Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
I don’t answer her. I can’t. I’ve chewed a hole in my lip since we arrived. My heart is in my throat, and silent tears roll down my cheeks as I watch the doors like they’re the only thing that exists at this moment. In a way, they are, because Coleson was taken back through them, unconscious. I still can’t get the image out of my head of that bastard Barnes rushing into my husband, lifting him off his skates, and Coleson coming down and snapping his leg. Never in my life have I seen a fully grown, over-six-foot man do a flip, but once he was in the air, I knew it wasn’t going to be good.
I screamed as he went airborne, and when he landed, I felt like I was going to pass out. Hell, I still do. After seeing my husband’s leg to the side of his knee and then how the trainers covered it with a towel as they assessed him, I vomited everywhere and then promptly started sobbing. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. He’d just scored.
Why did this happen?
Beside me, Austen says, “I didn’t get hurt, nor has Dimitri. Knock on wood.” She quickly knocks her knuckles on her head.
As my sisters go back and forth, suggesting ways to break the curse we seem to have, my eyes stay on the surgery doors. I chew the inside of my left cheek since I’ve already ruined my right. My throat is burning with emotion, my heart aching, and I just want to see him.
I didn’t get to kiss him or wish him luck for the surgery. I don’t even know if he heard me yell that I loved him as they wheeled him through the doors. Probably not, since he was unconscious. I hope he did. Just in case.
No, don’t do that. Don’t go down the road. Everything will be fine. He’ll be fine. We’re fine. My leg bounces as I pick at my nails and then any piece of skin I can find to pick at. My eyes don’t leave the doors, and I can’t think straight.
More tears fall.
People come and go to check on me as I wait. Dimitri and Ciaran are the sweetest and stayed, even though I couldn’t bring myself to greet them. I don’t talk to anyone. The only reason I eat or drink anything is because Clara physically forces me too. She’s not the nicest when she’s playing momma bear. She pinches my boob to get me to open my mouth for a protein bar.
Asshole.
She and Elliot drove up once they heard what happened. My sisters take turns sandwiching me between them and forcing me to eat. Elliot has taken charge of my phone and is answering the coffeehouse when they call to check in. While it’s only been six hours, it feels like a hundred. Each minute that passes makes me think the surgery isn’t going well, but Louisa doesn’t feel the same. It’s almost like she reads my mind as she checks her phone.
“I know it’s taking a while, but I promise, they’re great here. It’s Vanderbilt, for goodness’ sake,” she gushes, squeezing my hand with her free one. “They know what they’re doing and are probably doing everything to make sure he can still play.”
Still play? How in the world…? But I know Coleson will still want to play. He isn’t the kind of man to give up so easily. He fought for himself when no one else would. If he wants to play, I’ll support him. If he doesn’t, that’s fine too. Whatever he wants, I’ll support. I just want him to be okay. I just want to hear his voice. Taste his lips. Feel his arms around me. Be called “Wife.”
Before I can start crying again, Coach Riggs enters the room. His eyes fall on me, and a grimace fills his features. I hold back my tears as I give him a forced smile of appreciation. He doesn’t smile back, nor waste time. “Any word?” he asks, his Scottish accent soothing.
I shake my head, and beside me, Clara says, “He’s still in there. A nurse came out and said things are progressing and he’s stable.”
“Aye, when’s he going to come out?”
“We don’t know,” she says sadly, cupping my hand.
Coach looks between us and then back to me. He holds out his hand, and I don’t know why, but I take it. He pulls me into his arms, hugging me tightly. And I can’t. I come undone, clinging to him, engulfed by his spicy scent. “Aye there, lass. He’s a strong lad, and I have no doubts he’ll be out soon, you hear? No worries now. Everything will be fine.”
He pats the back of my head, and I now know why Coleson adores him so. I wish Coleson had had this kind of man in his life while he was growing up, but having his coach come when he did is such a blessing. I squeeze him. “Thank you.”