Page 62 of Ice Contact

“We are all huge Riders fans here, so we’d love that. I’ll have the nurse come back and get your paperwork, so you should be good to go home in a bit. Do you have someone to stay with you tonight?”

“Yes, he does,” I say before Hayes gets the chance. “I will not be leaving his side.”

I’m not leaving his side tonight, tomorrow, or next week. Whether he likes it or not, Hayes Larson is stuck with me. I don’t want to leave his side ever again.

39

hayes

I’ve had concussions before, theyalwayssuck, but this one is especially bad. In addition to the brain fog, every beam of light and smallest noise make me want to puke. At least I’m home in my very expensive bed, with a sleep mask on trying to rest. But I can’t. I’m fucking beyond pissed some idiot hit me; now I’m basically on bed rest. And to make things worse, the doctor said no screens for forty-eight hours, then another forty-eight hours of limited screens and rest. So I can’t even check my texts, scroll social media, or watch TV. It’s like a fucking prison sentence but I’m stuck in an episode of Little House on the Prairie. I’m used to being on the go. Always traveling. Always practicing. Always working out. I don’t sit around all day. I kick my legs and pound my fist on the bed in frustration. This is the worst form of torture.

The one bright spot is Olivia. She took off work and has been waiting on me hand and foot, making sure I have what I need. She helped me puke into the airline type barf bag the hospital sent home. She even helped me call Dr. Gregory, Coach Cal, and my agent.

It’s such a stark contrast to relationships I’ve had in the past. Last summer I had the flu while dating Chelsea. She refusedto come near me for fear she would get sick too. She actually opened the door to our room, threw a box of tissues at me, and told me to get well soon. Then she left and went to stay with her friend until I was better.I wonder if Spam Risk Brian is helping her puke through her morning sickness or if he doesn’t want to risk getting pregnant.With the combined brain power of the two of them, I don’t doubt he would believe he could catch a pregnancy like the flu.

But Olivia? My body calms, finally finding peace in my compromised state. She has not left my side once. I don’t know how she’s dealt with my crabby, frustrated ass, but I know one thing…

I fucking love this woman so much.She’s it. My future. My present. My everything.

My phone buzzes next to me, and I ask Olivia who it is.

“It’s your mom; want me to answer? She’s actually FaceTiming you.”

“Yeah. I’d better let her see I’m okay,” I groan, throwing an arm across my eyes and squeezing my lips together to keep the nausea at bay.

“I’ll um…. I’ll swipe to answer, then let you have some privacy to talk to her.” I hear the shakiness in her voice, but I want my siren here with me.

“No. Stay. I want my mom to meet you. Even over the phone.”

I can’t see her smile, but I can hear it in her soft voice as she says, “Okay.”

I know I’m not supposed to, but I take my eye mask off to let my mom see me and that I’m alive. And that I still have eyes. “Hi Mom.”

“Hayes, oh my God your poor face! How are you feeling, honey? Who’s there taking care of you? I can’t get a flight outuntil this afternoon, but I’ll be there as soon as I can. My car is in the shop, otherwise I’d already be on my way.”

“Mom, it’s okay. I want you to meet Olivia. My girlfriend.” I see a wide smile stretch across her face on the phone, a similar one appearing on mine. “She hasn’t left my side and is giving me the full Kristi Larson treatment. She won’t even let me listen to the TV, let alone watch it,” I grumble as my mom laughs in approval.

“Hi Ms. Larson, it’s nice to meet you. I wish it wasn’t under these circumstances, but Hayes talks about you all the time. It’s nice to put a face with a name,” Olivia says.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Olivia. Hayes hasn’tmentionedyou yet,” she says somehow giving me her evil side-eye over the phone, “but I know he’s been busy with a new team, so I’ll let it slide just this once. I’m glad to hear he’s bragging on me when I’m not around. Ididdedicate my entire life to raising him and taking him to all his hockey games, so he better be saying nice things.”

Olivia laughs. “Only good things, Ms. Larson, I promise.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, dear, call me Kristi.”

“Okay, Kristi, if you’re sure. Hayes is doing well; the doctor said he needs at least forty-eight hours with no screen time and plenty of rest, so I’m making sure he keeps to that. He’s not even supposed to have his mask off right now,” she says as she gives me a mean side-eye and a smirk.

“Well, Olivia, it sounds like you’ve got Hayes under control, and believe me, I know what a challenge that is.” She laughs, some of the worry leaving her face. “Thank you for being there for him when I’m so far away.”

“There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

“Olivia, would you mind terribly if I had just a quick minute to talk to my son alone? You can come back in just a moment.”

“Of course; no problem at all. I’ll refill his water and take the trash out, so you two can have a minute.”

“Olivia,” I say, reaching for her hand as she walks away, “Donottake the trash out. I can do that later.”

“Hayes Michael Larson, you let that girl help you if she wants to. You need your rest,” my mom scolds over the phone. I see Olivia laughing as she waves and closes the door.Great, now I have two women telling me what to do. But for some crazy reason, I’m okay with it.

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