Page 118 of Chasing Headlines

The next morning . . .

I woke to throbbing, stabbing pain . . . in every inch of my body. A strange weight on my shoulder. Moving any part of my body made me want to scream.

The weight shifted. A soft groan, and my numb hand pricked its way to life. Fingers small and soft settled against my palm. They threaded with mine.

Blue green irises met my gaze. Dark lashes blinked. Blinked again. Her eyes widened. “Ah! No, no, I fell asleep and—” She winced. “Ssssth. Oh, ugh, the size of that bump on your head.” Her eyebrows shot up and she bit her lip. “How do you feel?” She touched a burning lump of red-hot pain on my forehead. I hissed between clenched teeth.

“Ice. I'll get more ice. We've got to get the swelling down.”

And then she was gone. I tried to lift my half-dead carcass from the floor. I had no recollection of how long I'd been propped up against the sofa. Or how long the nice blond chick had been pressed up against me. “Wish I could've enjoyed that.” I grumbled as my leg muscles ached something fierce. Like I'd over-exerted myself in a workout the day before.

“Hey. Hilda'll be back in a few minutes. She'll put you through a series of tests.” She chewed on her lip and extended a blue ice pack before depositing it in my hand.

“Tests.”

“Yeah, like the ones they did at the start of baseball camp—for concussion protocol. She’ll ask if you’re feeling nauseated or having brain fog?” She chattered at a rapid pace. “Or vision problems. Any other type of difficulty. Like remembering basic things.”

“Sure.” I frowned. Basic things. “So we’re here alone?”

“I'm sure you're fine. Right? Like you remember your name?”

“I will if you come sit on my lap. Why does it feel like I’ve missed you?” I pressed the ice pack to my head. My eyes slid closed.

“Coop?”

Her voice brought me back to the surface. “Huh?”

“Oh, thank God. I thought you were going to say you don't know your name.” Four or five faces slid across my vision. My stomach turned like I'd been on a merry-go-round too long.

“Do you have some ibutab?” I fought my body for control. “Some water.”

“Um, ok. I'll be back with that. Keep putting ice on that thick, stubborn skull of yours. Antonio said you headbutted a longhorn.”

“What the hell?”

Her fingers brushed hair from my forehead, setting off hundreds of tingling shivers.Don't stop.I wanted to say, but then the ice pack was back in place. “It was a mechanical bull, but you should stick with the other explanation. I don't thinkanything elsewould be able to damage your hardass head.”

I grabbed her arm before she could pull away. “Are you my girlfriend?”

“What?”

“Hm. You’re hot.” My eyes closed again. It took such work to keep them open. “And definitely should be kissing me.”

“You don't remember . . . me?”

“You should sit in my lap so you can keep the ice on my forehead.” I lifted my head again. “I’ll repay the favor.”

“Ah. But.” Her eyes darted away. She took a step back.

I held out the ice pack and tried to smile, but even that hurt.

“What's my name?” She accepted the cold pack and sat beside me.

“So, if I guess your name, you'll sit on my lap?”

“This isn't good.” She breathed against my cheek. Heat fluttered from my chest to my stomach.

“Yeah, could be great. Amazing, even.”

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