Page 10 of Tye

“Tye’s awake,” my oldest brother announced, and I opened my eyes and flinched, making me cringe in pain again. Fanatic’s face was right in front of mine. The fucker grinned as he drew back, and I flipped him the bird.

“Tye?” Mom exclaimed, dropping the argument and rushing to my bed. I smirked at Fanatic as Mom shoved him out of the way using her hip and took his place. Her gentle hands ran over my cheeks, and I felt the love in them.

“Mom,” I said and realised that the mask was gone, and I was breathing on my own.

“My boy,” Mom whispered and kissed my forehead. “I’m gonna destroy that asshole.”

And that was a promise.

I squeezed Mom’s hand, and she kissed me again before sitting primly. The doctor, who she’d been arguing with, gazed at Mom and then me, unsure what to do.

“Are you going to stand there all day or check on my son?” Mom snapped, and I hid a grin.

The doctor glowered but came close and checked me over. Mom watched him with a beady eye while my siblings andI swapped amused glances. Once Mom got her report on my progress, she sent him on his way.

“Doc Paul is flying out. The fuck I’m trusting your health to anybody else,” Mom stated and folded her arms.

“Whelp, I’m going on a coffee run. Anyone want some?” Jodie said with a grin. She took orders and disappeared. Once outside, we heard her giggles as she walked away.

“Don’t mess with Mom’s baby boys,” Fanatic snorted, and Harley began to laugh too. Mom regally glanced at them and stared down her nose before breaking into laughter as well.

“What an ass,” Mom said, dismissing the doctor. “However, Doc Paul is coming. I’ve got him privileges here and made a modest donation to smooth the way. Tye, all merriment aside, your injuries are serious. That motherfucker was seriously trying to crush your skull.”

“By the lingering headache, I don’t think West missed by far,” I admitted as Mom grabbed a button and pushed it, and sudden relief swept over me. “Wow.”

“Did you forget you can control your pain meds?” Mom asked as she stroked my hand.

“Nope. More like Jodie neglected to tell me,” I replied.

Fanatic snorted again, sat his ass on the window ledge, and crossed his legs at the ankles.

“Baby boy, I’ve spoken to your coach. You’re going to be out for the next three months, Tye. These injuries aren’t going to heal easily,” Mom said. “Once Doc Paul’s assessed you, we’ll have a better idea of what’s going on.”

“Is my career over? I didn’t think any of that was career-ending,” I stuttered as a cold feeling gripped my stomach.

“No. But you’ve got a long road ahead of you. Hopefully, you’ll return to form and back to playing in March,” Harley stated.

“Could someone now tell me what happened? Jodie gave me bits and pieces,” I asked.

“Even better, I’ll show you,” Fanatic said with relish. “You took a hell of a beating, bro.”

Mom glared at Fanatic, who grinned.

“Mum, Tye’s fine. Your baby boy is going to be okay, and he’ll be back in your loving arms for the next three months. But this shit Tye needs to see, or it will haunt him,” Fanatic continued.

Without another word, Fanatic shoved his phone in front of my face and pressed play.

Spellbound, I watched as I skated around the goal and yelled something at West. I was heading towards my teammates when West skated directly at me. He bent low, tackled me in my stomach, and lifted me off my feet. West slammed me against the glass without a second thought. I hit with such force the glass fractured. Screams erupted, making me wince, and Fanatic turned the volume down.

Not done, West threw me onto the ice hard, and that’s when I remembered the air leaving my lungs.

I automatically begin to heave in mouthfuls of air, reacting to the incident Fanatic showed me. Mom grabbed the oxygen mask and shoved it over my face again. I gulped the oxygen down greedily as I watch my body twist on the ice to breathe.

West hit me with his stick three times before hitting my head with it and jumping on me. He sat on my chest as I struggled for air, gripped my helmet, and started smashing my head on the ice.

Jesus. West was a fuckin’ maniac. The Armourer’s goalie reached him first and tried dragging West off. Moments later, Ward skidded to a stop, and they wrestled West, who refused to budge.

It took four of my teammates and two of West’s to get him off me before the medics from both teams swarmed me. The crowd was going wild as his own team wrestled West off the ice.

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