Page 77 of The Jester and His Outlaw: Part 2

“Outlaw,” I try again, bringing myself back to my girl. “Outlaw, can you wake up for me?” This time, I lean down and brush a kiss to her washed-out cheek. “Outlaw,” I whisper next to her ear.

I need her to respond, need her to say something,doanything.

Sirens ring in the distance, wailing like there’s no tomorrow and adding an ominous sense of dread to my already gloomy heart. EMTs will help her.

Everything is going to be fine. Just fine.

Then why does my chest ache? Why does it feel like someone has ripped my heart out and it is freezing on the surface of the ice?

Why the fuck is Charley not moving? She has to move. I need her to move. I need to hear that voice, see those gemstone eyes. Her beautiful eyes. Why won’t she open them?

I want to scream, to rip my hair from the roots. Anything to make her wake up.

My breaths come out ragged, pathetic escape attempts from my lungs as anguish settles deep in my chest. Trembling hands come to my face to readjust my ball cap, an attempt to use some of the energy coursing through my body.

I can’t lose her. I just can’t. Her death is something I won’t survive. She may be breathing, but anything can happen. An injury that changes her forever. She could lose her ability to play. I’ve been reading about hockey injuries, the same hit from behind she took. Some have been catastrophic. If she can’t play anymore? Fuck. I can’t even think about that.

I need to reel my mind back in.

“Breathe, Riggs,” Jensen says from my right. “Breathe. She’s just knocked out, that’s all.”

Justknocked out? Why does it feel so much worse?

But he’s right. Freaking out will do nothing to help her. If this is more than being knocked out, we will take it one day at a time, one hour, one minute, one second, if we have to. By her side is where I will stand.

I say nothing, only nod because on the off chance that she can hear me, I don’t want her to freak out.

“Wh—whoa,” Charley croaks, lifting her head. My sigh of relief is immediate, but I don’t hold on to it.

“Don’t move,” Kai orders, voice gruff but tone soft. “Try not to move, okay? An ambulance is on the way.”

“Outlaw. Fuck. Are you alright?” I ask, leaning over her but keeping my distance so we don’t overwhelm her. There are plenty of people around right now.

She clenches her eyes shut as if to orient herself. When they open, she glances around at everyone’s faces. Something like fear passes through her blown pupils, pupils that are taking way too long to focus. I clench my jaw, keeping my curled fists to myself.

“Huh?” she murmurs. “What? What happened? Where am I?” A grim look stills Kai’s features and he turns to face me. I can see the warning there. The warning that anything could be going through her mind, or nothing at all. It’s the nothing part that scares me.

My mind goes crazy doling out all the possibilities from all the injuries I’ve read about. Even a concussion can cause memory loss. It usually is only temporary, but still, no one wants to think about someone they love forgetting about them.

Someone they love.

Shit. I’ve never said that to a girl I have been with before. Charley is more than just a girl I’ve been with. We live together. She is my everything. She told me she loves me and also clarified I didn’t have to say it back, that she already knew I loved her. I haven’t told her yet. Why haven’t I told her when I’ve known for a while it’s true?

That girl has my fucking heart and while I haven’t been the happiest, my heart belongs to her. Bleeds for her.

Outlaw is my heart.

A whimper falls from her, drawing my attention. When I look down, she’s staring at me, her brow furrowed, unease tainting her beautiful eyes.

“Where am I?” Pained eyes flick to Kai. “Kai, what happened?” Hazel gemstones flick back to me, skeptical, worried.

Does she not know who I am? Why isn’t she asking me instead of him?

FUCK!I scream internally.My girl has no clue who I am. This is temporary, right? Known to happen when a concussion occurs. I’ve done all the research to be prepared for every possibility.

“Hey sis, you’re at the University rink. You took a hit that sent you into the boards. But you’re going to be okay.” Tears fill her eyes as she takes another fill of me—absolutely no recognition—and I can’t take it anymore. I back away, letting the EMTs work to get her vitals and stabilize her. I’ll take the pressure off right now so she can let them help her.

Jensen is by my side in an instant, keeping my hands from diving into my hair. ”It’s a concussion. They happen all the time. Memory loss is temporary. She’ll be good.”

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