Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
We all held our breath as Julian prepped the ball. This was the end of the first half, and a goal here—especially a goal from one of the girls, which counted for two—would put them in a much better position, going into halftime.
Julian’s kick soared through the air. Even I could admit that it was perfect, directly where he’d wanted it to land—in the center of the cluster of players. It came toward Harley. I watched her decision to go for it. Everyone jumped at once. She and a guy nearly a head taller than her arced up into the air.
The guy reared back, slamming his head into Harley’s as he went for the soccer ball. It grazed off of his head and out of the way of the goal. The crowd booed, the players looked frustrated, and Harley fell.
I was on my feet as soon as I watched her body go limp. The guy who’d headbutted her was already jogging away, oblivious to her landing at his feet. A gasp went up from the stands. Julian ran forward, and the rest of the team was already heading that way.
I didn’t know what compelled me, but I couldn’t just stand there and watch it happen. I was running across the pitch before the ref even blew the whistle for the end of the half.
8
HARLEY
The light was blinding when I opened my eyes. I winced and quickly shut them again. I groaned as little stars flickered around my eyelids.
Fuck, what had happened?
“Hey, hey, I’m here,” Chase said.
His hand was holding mine. I could feel him hovering over me. There was worry in his voice.
“What…happened?” I croaked.
“You got hit in the head at the game. Do you remember that?”
My eyes opened to slits. “The game. Right.”
I was still lying on the grass on the field. I didn’t know how long I’d been out, but it all came back to me quickly. The corner kick that had resulted in that huge lug of a guy headbutting me when we both went for the header.
“I don’t feel too good.”
“It’s all right,” he said reassuringly.
“No, I—” But the words never left my mouth. I turned over and vomited up my guts. I choked on how gross that was as I heaved onto the grass in front of the goal. My stomach tightened as I expelled my hastily eaten dinner.
“Concussion,” a voice said over me.
“Fuck,” Chase said. “You think so?”
“Oh, definitely.”
I winced and rolled back over to see Annie kneeling on the other side while the rest of the team looked on.
“You think I have a concussion?”
“Well, I’d have looked at you, but Chase barreled me out of the way. Guess we don’t need the doctor in the house,” she joked. Her smile alight for him. She looked genuinely happy that he was out on the pitch.
Chase shot her an exasperated look. “Is she going to be okay?”
“Yeah. Sure. She seems pretty with it. I’d recommend ice and resting the next day or two.” She nodded at Chase. “I expect you to enforce my rules. No wild activity this weekend.”
He scowled at her. “Ruin my fun.”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing. “I’ll mention that to Jordan later.”
“Please don’t,” I said weakly. “And can someone help me up?”
Chase got his arm underneath me and gradually helped me to my feet. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. I was a little dizzy, but it wasn’t enough that I couldn’t walk or anything.
The guy who’d run into me ran over and apologized, but I waved him off. I didn’t think he had done it intentionally. Just bad luck. But it definitely meant I was out the rest of the game.
Chase kept his arm around me as we walked off the field and right into the bulk of my family.
“Are you okay?” Bailey asked. “That looked terrible. You dropped like a sack of potatoes.”
“Thanks, Bails. I’m fine.”
“She has a concussion,” Chase said. “I’m going to take her home and get her some ice and rest.”
“My knight in shining armor,” I said with only half a laugh. Because when I laughed, my head hurt, and I winced.
“Jesus, Harley, do you need to go to the hospital?” Whitt asked. He looked like he’d had a shock to his system when I fell.
“No hospital. Not when there’s an ER doctor on the field.”
“What did Annie say?” Jordan asked.
“Just that I seemed with it and I should rest. It’s no big deal, y’all.”
“You threw up on the field,” Whitt said.
“You should have seen the way you collapsed,” Jordan said.
“It was really scary,” Eve agreed.
“I’m fine. Chase is going to take care of me.”
Jordan looked like he’d just eaten a lemon, but he stuck his hand out to Chase. He eyed it warily before putting his hand in Jordan’s to shake. “I saw the look on your face when you realized she was hurt. Take care of her.”