Page 270 of Well Played

“I’ll be okay. Thanks for coming with me.” Grant laid his head back on the stretcher and squeezed his eyes closed, taking deep breaths.

“He’ll be back at it before too long.” Jack took Grant’s vitals and logged them on the computer.

She had no doubt he’d be okay, but what about his career? They all knew he was here to get back on his feet after his last injury, and this wasn’t going to help things.

Cassie squeezed Grant’s uninjured hand and was reassured when he did it back to hers. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but she still felt terrible for the man next to her and where his dreams would land after this.

7

Grant didn’t remember muchafter they got to the hospital, except Cassie was there the whole time. There were pain meds and then just a black void with Cassie’s voice, keeping him steady and connected to the world.

Surgery was inevitable, and they’d set his finger and released him. That much he knew happened, even if he couldn’t remember it. Grant would have to see the team physician on Monday, he guessed, to see if they’d let him play.

Many other players could return with a broken finger, so he was confident he wouldn’t miss too much game time. He laid on the bed with an arm over his eyes, dreading getting up and wondering why he Cassie’s scent of berries and lemon was so strong.

Finally, he resigned himself to opening his eyes and seeing what the day had in store for him. To his shock, he wasn’t at home. Nothing around him looked familiar until he turned his head and noticed Cassie in the bed with him.

He had to be at her place, but why? He only lived across the hall. Had he said something to her? Oh, no. Grant wracked his brain to come up with some memory of what he’d said last night.

“Good morning,” Cassie said. Her voice was still full of sleep and Grant had to move to hide how much that turned him on.

“Good morning.” He faced her with a smile.

“Do you need pain meds?” she asked. “I filled your prescription before we left the hospital.”

“You did?” He really missed more than he thought. Pain meds were always too hard on him. “I’m good.”

“Yeah. I wondered how much you’d remember. You were a little loopy before they took you back and then more when you were done.” She giggled. “It was quite comical.”

“I am to entertain.” His voice was deadpan.

“Do you remember anything the doctor said?” Cassie sat up and he realized they were both still fully clothed from last night.

“No. Pain meds aren’t my friend.”

“I can tell.” She stood up and stretched her arms over her head, pulling her shirt tight across her breasts as she did. “He said you can probably return to play after a few days when they put the hard cast on.”

“Thank God.” He was so glad she was there paying attention.

“Breakfast?” She asked.

“I don’t want to impose on you. I’m sure you have somewhere to be.” Grant shifted and willed his growing erection to go down as he sat up.

“You aren’t, and I don’t have much to do. I’ll put some coffee on.”

“Not to be ungrateful, but why am I here?” Grant asked before she walked off.

She shook her head. “Your stuff was still at the stadium and while most of the team came to see you, no one thought to bring it. So after Ben drove us home last night, we had no way to get into your apartment.”

“Oh.” That made sense.

“Yeah. If you can wait, I’ll take us up there to get your things after we eat, or at least after I eat.”

After last night, he wasn’t really hungry but knew he’d need to eat something. “Got any apples?”

He followed her from her bedroom and into the kitchen. She was starting a pot of coffee as someone knocked on the door.

“I swear this better be a solicitor because if I’m related to the person on the other side of that door, I’m going to lose my shit.”

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