Page 45 of Wild Love
“I just need a second.” I hobble over to it and sit.
“Does it hurt to touch?” Her eyes search my face as she places her fingertips on the side of my knee.
“I’ll be fine in a minute. I hit it against the wall. It hit back harder.” I lower my voice. “Please don’t go.”
I wince as I get to my feet.
“I think you should have that looked at.”
“If I do, will you stay?”
She laughs, and I breathe a tiny sigh of relief that she’s no longer trying to run away. “Who do we call? Your coach? Your agent?”
“I’ll check in with the trainer first thing tomorr—”
She silences me with a sexy little growl. “I’ve seen you get slammed to the ice and look like you’re in less pain than you do right now. You need to have it looked at now.”
“I’ll call Hugh. He’ll know what to do.” I’m still holding her hand hostage while I dial.
She points for me to sit again, and then she takes the seat beside me and brings my hurt leg up on her lap. I like her when she’s all bossy and takes charge. And when she’s not glaring at me.
Scratch that. I like her all of the time.
15
Dakota
Hugh sendsMaverick to see the team doctor. I help him out to his SUV. It takes us more time to drive around and park than it would have to walk, but since I’m taking as much weight as I can handle off his leg, it seemed the safer choice.
I pull up to the back entrance of the arena, where the team doctor is waiting for us.
After only a few minutes, Dr. Anderson tells Maverick that he thinks he has a sprained MCL and sends us to the hospital for an MRI to determine the severity and ensure he didn’t tear the ligament.
Mav is quiet in the passenger seat as I drive. I don’t think he really expected the doctor to find anything, and I can’t imagine the thoughts going through his head. When we get to the emergency room, I force him into a chair while I sign him in.
“Dr. Anderson said you could be back as quick as a week or two,” I tell him.
“Great,” he says in the most mundane tone I’ve ever heard from him.
“It’s going to be okay.” I rest a hand lightly on his thigh. It has to be. I feel awful. I know it wasn’t my fault, but it would never have happened if I hadn’t been running away from him.
He looks down at my hand, and then his stare locks on mine. “Don’t leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here.” I scan the magazine selection and pick up a copy ofPeople.
“That isn’t what I meant. Stay here in Minnesota. Don’t go back to Valley.”
I set the magazine back on the table and sigh.
He angles his body, holding an ice pack to his knee. “I did it for you, but I did it for me too.”
“There are lots of people that can do the job.” Even better than I can, but I leave that out. I would have worked my ass off for that job.
“Maybe, but they’re not you. I wanted the best, but I also wanted you.”
I try to read his serious expression. “Why?”
“Because… leaving Valley was hard. The guys, you, Reagan, Ginny, Sienna, you were more than just my friends.”
