptic.

“Baby, please,” I surrendered. The floodgates opened, releasing all the emotions I’d tried so hard to keep bottled up. Tears streamed down, and I couldn’t remember the last time I cried so much. Drifting in and out of sleep, I dreamt of Tyler’s fingers gently threading through my hair, the sound of his voice, and the comforting sight of his blue-green eyes. I’d taken too long to tell that man I loved him, and my mind and body craved his presence. His voice echoed through the darkness of my dreams, as a sweet torment.

“Boston, time to wake up.”

My eyes fluttered open, the symphony of sounds reminding me of where I was. Glancing at Tyler, I feared encountering the vacant expression that often accompanied consciousness after an ordeal like that. Instead, I was met with his bleary eyes, and impulsively our lips met in a kiss. He responded with a groan and as I pulled back, his pain-laden smile tugged at my heartstrings.

“God, I’m torn between being ecstatic that you’re awake and ready to rip you a new one for scaring the shit out of me, baby.”

His lip quirked. “You still owe me a last time, remember? So, if it’s ripping a new one, I know how I’d prefer you do it.”

Laughter bubbled up, and I planted a light kiss on his lips. “I love you.” The words spilled out, and Tyler’s eyes glossed over. My gut twisted with anticipation, but before I could reassure him that he didn’t need to reciprocate just yet, his hand found my hoodie and clung on.

“I love you too, Boston. Have for some time now.” Despite myself, I closed my eyes, wanting to capture this moment.

As I leaned in for another kiss, the commotion from the hallway reached us, and I pulled back just in time before Cal and Jarman barged through the door.

“Oh, thank sweet baby Jesus, you’re okay!” Cal’s voice reached new heights as he rushed across the room. Tyler endured Cal’s exuberance—with a grimace—and I shot warning daggers in his direction. “Sorry, sorry, subtle was never my middle name.” Cal kissed the top of Tyler’s head and settled down. Jarman chuckled. “You know, Aus, I’m going to have to teach you not to take a hit with your head.”

I sought my guy’s reaction, finding only that heart-stopping smirk on his face. “Think you might, aye.”

Chapter fifty-three

Tyler

“Hey,” I said, observing my brother’s face tighten at the sight of me in a hospital room. I spoke up again before he could say anything. “I’m fine, James, just a concussion. I’ll be out of here today.”

“You scared me, Ty,” he scolded.

I closed my eyes, understanding the fear firsthand. Hunter had kept them updated on my condition, but I hadn’t mustered the courage to call home, avoiding the face of a little brother who feared losing yet another family member. The worry that someone would be taken away from us seemed ingrained in our very beings.

“I know, but I’m okay. No serious injuries, just a bump to the head.”

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