Page 69 of Glitz & Goals

No matter what.

Chapter Twenty-One

Grady

My memories of the concussion treatment are fuzzy. I’m pretty sure I said something completely inappropriate in front of Noah. Violet Newberry, too. And I’m not sure how I got home. Every so often, I start to drift off, and I’m aware of someone shaking me awake. An angel, I think. Maybe one of Charlie’s Angels? Whoever she is, she is unbelievably gorgeous. I don’t think angels are allowed to be as sexy as this one unless they’re affiliated with Charlie, although every time I try to examine this thought, it falls apart. It’s hard to know what’s real.

It’s like my mind is not my own.

But the light hasn’t come for me again, so that’s good.

Sometime around sunrise, clarity sets in. I’m still exhausted, and my head feels like I lost a round with one of those Spanish bulls. Bits and pieces of the day before start to make sense, too. I am, for example, finally able to recognize Vivian for who she is. I’m pretty sure that Noah is aware that we’re dating now.

Also, I think I proposed to her roughly thirty-four times last night, though I’m iffy on the numbers.

“Hey.” Vivian runs her fingers through my hair. She looks as exhausted as I feel. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” I croak.

She sits up and hands me a water bottle. It’s one of mine, a Stanley with a built-in straw, and I have vague memories of her encouraging me to drink water throughout the night. I wriggle more upright against the mound of pillows she built around me and grip the handle tight.

“Were you here overnight?” I ask.

Viv’s answering nod is interrupted by a yawn. “Violet said you’d be okay, but I wasn’t supposed to let you sleep.”

I sniff. No wonder the room smells like coffee. “I’m sorry.”

She scoffs. “For getting injured?”

“For… anything I may have said while I was concussed.”

“You’re still concussed,” she says, brushing a kiss on my temple. “Violet gave me a pamphlet. You’re going to take it easy for the next few days. No driving, no heavy lifting, and I’m supposed to make you wear sunglasses when you go outside.”

The mention of the outdoors jolts me upright. “Blade?” I ask.

Vivian sits up, too. “What about him?”

“I haven’t fed him or taken him out or—”

“You goose.” Viv nudges my shoulder. “I did. He’s fine. I wasn’t sure exactly how much to feed him, since he’s bigger than Biscuit was, so I may have overcompensated with treats. In my defense, he was a very good boy.”

Of course, she did. If I’d thought about it for two seconds, I would have realized that. She loves that numbskull as much as I do. I lean back against the pillows and exhale my relief.

I just wish she lovedthisnumbskull.

“Did we win?” I ask, sounding more hopeful than I feel.

Viv nods. “Ranger totally rallied the troops who played their best just for you.”

My mind goes blank when I try to remember anything about the game. “That’s good to hear.”

Viv stretches her arms over her head and yawns again. I didn’t realize it before, but she’s wearing my jersey. My old one, the one she wore the night that we tried shibari. “I’m starving,” she says. “Want some breakfast?”

“Food,” I say, stunned by the revelation that I’m ravenous. “Food sounds amazing.”

“I’ll go make something.” Viv gets up. Beneath the jersey, she’s wearing a pair of my boxers.

I whistle. “Hello, nurse!”

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