Page 34 of Sliding Into Love
“You went against my orders and made Ford play after he blew out his knee. He would have been fine if he stayed off it for a few weeks, but now he’s probably damaged it further.”
“It’s not the first time!” Derek piped up.
“Ethan’s played injured before.” Jen stood from her seat on the bench.
“Is this true?” Dr. Chadna’s voice was low.
Marshall sputtered but no words came out.
“I’m reporting you to the League. You’ll be suspended by the end of the week. Sooner. And that’sifyou even have a job. Now get out of my way.” Dr. Chadna shouldered past Marshall, still dragging Ethan by his jersey.
Bewildered, Ethan followed along.
“This should never have happened,” she muttered once they were in the hallway leading beneath the stadium.
Ethan coughed.
“I read your file, you know.” The doctor looked sideways at him. “I’m not sure I understand why you’re here and not with— “
“Don’t. Please.”
“All right, all right.” Dr. Chadna raised her hands in a placating motion. “We’re getting you an ice pack, then you are going straight back to the hotel. Looks like I have several phone calls to make.” She still looked angry, but her face softened when she looked up at him. “I’m sorry you went through this, but I’m going to do everything I can to make it right. And to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Ethan nodded. Having someone stand up for him to Marshall left him shaken.
When Ethan was ensconced in the hotel bed with the ice pack wrapped around his knee, his phone vibrated once, again, then the screen lit up with notifications, nearly buzzing itself off the table as messages kept coming in.
Derek texted him, then Jen, and then Isaac messaged him on Facebook, and more from Derek and Jen. Ethan elected to check Instagram first; he’d see the other two in person later anyway. Emails from journalists, a text from the Hawks’ team publicist informing him of a press conference.
Ethan groaned. He didn’t feel like talking to anyone.
The phone vibrated again, and grumbling about nosy teammates, he looked at it.
Okay, so maybe he wanted to talk to one person. He thumbed open the call.
“What the hell happened?” Ivy’s voice was shrill.
Ethan spoke when she paused to take a breath.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb, Ethan.”
“I should’ve realized Derek would rat me out.”
“He was worried! And Jase showed me some articles. How often do you play when you’re not supposed to?”
Her voice still held that edge of worry, and an unfamiliar warming sensation spread through his chest.
“Ivy.” His voice went deeper when he said her name, and he thought he heard a gasp on her end. “I’m fine. Really. You seem upset, though.”
“I am upset!” Ethan imagined Ivy crossing her arms over her chest and huffing at him. “Jase saw you on tv and freaked out about your knee. And then the cameras caught what happened with you and your coach, and we saw some woman pull you out of the dugout, and Jase was so worried you were in trouble for something because we didn’t know she was the doctor. All we saw was yelling! I tried to calm him down, but he wouldn’t listen. I think he wore himself out worrying so much, and he’s passed out in his room now. He’ll be happy to hear you’re okay, though. And you really are okay?” The rant left Ivy sounding a bit breathless.
“I really am okay.”
“I’m glad. I was worried, too.” Her voice sounded small.
“Why are you so worried?” Ethan didn’t know if he wanted to hear the answer to that question. It seemed dangerous.
