Page 56 of Light It Up Red
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lili,” I tell her honestly, glance around the room, and look back at her again.
I was shot… I remember leaving practice yesterday. I remember the pain, the blood, the red lights. Envisioning her red lips…
“I love you. So damn much. I’m so sorry,” Lili says.
Before I can respond, the door opens and my parents walk in. Followed by someone else. A doctor, if the lab coat and scrubs are anything to go by. Lili slips her hand free and steps away from the bed.
“Babe, it’s okay. I’m okay,” I tell her while trying to force myself up again.
“I… I’m sorry,” she repeats with a fresh wave of tears streaming down her face.
“It’s not your fault.”
She offers me a sad smile before turning and running out of the room.
“Shit,” I hiss out as I attempt to push up from the bed.
“Stop. You can’t get up.” My mom rushes to my side and gently presses down on my chest.
“I need to get her,” I say.
“She’ll be back. Just stay put,” Mom tells me.
“I’ll go talk to her.” My dad nods in my direction before pushing through the door.
The doctor picks up my chart, glances down, then looks up at me. “Mr. O’Neil, you’re one lucky man.”
Lucky? My fucking girlfriend just ran out of the room in tears, and I’m stuck here, in this bed, unable to go after her. I don’t consider that fucking lucky.
I keep that thought to myself, though.
“The projectile missed all major organs and we were able to control the bleeding. Barring infection, you should be able to make a full recovery in no time,” he says.
“When can I get back out on the ice?” I ask. It’s not my first concern right now, but it is a concern.
“That’ll depend on your body and how it heals. The police are waiting to talk to you,” he says, without giving me much of an answer.
“They can wait,” my mother is quick to chime in.
“Mom, I need to speak to Grayson. Can you find my phone?” I ask her.
“Oh, he’s just out in the hall. I’ll send him in and go find your father and Liliana.” She bends down and kisses my forehead. “Do not scare me like this ever again, Travis,” she scolds, like I got myself shot on purpose.
“I won’t,” I tell her anyway.
The doctor follows my mother out of the room, and I’m left alone for a whole minute before Grayson walks in.
“Is Lili out there?” I ask him.
“She’s with her brother,” he says, and some of my panic eases with the knowledge that she’s with her family.
“We need to talk.” My eyes bounce between my teammate and the door.
“Hold that thought.” Grayson raises a finger to his lips, urging me to be quiet. Then he sticks his head out the door and someone else walks in. It’s Enzo, one of Lili’s cousins. He pulls a black box out of his pocket and flicks a switch.
“What’s that?” I ask. I really don’t want to have this conversation in front of a Valentino.
“A scrambler,” Enzo says. “Can never be too careful. Thin walls and all.” He shrugs.
