Page 118 of Grumpy Darling

Dread rose from deep within me as a stretcher was brought onto the ice and laid down beside the huddle. I briefly caught sight of Gray as the crowd of people standing over him stepped aside, but I couldn’t work out whether he had moved yet, or even if his eyes were open. I desperately wanted to race down to him, but I was frozen in place.

Time felt like it was standing still, but also flooding past way too fast, and I gasped when they finally lifted the stretcher off the ground to reveal Grayson strapped tightly to it, his head and neck secured in some sort of brace. My heart lurched, propelling me down the bleacher steps, Violet chasing close behind. I had to get to Grayson. I had to know if he was okay.

As we raced onto the concourse and turned a corner, I almost collided with Cammie, who was running in the opposite direction.

“Paige, thank God, I was just coming to get you,” she panted.

“Where’s Grayson?”

“They’re taking him to the hospital. Mom’s in the ambulance with him.”

“Is he okay?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is he . . . awake?”

“I don’t know.”

We shared a panicked look. When someone you loved played hockey, you were always aware there was a risk of injury. But risk and reality were completely different things.

“He’ll be okay,” I said. “He’s got to be.”

I simply couldn’t imagine a world where he wasn’t.

“Dad’s waiting in the car, do you want to ride with us?”

“Uh, that’s okay. I’ve got my car.”

“Okay, I’ll see you there.” She gave me a nod before turning and running to the exit.

Violet and I followed her to the parking lot, and as we got outside, I fumbled with my purse trying to find my keys. My hand slipped, sending my bag and all its contents crashing to the ground. The clatter almost set off the tears that were building in my eyes, and I wiped a hand across my cheek as I knelt to pick everything up. I was trying so hard to hold myself together, but I was even more of a mess than the contents of my purse, which were splayed across the icy concrete. Perhaps I should have taken Cammie’s offer of a ride.

Violet crouched down to help put everything back in my bag.

“Why don’t you let me drive?” she suggested.

I nodded, still trying to fight the gathering tears as she gently took the keys from my hand. I wasn’t good at dealing with a crisis. Especially not when it involved Grayson being hurt. He was always so strong and unstoppable. I never would have believed anything could bring him down. I was shaking by the time we reached my car, and I couldn’t seem to stop as Violet drove. My fingers tapped against my leg as I watched the streets fly by. I knew I wouldn’t be okay until I saw Gray. Until I heard him say that everything was fine.

“You know how careful they have to be,” Violet was saying. “Try not to worry. We’re almost at the hospital, and we’ll find out what’s going on.”

Her calming words were the only thing keeping me going right now.

Finally we pulled up to the ER entrance and rushed inside. Grayson and his mom and dad were nowhere to be seen, but Cammie was at the front desk arguing with the nurse.

“You want me to wait?” Cammie gasped. “We don’t even know if he’s awake.”

I came to her side and touched her arm. “What’s going on? Where’s your dad?”

“Already in with Gray.” Cammie waved toward the large double doors behind the nurse. “Apparently, I’m not allowed in, and they won’t even give me an update.”

“You can’t tell us anything?” I asked, turning to the nurse. I was so nervous I thought I might throw up. I just needed to know he was okay.

“I understand you’re all concerned,” the nurse replied. “But right now the medical team are focused on providing him with the care he needs.”

“There must be something you can tell us,” Violet said. “Please...”

“Can I ask your relation to the patient?”

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