Page 73 of Dirty Pucking Tease

"Where's your mom?" My mind automatically assumed she wasn't here because she was angry when she found out.

"She's getting coffee." My dad smiled. "And she's not angry."

A wave of relief washed over me. "So why am I here?"

"You had an accident," Cam said. "During practice. You were doing a lift, and you fell." Ah, now it made sense. They were blaming Parker for my fall when who knows what actuallyhappened. I could have lost my balance or been off on my timing. I'd deal with that later.

"Oh." I scowled, searching for the memories, but there were none. "Wait, so was this the night after we told you and Owen about us?"

Jax shook his head. "No, it was a few weeks after."

"Weeks?" Jax pressed his lips into a thin line as he nodded his head. "So, I've lost weeks of memories? How long have I been out?"

"I'm going to go get the doctor," my father said, twisting and bolting out of the room.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Five days," Syn said.

The room stayed quiet while we waited for the doctor, and I continued to struggle with my brain to pull any memories I could, but there was nothing. It was like an endless black hole, and my memories were buried deep under all that blackness.

"Good morning, Ms. Cruz." An older doctor smiled. "I'm glad to get to meet you. How are you feeling?"

"My head is hurting, and I can't remember some things, but I feel okay." I shifted in the bed and realized there was a sharp pain in my leg. "And my leg hurts."

The doctor introduced himself, explained my injuries and treatment, did a quick exam, asked me a few questions, and then determined there was no explanation for my short-term memory loss and advised that it would probably come back after a few weeks. He also explained that I wouldn't be skating any time soon. This meant Parker would have to find a new partner, and as much as I didn't want to let him or my coach down, I was done skating professionally.

He ordered the IV and catheter to be removed and told me afterward to only get up with assistance until I regained myleg strength. He scheduled me for a CT scan and said that if everything came back clear, he would release me in the morning.

None of that made me feel any better about the fact that I'd lost weeks of memories.

The doctor left.

"I would like a moment with my daughter," my father told everyone, and the room slowly cleared out as he sank into the seat beside my bed. I hit the side button on the bed, lifting the back to a sitting position. "I'm so glad you are okay. You had everyone scared to death."

"I wish I could remember." I sighed.

"Don't dwell too much on what you can't remember." He smiled. "Because you are alive and awake to make lots of new memories."

I forced a smile. That was easier said than done. "Are you disappointed about Jax and me?"

He laughed. "No," he shook his head. "Jax was a rough kid, but he's become a good man. I've seen how he looks at you, and it's the same way I used to look at your mom." How had I been so blind that everyone could see how Jax felt about me but me? "He hasn't left this room since they let him back with you. We tried to get him to go home, even just to get a shower, and he wouldn't leave you."

"We were afraid you and Liz would be disappointed in us."

He shook his head. "Jax told me how he felt about you, and I could see how much he loves you. How could we be mad at that? I want my girls to find the kind of love I had with their mother."

"Thanks, Dad." I smiled.

He lifted from the chair and leaned forward, kissing my forehead. "You are very loved, my dear girl." And that was the truth. I knew that before the accident.

My dad and I sat for another twenty minutes, catching up on everything. Or what I could remember anyway before Harlowjoined us. In times like this, I missed my mom, but if I couldn't have her, I was thankful for the huge family I did have.

50

Pacing the hallway floor outside Kaia's hospital room, I impatiently waited for my turn to talk to her. She didn't remember the last few weeks. She didn't remember me letting her down, our fight, her relationship with Alex, and I had no idea how to handle this.

I could go in there and pretend none of it ever happened and move forward or tell her everything. I knew what I should do, but the thought of losing her again fought hard against my good conscience to do the right thing.

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