Page 164 of Miami Ice

I nod. Soon he leaves, and it’s just me and Beckham.

“Did you call the coach?” I ask.

“Georgie. Stop worrying about me,” he says, bringing my hand to his lips and kissing it. “You are all we’re thinking about right now.”

“Well, I’m worried about you,” I say, the tears streaming down my face. “You’ve worked so hard to rebuild your image and now you’re ruining it for me. Please tell me you called the coach. I can talk to him. I can explain.”

He lets go of my hand and brushes his fingertips over my tears, wiping them away. “I’m not ruining anything. And yes, I left a message saying you were in an accident, and that I was at the hospital with you.”

“But you heard what Logan said. I probably have a concussion and broken ribs, possibly some kind of ankle injury. I have glass they need to get out of my back, and I need stitches, but I’m pretty sure my spine and neck are okay. You can go,” I plead. “You can still play tonight.”

“I amexactlywhere I want to be,” Beckham says, his voice strong. “I’m not letting you go through this alone.”

“But I won’t be. Ella is coming, right?”

“She’s on her way. So you’ll have both of us here, because I’mnotleaving you, baby.”

“Beckham, please. I’m so worried.”

“I meant what I said. Iloveyou. You’re my world, Georgie. And when I opened that door and saw you at the bottom of the stairs—”

He abruptly stops speaking, his eyes filling with unshed tears. He takes a few moments and swallows hard before continuing.

“When I saw you at the bottom of the stairs, and all that blood around your head—I’ve never been so scared in my life,” he says, his voice raw with emotion. “All I could think of is that you are my world, and I couldn’t lose you. I couldn’t.”

Fresh tears stream down my cheeks.

“I told you I would be there to catch you when you fall,” Beckham continues. “I wasn’t able to catch you this time. But I can be here for you now. And I’m going to be.”

“I love you so much,” I say through my tears. “I just don’t want anything to happen with the Manatees.”

“But Georgie, don’t you see? That meansnothingto me compared to being here for you,” he says.

When I see the look of love in his eyes, when I hear the pain in his voice, I know he’s not going to move. I’m his world, and if I need him, he’s not going anywhere.

Because he loves me.

The curtain rustles again, and Ella appears in the room, tearful and shaking. “Oh my God, Georgie!” she cries, flying to the other side of my bed. “I knew something had happened. I got a chill down my spine, and I couldfeelyou were in pain. How are you? What did the doctors say?”

Beckham jumps in and relays all the information for me, so I don’t have to use the energy to go through it all again.

“Oh, thank God, you’re going to be okay,” Ella says, squeezing my hand in hers.

“Don’t call Mom or Dad,” I beg. “I don’t need them coming up here and bringing all the drama. I might have to stay overnight for observation, but we can tell them after I’m discharged.”

Ella nods. “I won’t say a word, I promise.”

The curtain is moved again, and this time, Logan and another nurse are back. “Georgie, we’ll be getting you down to radiology shortly,” he tells me.

“Thank you,” I say softly.

“I’ll stay with you until they take you,” Beckham promises me. “And I’ll be here waiting for you when you get back.”

Then I look at Beckham’s face and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and love for him. He brings my hand to his lips again and presses a reverent kiss on my knuckles.

Ella clears her throat. “I’m going to go get some water and make some phone calls to let Chloe and Emilee know what’s going on. Becks, do you need anything?”

“No, thank you,” he says, his eyes never leaving my face.

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