Page 23 of Ice, Ice… Maybe?

“It looks worse than what it is – and with all that swelling it’s traumatizing, I’m sure. I’m going to keep him overnight to make sure nothing else is going on, and we’ll get some icepacks on there to help keep the swelling down.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

“Do you have any questions, Mr. Giroux?”

Travis tried to make a noise and was obviously struggling to form the word, flinched and looked at Becca, helpless.

“He’s in a lot of pain – can you do the stitches first?” she said, speaking up and saw his grateful look as he squeezed her hand gently in a silent communication before she continued. “Some salve for his lips so they don’t dry out – and plenty of painkillers and ice packs for when you set his nose. We need ‘the works’ so Travis can relax and sleep this off.”

The doctor nodded, chuckled, and patted Travis on the foot.

“Don’t you worry – we’ll make sure you don’t feel a thing.”

Less than twenty minutes later,they shuffled Becca out of the hospital room so they could suture his lip. She stood up, brushed his hair back from his forehead, and spoke to Travis.

“They’re going to get you all fixed up and feeling much better. I’ll be in the hallway with your uncle. Just let them do their magic, and I’ll be here when you wake up.”

He nodded as a tear streaked down his cheek.

“Shhh,” she whispered emotionally, wiping it away. “We’re going to get you some really good drugs so the pain goes away.”

“Uuhhhdly?”

“Huh? Ugly? Oh no, Travis,” she whispered in suddenly understanding. For someone in the limelight, his looks were probably everything and kept him there. She’d seen her friend’s reaction when he skated up to her to say ‘Hi’ at their first meeting. Now that she’d actually knew him, she recognized him on a billboards near the highway. He was worried if his looks were going to run her off – or possibly ruin his career.

“When I look at you, I don’t see any of this – but just my friend in your eyes,” she breathed. “This is just a shell, and the man I’m supposed to be dating is more than just a pretty smile. You said you were my boyfriend, right?”

He made a noise, his Adam’s apple moving as he swallowed, and she nodded.

“Then trust me to be your girlfriend. I’m here, and a little scar isn’t going to scare me off,” she promised. “You’ll be fine and will look almost the same. If it was me, would you leave?”

He slowly shook his head once as he gazed at her.Poor thing, she thought silently. His pupils were large in his eyes telling her he was higher than a kite on painkillers, as they wheeled in a surgical tray with all sorts of needles, syringes, and gauze.

“See you soon – okay?” and kissed his brow once more, trying to reassure him.

Hours later,Travis was sleeping in his hospital bed with his nose braced and bandaged, his lip stitched and also covered with a dressing, with a cooling water mask lying across his face. He honestly looked like the character, ‘The Man in the Iron Mask’and would keep that opinion to herself forever. He was finally sleeping when the nurse came to check on him and tell them visitation was over for the evening except for one family member.

Davy looked at her and smiled knowingly.

“I am assuming you are staying, so can I bring you some coffee in the morning?”

“You don’t mind?”

“Not at all.”

“I appreciate that, Davy – and anything will do. I’m not worried about my comfort, just his.”

“Which is the only reason I feel comfortable leaving you with my nephew. He’s crazy about you, and I’m starting to think it might be the same.”

“It is,” she whispered nervously.

“Be good, and just try to rest while you can. I’ll see you in the morning, Becca. The security guards will be at the door all night if you need anything at all.”

“Thank you, Davy.”

The older man nodded before leaving the hospital room. Becca just sat there, her mind whirling at how much had happened in the last few hours and the emotions within her. There was so much going on right now, and a part of her wanted to believe that this was all real. That some gorgeous and famous hockey star had singled her out, wanting her to fall for him, but that little voice in her head was saying quite a bit differently. That voice was brutally honest – and she needed to listen to it.

You’re convenient…

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