Page 53 of Broken

I watched as Jet’s fingers wiggled slightly at the tips, a momentary rush of relief filling me until Jet said, “They’re tingly and half numb.”

Coach cursed, both of us watching as Jet’s wrist continued to swell. “We’re going to hope this is just a bad sprain. Annie, can you call his parents for me? He’s going to need a trip to the emergency room.”

JET

“I’ve got your painkillers here and a few of your favorite drinks,” Mom said, pulling them from the plastic grocery bag she was holding. She set them on the end table next to the couch where I was sitting. “You can take another pill in about two hours. Are you sure you don’t want to go lay in your bed?”

“No, Mom. I’m fine.” I smiled up at her. She squeezed my shoulder before heading off to the kitchen.

“Colton! Get back in here and finish your dinner!”

My little brother sighed, pushing himself up off the floor to trudge over.

“Here, I’ve got you some Tylenol. The doctor said you could take these with the other meds if you need it.” Annie emerged from the kitchen as Colton disappeared. She pulled a leg under her bottom to sit next to where Izzy was curled in Tucker’s lap at the other end of the couch and leaned into my side, resting her head on my shoulder before holding them out. I popped the pills in my mouth, just for good measure. My arm really was starting to ache. I must have been getting over the hump of the good part of the pain meds.

My dad came in, taking a spot on the loveseat next to Harper. I was starting to feel like a side show with everyone’s attention onme. Dad rubbed his ball cap over his slightly salt and pepper hair before sliding it back on. “So, how’re you feeling?”

“Been better,” I grumbled.

My wrist was officially fractured. I was out of the game for at least a month. If not longer. Which meant my chances at snagging a scholarship were pretty much null and void at this rate.Unless by some miracle we make it to state championships with our second-string quarterback.

Yeah. I was screwed.

“Well, at least it wasn’t your throwing arm,” Dad offered, and I nodded. There was that.

“Daniel’s been doing pretty well this season during practice, though.” Annie rubbed her hand comfortingly along my good arm, like she’d known just where my thoughts had gone. “You can’t lose hope. You’ve still got the possibility of those three schools, too.”

Yeah, with a broken wrist…Those chances were going down the drain. I spotted a look across Tucker’s face that told me he was thinking the same thing.

“Let’s not think about it. It’s not gonna help to dwell.” Izzy gave a half smile, her head resting on Tucker’s chest.

“What I wanna know is what your coach is gonna do about that guy that slammed into you,” Dad cut back in, anger crossing over his usually passive face.

“Zane,” Annie replied. “It was Zane.”

“Izzy’s ex? Zane that worked at the shop?”

“Yeah. Pretty sure he went after Jet because he was pissed at me.” Tucker grimaced. “Sorry, man.”

I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. He took a cheap shot. Neither of us could have predicted he’d retaliate that way.”

“I could.” Annie clenched a fist on her thigh. “Or at least I’m not surprised by it.”

“See?” Izzy lightly swatted Tucker’s arm. “This is why I said I was mad about what you did.”

“Yeah. Noted,” Tucker grumbled.

I could tell he felt like shit that I’d gotten the brunt of the payback, but I really didn’t blame him. I was pissed. Disappointed that I was out of the game, but I’d known damn well that Zane had an asshole side when I agreed to be Tucker’s backup.

“Well, he won’t be working at the shop again if it was on purpose. Come on, bed, squirt.” Dad ruffled Harper’s hair. She was half asleep against the arm of the sofa. I laid my head back, feeling pretty worn out myself, and listened as the others moved around me.

“Annie, maybe you should go home.” I heard Mom whisper what felt like just minutes later, but the screaming in my wrist said that more time had to have passed.

Annie sighed. “You know how much I wish we were older right now, so I didn’t have to go?”

A few quiet seconds passed before Mom replied, “Is your mom home tonight?”

“No. But Izzy’s with Archer.”

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