Page 7 of A Quarterback for Christmas

“Oooow, ow, ow, ow.”

My suitcase crashes into the concrete airport wall, splitting open. It doesn’t matter that my underwear is splayed out, freezing in the snow because a stabbing pain radiates through my ass, slightly numbed by the sharp chill from my flipped skirt.

Fuck. My. Life.

Drew’s by my side instantly, throwing his jacket over my thighs to cover my modesty.

My teeth chatter and the searing pain makes it hard to concentrate on anything else. “I’m fine,” I grit out.

Chuckling, Drew stands and ignores me. “You really do hate me, don’t you?” He’s only in a t-shirt, which means I can see goosebumps scattered across his bronzed skin, but that’s the only evidence that his body is affected by the weather.

Turning away, he pulls out his phone and starts dialing a number.

“Who are you calling? It better not be my dad.” I feel a little woozy as I try to sit up, and I must have twisted my ankle because moving it feels damn near impossible.

“An ambulance.”

“Why? It’s just a rolled ankle. I’ll be fine.” I grin, hiding the wince from the pain that seems to worsen, even though the ice should be numbing it.

With his phone to his ear, he looks at my legs and smirks. “Sorry, B. It’s not just a rolled ankle. You’ve broken a bone.” He says it so casually that it takes a minute to sink in.

My brain whirrs in confusion. “What the hell are you talking about? No, I didn’t.” This time, I force myself up through the screeching pain. “It’s just a sprain. That’s all it is.”

He snorts. “I wouldn’t look under my jacket then. You’ll be grossly disappointed with what you find.”

Turning away, he speaks into the phone. “Hi, yes, I require an ambulance at Hope airport.”

His words drift past my mind as I brush Drew’s black, puffy jacket off my legs and gasp.

“What the…” My pale skin almost matches the snow, but the most prominent feature is my shin bone poking out of my leg in a direction that is anything but normal.

“Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.”

I can barely breathe, and I’m even more lightheaded than before.

“Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.”

“Bella? Dammit. I told you not to look.” Drew drops his phone, and his big paws immediately clutch my cheeks. “Bella, look at me.”

I try to look at him, but it’s too late; I’m already freaking out. Gulping the air, the only thing I can think about is how bad my leg looks. “Bella, please start breathing.”

His voice sounds like honey as the air thins around me. My head feels so heavy that I have to lean it against Drew’s hands.

The white snow trickling behind Drew starts to darken, and all I can see are the soft tones of Drew’s eyes before everything goes dark.

Chapter 2

Drew

Bella Summers has always been a klutz. When we were in high school, she fell on her ass and fractured her wrist. Another time, she danced straight into a pole, resulting in a huge black eye. She is so uncoordinated that long-distance running was the only sport she could participate in. Away from others with no equipment ensured she couldn’t hurt herself. Although untied shoelaces and misplaced branches were also a concern, it seemed to work on the whole. Her coordination took an unfortunate dive today, though.

Rubbing my hands together, I stare at the furry boots draped across the blue hospital chair with disdain. Those shoes are why I’m still here, stuck in Hope, Indiana, with a girl who would rather roast my balls than talk to me. If Bella hadn’t insisted on wearing those stupid shoes, I could have driven out of state before the storm hit. Hell, I would have even offered her a ride back home because I’m that kind of guy, but nope, we’re both now stuck in hell because she’s too stubborn for her own good.

Bella’s obnoxiously loud snores echo through the hospital room, and her mouth hangs open with the tiniest drops of drooldangling off the edge. It doesn’t matter that she sounds like a freight train when she sleeps; she’s still the hottest girl I’ve ever seen. Yup. That’s right. Even though Bella Summers hates me with the same passion some put into loving their favorite sports team, I’ve never been able to get her off my mind. I swear she was brought into this world just to taunt me.

The girl I could never have, but the one who was willing to stomp all over me.

Eyes so light blue, they almost looked clear. Thick blonde hair and lips so pouty she could give Kylie Jenner a run for her money. For all intents and purposes, Bella Summers is perfect…Until she opens her mouth.

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