Page 8 of Not a Perfect Save

I turn to Connor. “You got a deal.”

Chapter Four

CONNOR

“There isno way in hell I’m leaving here in a wheelchair.” I eye the wheeled contraptions with contempt.

“It’s hospital policy.” Ratchet’s face is implacable. “The last thing we need is a liability case on our hands.”

“No.” I keep my tone even, determined not to lose my temper.

The nurse mutters something about hard-headed athletes under her breath and turns to consult with the doctor in hushed tones.

I slide a quick look at Ella. She looks exhausted. There are dark circles under her eyes, and her lips are pulled tight. I feel ridiculous for asking her to do this. But at the same time, I’m glad she’s not going to be here alone all night. I hate that she has no one to look after her.

The nurse turns back to me. “Fine.” She waves one of the wheelchair-wielding attendants away. He returns a few minutes later with two sets of crutches. I raise my brows at the head nurse. She stares back while her lackey goes to help Ella off the bed.

“He’s not using one?” she asks.

“Hell no,” I respond before the sour-faced nurse can answer.

“Well, then I’m not either.”

I look at her in irritation. “Why the hell not?”

She ignores my incredulous look and addresses the nurse instead, “There’s no need. My ankle’s not any worse than his is.”

Not true. Now that my foot is taped up, it feels fine. But Ella’s expression is obstinate.

Christ, I can’t believe I’m doing this. “Fine. I’ll take a crutch.” I can dump it the moment I get out of here. She takes another.

At the hospital exit, two sets of automatic glass doors separate us from the outside. It’s quiet. Maybe we got lucky, and the paparazzi aren’t paying attention tonight. The rain has mostly let up, but a light drizzle remains.

“Ready?” Am I a shit for asking her to do this?

Ella’s hesitance is obvious as she looks at the door.I don’t blame her. This request is asinine. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

“Connor.” Dan’s tone has warning laced through it, but I hold my hand up, silencing him. I wait, prepared for Ella to change her mind. Whatever she decides, I’m not leaving her here on her own. I open my mouth, about to tell her that when she tilts her head and studies me. I’m not sure what she sees, but she nods, as if she’s coming to a conclusion of her own rather than acquiescing to Dan or me.

“Fine, let’s do this already.”

Relief fills me, more than it should. I am a total ass.

We head to the exit. Dan follows, almost crammed against our backs, ready to block Ella in case she decides to charge back into the hospital.

We’re through the first set of sliding doors when a flash goes off.

“Shit.” Dan’s hand wedges between us and extracts the crutch from my loose grip. “Take this,” he barks, shoving it at her, throwing us both off balance.

We teeter like two bowling pins, and I only just manage to grab Ella before she topples over. I spin around, shielding her from the flashes with my back.

The fuck?“Dan—“

“What?” Ella gasps at the same time, now fumbling with both crutches. Mine is too long and unwieldy in her grip.

“Pretend it’s yours,” Dan hisses to her.

“Are you kidding me?” I snarl, snatching it away from Ella.

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