Page 19 of Slap Shots & Sweethearts

Lou steps closer before he crouches down to look me in the eye with a stern expression. "Don't make me call Mom."

"Overprotective much?" I mutter.

"Han," he says, calling me by my childhood nickname, and his eyes are full of so much concern.

He's not trying to ruin my life, or being a bully. No, my big, hockey-playing brother, is concerned for me. With that, my shield splintered before falling away completely

"Scale of one to ten?" Lou asks, referring to the pain scale used in the sports trainer's office.

I let out a sigh. "Ten."

He digs into my purse and pulls out one of those sleep mask things that I keep in there for when I travel. "My car's in the garage."

"What about my car?" I protest.

"I'll drive it." Matt volunteers.

Lou tosses him my keys, and that was that. Matt grabs my laptop and puts it in my pink purse for me. Completely unbothered by the looks people give him as he carries it the whole way to my car, which is parked near Lou’s.The pills start to help by the time I get buckled into Lou's Jeep. I took them too late, sleep and darkness are all that will help me get rid of the migraine now. The sleep mask helps as Lou drives through the city to my place. He keeps the music off. For as many reasons Lou irritates me, there are just as many reasons for why he is the best brother for me. When it comes down to it, Lou has never failed to help me.

When I'd started getting headaches and migraines after an unfortunate concussion Lou always made sure to carry pills just in case I needed them. I remember when I'd found him fussing with my keys one time, I'd been so upset until I realized that he was adding a pill container to the keyring for the times he wasn't there. I’ve lost count of how many times he’s slipped electrolyte packets into my purse so I'd remember to stay hydrated.

After we arrive at my place, Lou and Matt use my keys to unlock the door. I go straight to my room where I change out of my black power suit into sweats and an oversized Glacier Bay t-shirt. I burrow under the thick comforter on my bed and pull the pillow over my face just enough to block out any extra lights and sounds. Then I wait for sleep to take me under.

My eyelids feel like sandpaper when I wake up to a dark room. There's a bottle of a blue sports drink on my nightstand, and a bottle of my migraine pills next to it. The pain is gone, but I need to hydrate or it will return with a vengeance. I sit up and drink a third of the bottle before attempting to leave my bed completely.

I take the bottle with me as I leave my room. Now that the pain is gone, my stomach rumbles to remind me I haven't really eaten anything all day. It will be awhile before I'll eat another muffin, but the leftover Thai food sounds good.

I am halfway into my kitchen, running a hand through my frizzy hair that had come out of its bun sometime during my nap, when I realize the TV is on.

"Afternoon Sleeping Beauty."

I blink.

Matt is sitting on my couch, watching my TV.

I blink again.

He is still sitting there, although he's muted the TV.

"Did you put this on my nightstand?" I hold up my drink.

"No. Lou took care of that before he left."

"Lou left you here?"

"Yeah, he had a thing he said he couldn't get out of, and I said I'd stay so he'd know you were okay."

"Oh."

"Are you feeling better?" Matt asks.

"Much." My stomach grumbles.

"I ordered a pizza if you think you can wait a little bit. I wasn't sure how long you'd sleep for, and I didn't want to steal your food."

"As long as there aren't anchovies, I'm in."

"None, but I hope you're okay with pineapple."

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