Page 97 of Breakaway

“Okay.” I opened one eye more, and when the light wasn’t bright like they said, I opened the other. Everything was out of focus, so I blinked a few times. Reed’s face over me was the first thing I could make out. His blue eyes stared down at me, more glassy than I recalled.

“Blue eyes,” I whispered. “Don’t be sad.” I tried to lift my arm up but wasn’t able to. “Why are you upside down?”

“Henley, I need you to follow my finger,” the other voice said, pulling my attention. I blinked as I tried to find where it was coming from. A finger appeared in front of my face, so I followed it.

“I don’t think she has a concussion. It looks like her chin took the brunt of the impact. Her tooth’s chipped and she’ll need stitches. I’d feel better if they did a head scan just to verify, though, especially if you’re going to fly. We’ll need to x-ray her ribs and knees. There’s some tenderness, so I want to be safe and rule out any fractures. I’ll give her something for the pain now that I’m not worried about a concussion.”

A sharp pinch stung on my arm, and my lids drooped. I remembered I wanted to ask a question, but unconsciousness descended over me before I could ask it.

Had I won?

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Reed

Watching Henley battle on the ice with the man who’d treated her like scum tested my resolve. I’d never liked Dakota Hughes, but I didn’t honestly give him much thought. I knew he considered me his rival, but I had to believe he was a threat for him to be mine.

He was not. Not to me, at least.

But to Henley…

My blood boiled as he sneered at her, trying to get under her skin with his words. My beautiful girlfriend ignored him, irritating him more. But I loved every second of it.

I’d meant what I said to her when she’d come off the ice. I loved seeing her coach and the girl boss energy she always exuded during those games. But seeing her own Dakota on the ice was everything I never knew I needed in my life. It was orgasmic.

But if he bodychecked her again, I would break his fucking fingers one by one.

They lined up for the last time, both only needing one goal to win the breakaway shootout. I gripped the edge of the railing as I braced myself. We’d known this section would be the hardest to watch, with Dakota trying to take cheap shots. But Henley had shown her superior skills by getting the puck away and scoring right off the bat. The tension in my heart had lessened with each goal she made.

I sucked in a breath as the stadium behind me quieted. Everyone was on their feet as they waited to see how it would all end.

With some crazy stick handling, Henley stole the puck from the air. She froze, amazed at herself, before she remembered she had to move. Her skates slashed against the ice as she spun around him, the puck falling to the ice in a breakaway as she ate up the distance between her and the goal.

She lifted her stick and struck the puck one second, her body flying through the air the next.

I was so focused on her; I’d taken my eyes off Dakota. His body crashed into hers with the force of a Zamboni, and I watched in horror as the love of my life took one of the hardest hits I’d ever seen.

Dakota had body-slammed her at top speed, sending her flying far from him. Her knees hit first, then her torso. But it was her chin and head that had me jumping over the barrier in fear. I didn’t care if it was against protocol. Henley was hurt, and I had to get to her.

The stadium gasped as everyone waited to see if she’d get up. I slid across the ice in my tennis shoes, not caring as I slipped to get to her. The ref pulled Dakota away, his face angry as he yelled something at him, pushing him back, but I didn’t pay attention long enough to know. I’d deal with him once I knew if she was okay.

Sliding on my knees, I hesitated to touch her as I hovered over her. The red pooling on the ice decided for me so I turned her over, pulled my long sleeve shirt off, and pressed it to her chin. It quickly became covered in blood, the front of her jersey also stained with the dark liquid.

“Medic!” I screamed, my eyes wide with fear as I scanned the area. I’d carry her out of here if I had to. I spotted Fletcher trying to get onto the ice, blocked by a security guard. Dax held Reese in the stands, everyone clutching their faces as they waited.

“Ouch,” Henley groaned, and I practically wept at the sound.

The medic arrived, and I helped them load her onto the stretcher. I kept the shirt pressed to her as we moved off the ice. They’d have to get used to me being here. I wasn’t going anywhere.

The medic asked Henley a few questions, her answers making us all laugh in relief as she talked about toast and having three boyfriends. Even half-concussed, Henley was faithful. God, I loved her.

The medic gave her a shot, her eyelids falling closed for a few seconds, and I sighed in relief. She’d be okay. She’d be okay. My body shook as the adrenaline left me. For a second, I’d worried I was about to lose another person I loved.

“You riding with us to the hospital?” the medic asked.

“What do you think?” I glared, daring her to ask me to leave.

“Fine, but I need you to let go of the shirt so I can clean up the cut,” she huffed.

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