Page 29 of Make Your Play

I am.

I don’t like not being able to see you or talk to you.

Riley

You can always talk to me whenever you want.

Nash

Not in the way I want to.

She doesn’t respond at first and there’s instant regret on my end for sending that message. The meds have me feeling a little careless and a little bold.

Riley

What do you mean?

Nash

You’re my wife and I can’t even talk to you like you are.

Riley

You can always talk to me like your friend.

I sigh as I read over her message, feeling a bit defeated and annoyed at the reminder. That’s what it always comes down to and I’m tired of it.

I’m tired of just being her friend…

CHAPTER TWELVE

RILEY

“You are literally the worst patient ever.”

Nash narrows his eyes at me. “Have you had other patients before?”

I can’t help myself as I snort and roll my eyes. “No, I have not, but you really do suck at letting people do things for you.”

“Coming from you, I don’t accept it. You’re the same way.”

I picked Nash up at the airport earlier today and drove him to the outpatient facility where he met with some of the medical staff who work with the team. They took him in for imaging and were able to determine that he didn’t fracture his ankle—surprisingly. The bone is bruised and the tendon right near his ankle was injured, but intact.

“Okay, but this isn’t about me right now,” I remind him as I pull my car from the parking lot and head out onto the street. “The doctor said you’re not supposed to bear weight for a few days. That does not mean you can go skate.”

“I have to get back on the ice, Riley.”

I cut my eyes at him. “You have to heal, Nash.”

“Yeah, but he said I should be able to play within the next week or two,” he argues with me, repeating what I already heard the doctor say. He has to talk with the team doctors tomake sure, but the one he saw today said he would recommend waiting a month, but he knows how grueling this sport is and that he needs to get back out there.

His treatment can be modified to accommodate his need to be playing, but he won’t be playing at all if he doesn’t try to rest and heal it in the meantime.

“If you fucking listen to him.”

Nash tilts his head to the side, looking a bit shocked but also amused. “Damn, okay.” He glances out the window as I take the next turn then looks back at me. “Where are we going?”

“Back to my house.” I glance at him and back at the road. “Someone has to keep an eye on you to make sure you listen to the doctors.”

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