Page 48 of A Very Merry Matchup
“Why? My arm’s not broken.”
He rolls his eyes, and I fight a small bit of satisfaction that I can still annoy him just like when we were kids. “I’d rather focus on you,” I say, stepping out of the way of the nurse.
“Yeah, well, I’m pretty sure my coach is going to kill me soon as he can, so I probably don’t have a lot of time left on this earth. I’d rather spend my final hours hearing more about my sister. What have you been up to?”
“Not much. Same old thing. Still doing the travel gig.”
“Is that why you’re in Iowa? Nursing job?”
“Hey, Ivy, sorry to interrupt.” It’s Beau. He’s standing next to the open curtain. “They sent me back. Just wanted to make sure you were okay.” His eyes dart over to Jordan, then hover on me. “You okay?”
When I nod, he motions behind him with his head. “If you need anything, I’ll be out in the waiting room.”
Soon as Beau disappears my brother gives an amused smile. “I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.”
“Why would you automatically assume he’s my boyfriend?”
“Because he was looking at you like you were his girlfriend.”
“He was looking at me like anybody with normal vision looks at another person. You’re... you’re high right now. What did that nurse give you? Whatever it is, she needs to tone it down.”
“So you’re really into him then?”
We need a diversion here. “Who’s Abbey?”
That seems to be the perfect diversion. He flinches and adjusts the pillow beneath his casted arm. “How’d you hear about Abbey?”
“She’s listed as your emergency contact. Who is she?”
“She’s, uh...” He shifts again. “She’s a long story.”
“Is she here?” I’m thinking I’d like to meet this long story who can paint such a flustered shade of pink on my brother’s cheeks.
When a tall slender blonde with a worried expression steps past the curtain and says, “I found some ice chips,” I have a feeling I’m meeting the long story.
“Abbey?” I say, holding out a hand. “I’m Jordan’s sister, Ivy.”
She startles a bit, giving me a quick once-over, then quickly clasps my hand with a brief smile. “Nice to meet you. Uh, you know what? These ice chips are already melting. I’m going to see if I can track down some better ones.”
She no sooner ducks out of the curtain when Jordan’s nurse reappears. “Did your wife find the water and ice machine okay?”
I choke for a second on my own saliva.Wife?
While the nurse assesses Jordan’s circulation, motor function, and sensation on his casted arm, I can’t seem to stop coughing.Wife?
“Does Mom know?” I say as soon as the nurse steps away. I don’t even bother asking if Dad knows. Dad never knows anything when it comes to this family.
“Like I said, long story.”
“One I’m all ears to hear any second now.”
“Jordan?” His nurse pops back around the curtain before Jordan can say a word, let alone a long story. “I just got a call from the front desk that your parents are here. Normally we don’t let so many visitors back at one time, but it’s Christmas, so we’ll make a little exception.”
Jordan and I share a wide-eyed look. If there’s anyanesthesia left in Jordan’s system, I think that little statement just cleared it out. Our parents? Here? Now?
“Do something,” Jordan says to me.
“Like what? Sneak you out of here in a body bag so Mom and Dad can’t meet yourwife?” I peek past the curtain.
