Page 45 of Falling for You

One fucking smashed their stick into Seth’s legs when he got the puck off them.

They’re sore fucking losers.

I nod and go to move, ready to continue the game with four minutes left, when I’m suddenly shoved hard catching me off guard, and I fall face fucking first causing my helmet to fall off as my head bangs on the ice and the crowd screams and shouts in outrage.

Fuck…I blink because that hurts.

Groaning, I get up to see a fight breaking out. Ezra punches the fucker who shoved me while another Sparks team member brings their hockey stick up, ready to smack him on the head despite his helmet being on the floor.

Growling, I skate towards them and intercept the stick, grabbing it with my hands as I yank it off him and shove him backward. Then, I turn to help Ezra, but a fist hits my way, and I fall like a ton of fucking bricks before my head hits the ice once again. This time without the safety of my helmet and everything going black.

“I want their fucking team disqualified right now!” I hear screamed, and I slowly open my eyes, but dizziness takes hold, making me squeeze my eyes tight again.

Fuck me.

I blink, then blink again before making eye contact with my dad, who sighs in relief, but my sister's screaming continues to pound through my head.

“I want their heads; they are not fit to be in the fucking league!”she continues, and I wince.

“Baby, baby, calm down,” I hear Ezra try and soothe, but it does fuck all as she shouts, “No! That defender who tackled him after he scored was fucking Elena. She caused this, and he allowed her to. He’s already admitted that. He got the wholeteam to act dirty in that game because of her lies. They need disqualifying!”

Now, why does that not surprise me?

I raise a brow at Dad, who winces and admits, “She hasn’t stopped screaming and even demanded an ambulance, but the docs said you’d wake soon after performing some tests. You took quite the blow.”

I nod but groan at the dizziness. Dad helps me sit up as a phone rings in the background or maybe it’s just in my head. Dylan's concerned face enters my vision as the ringing stops and immediately starts again.

“It’s good to see you awake, little brother, but you need to answer your phone,” he says as he lifts up my phone. Huh, guess it’s not in my head then? I frown and look at the screen to see it’s Pen.

The phone silences again, then rings yet again, and Hannah says, “He can call her back later," then gets in my face and asks, "How are you feeling? Are you okay?”

I blink, my mind not comprehending exactly what has happened. I’m missing something, I just don’t know what.

Ezra comes over and pulls her back, but she tries to fight against him, “No, I need to make sure he’s okay!”

“And you need to allow your brother time to breathe and speak to the mother of his child, who most likely saw his hit, now back off or get out!” Dad snaps and my eyes widen. The hit I took from that fucker to the jaw comes back full force before I fell and hit my head on the ice, and everything went black.

Fuck, Pen!

My phone silences then rings again, and I quickly take it from Dylan and answer instantly.

“Firecracker,” I rasp, and her relieved sobs echo through the receiver so loud that even my sister stills hearing her, her eyes widening.

“Pen baby, I’m alright, I promise I’m okay.” I try to soothe her, but her sobs get louder, and her breathing labored, and I begin to panic. I beg, “Breathe for me, Firecracker. Take deep breaths, please," and she does as I say, and I praise, “That’s it. Deep breaths with me, baby.”

Hannah’s eyes tear up as she chokes out, “Oh my god, she really does love him,” She covers her mouth while my dad squeezes my shoulder. Dylan puts his hands on top of his head as he breathes deeply, guilt shining off him.

Fucker should have answered my phone instead of waiting for me to wake up, and I think he’s beginning to see that.

“You-you’re, okay?” she chokes, and my heart fucking breaks at her pain.

“I promise I am okay,” I say as Eddie, our team doctor, walks in. I inform her, “I’ve just got to speak to the doctor, and when I get back to my hotel, I’ll Facetime you. Or do you want me to pass the phone to Dylan while I talk to him so you’re still connected?”

Hannah lets out a sob, seeing how I’m trying to console and soothe Pen, showing everyone in the room that she is my priority in this situation. I ignore her and wait for Pen’s answer, an answer I think I already know. She’s shown her cards, maybe not intentionally, but she has. She’s in love with me, and fuck me if that isn’t the best feeling in the world.

“P-pass to Dylan,” she stutters, and I say, “Okay, Firecracker. I’ll take the phone back once I’m done," then I hand the phone to my brother, who looks at me with guilt.

“Hey sweetheart,” he says, “I’m sorry, I should have answered his phone.”

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