Page 20 of The Cutting Edge
“Yes, ma’am,” I say, unable to tear my eyes away from Coco’s grinning face. I confess, I love the fact that her first instinct as she was coming to was to give me shit.
As Barb heads toward the door, a tall, skinny orderly enters, pushing a wheelchair.
“Hi, Coco? I’m here to take you to get your CT scan.”
“My favorite,” says Coco.
“Really?” asks the orderly, running his hands through his afro of fuzzy orange kinks.
“Not really, Carl,” says Nurse Barb, turning to me. “The CT will probably take a while, so this might be a good time for you two to call it a night.”
I look down at my watch and see that it's almost 11:30 – how did it get so late? “Oh, yeah, I probably should go.” I should have been in bed an hour and a half ago. I have early practice tomorrow and it’s not like I’ve been playing so awesome I don’t need the rest. But I feel a twinge of something unfamiliar when I think about leaving.
Coco nods, and I wish I could read what she’s thinking.
“Thanks for the company,” she says.
I’m at a loss for what to say – there’s part of me that wants to stay until she gets back, to have a few more moments alone with her, to make sure she’s okay, that she doesn’t pass out again. But it feels inappropriate and awkward to just hang around with no idea when she’ll be back and no claim whatsoever to be here.
“I truly am so sorry about your head,” I say.
“It was an accident,” she responds, as Carl and Barb help her sit up slowly.
“You’re going to need to leave your jewelry here,” instructs Barb. Coco’s hand flies to her neck, fingering a necklace with a large green stone.
“Do I have to? This is sort of my lucky necklace.”
“I’m sure the big guy here will keep it safe,” Barb nods to me. Coco tentatively unclasps the necklace and reluctantly hands it to me, her recently-acquired fake boyfriend. It’s a polished green oval stone, maybe jade, still warm from Coco’s skin, on a black leather cord.
It’s pretty clear she’s feeling anxious about letting it go. I can relate. “I’ll take care of it,” I promise.
“Are you feeling dizzy?” asks Nurse Barb. “Let me know if you feel like you’re going to pass out again.”
“I think I’m okay,” Coco says, as Carl and Barb help move her legs off the bed.
“How’s this?” asks Barb. “Any dizziness now?”
Coco shakes her head no, as Carl and Nurse Barb pull her into a standing position and then help her sit back down in the wheelchair.
“All good?” asks Barb.
“All good,” she says quietly.” Carl un-brakes the wheelchair and wheels Coco towards the door. So much for formalities.
“I’ll check on you tomorrow.”
Coco looks back over her shoulder, meeting my eyes. “Okay.”
And with that, she’s gone, her wheelchair squeaking faintly as she travels down the corridor.
Chapter seven
Coco
Whentheorderlyreturnsme to my hospital room, it’s dark and quiet. He helps me back into my bed, checks to make sure I have water, and pushes the tray table within my reach.
Is it weird that I half hoped Logan would still be here when I got back? A little bit. I suddenly remember I gave Logan my green aventurine necklace and I feel naked (and I’ll confess, a bit panicky) without it. It’s my totem, good luck charm, and anti-anxiety touchstone all rolled into one. I never take it off – not even in competition.
It does not feel good to be in the hospital without it.
