Page 13 of Heart of a Fighter

“No, they’re better.” Granger glares at Daniel as the room quiets to a dull rumble. “Your two measly stitches popped.”

“Impossible...unless you got into an altercation after the game.” Daniel’s voice is laced with sarcasm and disdain. He glances over his shoulder at Dr. Evans, whose interest has been piqued.

“Let’s have a look, Granger.” Dr. Evans crosses the room.

“It was barely anything. The cut wasn’t even that big,” Daniel stammers. “A bandage would have sufficed.”

My heart pounds against my chest as I watch the scene unfold. The elation of the weekend drains from my body, and the urge to launch into protective mode and defend Granger weighs heavy on my heart. My hands tremble slightly as I sense the scrutiny Granger must feel with all eyes in the room on him.

The warm bubble of our time together dissipates, quickly overshadowed by the cold realization that our secret is on the precipice of being revealed in the worst way possible.

“Stitches look good. If these aren’t Daniel’s, then you must have some explanation.” Dr. Evans eyes Granger. “You know the protocol, Granger. Unless there’s a medical emergency, you’re supposed to call for the team doctor on call. If you were in a bar fight or something else, we need to get ahead of the media on this before your father gets a call.”

Granger’s jaw tightens as he tilts his head and cracks his neck. I’ve seen him do it enough times on the ice to know he’s near his breaking point. There’s no way he’d take a swing at Dr. Evan’s, but Daniel? Maybe, considering the botched job Daniel did on his shoulder. But the fact that Granger’s father is being held over his head causes me to break my silence. There’s too much water under the bridge there, and someone...I...need to stand up for Granger this time.

“I stitched him up,” I blurt out in desperation. “Granger wasn’t fighting. I saw the stitches.” My eyes dart from Granger to Daniel before falling on Dr. Evans. “They were loose and inadequate for the cut.”

“And how exactly did you have access to the tools necessary to mend the stitches?” Dr. Evans raises an eyebrow, skepticism etches on his face. “You aren’t supposed to be here after hours, Lauren. Nor do you have the clearance to perform this type of medical care.”

I exchange a nervous glance with Zach, and my heart falls to the pit of my stomach. I’ve ruined everything. Zach folds his arms over his chest and straightens his stance. He’s always been bigger and taller than me, but right, now he looms larger than life, making me feel inadequate and small. No matter what, I’ll take the heat for Zach, for Granger, for all of this.

“I have supplies from nursing school at my house,” I say.

A heavy silence falls over the locker room. Guilt floods through me as I hold Zach’s gaze, knowing I’ve disappointed him on so many levels. My stomach twists into knots. Zach put his trust in me to be a professional. Now that trust hangs in the balance, the weight of it presses against my chest, making it difficult to breathe.

I’ve jeopardized my future and the unbreakable bond we share as siblings. The fear of losing his respect and the potential fallout from my actions loom large. I can only hope that, somehow, he’ll understand.

Before the situation escalates further, Coach walks into the room, clapping his hands, oblivious to what’s unfolding. “Everyone on the ice for practice. We’ve got a big game against the Predators, and I need everyone’s focus today.”

Granger shoots me a brief, appreciative look as he heads out. If the only good thing that comes out of this is Granger knowing I’ll fight for him and take his side, then so be it. I have his back.

“Lauren, in my office,” Dr. Evans commands. “I’d like a word in private.”

I’m sorry, I mouth to Zach, feeling helpless to salvage the situation. He closes his eyes and shakes his head. He unfolds his arms and places a firm hand on my shoulder as he sighs.

“You went out on a limb for me, and I screwed up,” I say quickly, my heart heavy. “This is my fault.”

“I don’t care that you patched someone up. You’ve doctored me for years. I just wish you’d used better judgment,” Zach says. “Granger knows better. He’s the one I have an issue with.”

“This isn’t his fault either,” I counter quickly as Zach turns. I grab his arm, my voice barely a whisper for privacy. “I invited him to my house. That’s my business. I care about him. He isn’t the bad guy everyone makes him out to be.”

“What are you saying?” Zach whips his head around, his eyes dark with anger. “Did he—did you two—?

“He’s your best friend,” I say, pleading with my eyes. “Please give him a chance. For me.”

***

Granger

Daniel’s lack of professionalism and unwillingness to admit to his shabby handiwork make my blood boil. I clench my jaw, trying to keep my cool, but it’s hard when he can’t be objective, laying the blame at my feet. He’s too biased to consider the possibility that he’s a shoddy physician’s assistant. Like everyone else, he assumes the worst about me.

When Lauren interrupts, her words hit me with a surprising amount of relief. It isn’t often that someone stands up for me, especially not in front of the team. For a moment, my frustration ebbs, and something I’ve rarely experienced settles in my heart–acceptance. But it comes at a cost for Lauren. Her internship and future career are at stake. I don’t take that lightly.

Nor do I take Zach’s stern stare lightly. He isn’t easily riled, but there’s no mistaking the anger in his eyes as he looks my way.

When he first joined the team, he was green behind the ears. I did my father’s bidding and showed him the ropes. Turns out he’s a fast learner and an all-around great guy, more eager to please than I am. We’re more than teammates. We’ve been the best of friends since day one. The problem is that it also means he knows all my faults and shortcomings. Convincing him that Lauren isn’t some passing fancy will be an uphill battle.

I lock eyes with Lauren one last time before heading out of the locker room, silently promising that this isn’t over. I won’t let her take the blame for something that wasn’t her fault. Everything’s unraveling because of me and my inability to patiently wait things out.

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