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“No shit. Really? When?”
“Back in high school. I was a senior when you were a freshman, and you smoked us on your way to the national championship.”
“Small world.” I reach out and shake his hand. “Dallas.”
“Jordan.”
“Nice to meet you. Is that why you went into the medical field?”
“Yeah. I saw too many of my teammates get hurt and were misdiagnosed, so I decided to do something about it. Never thought I’d get a call on my lunch break informing me that Dallas Lansfield was coming in on a stretcher.”
“Aw, shit, man. I know y’all work hard around here, and I’m sorry for cutting into the limited free time you have.”
“Don’t worry about it. Do you have someone who can stay with you? Who can take care of you?” he asks. “You shouldn’t be alone for the first twenty-four hours.”
“Yeah.” I blow out a breath. “I have—she’s, well, I?—”
“Maven?” he finishes for me, and I nod. “Mind if I hang around until she’s here so I can give her some information?”
“Please. But she’s going to be pissed at me. Don’t judge her by how upset she is.”
“Nah.” Dr. Anderson grins. “That just means she cares about you.”
“My coach doesn’t know the details about our relationship. Hecan’tknow.”
“Doctor-patient confidentiality,” he says. “My lips are sealed.”
The door flies open. Maven comes storming inside, and it’s so much like that day she stormed into Shawn’s office I swear it feels like we’re back there.
Then I see her wet hair and her smudged make up. Her eyes are red-rimmed, like she’s been crying for hours, and her cheeks are pale, and I need to touch her immediately.
“Come here, sunshine,” I say softly, and she bursts into tears.
She sprints to me and wraps her arms gently around my neck. I hold her, stroking her hair and rubbing her back. Her skin is cold, and I bring her even closer, trying to warm her up.
“I was so worried about you,” she whispers, and her tears hang on my neck. “You were on the ground and not moving, and I—” she hiccups and buries her face in my jersey.
“I know. I’m so sorry. I’m alright, though. I’m here. It’s okay.”
“I got June from the nursery. I didn’t think I should bring her. Maverick has her at his apartment.” She pulls back and holds my cheeks with both of her hands. Her eyes sweep over my face, and she’s never been more beautiful. “Is it really you?”
I rest my forehead against hers. “Yeah, baby. It’s really me.”
“I remembered that talk we had, and I thought about you leaving me and I?—”
“That’s never going to happen.Never.You hear me, Maven? I’m going to come home to you and June every night.”
“Sorry,” Jordan says. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but your coach?—”
Maven pulls away from me and sits in the chair beside the bed. She wipes her eyes and sniffs just as Shawn enters the room.
I hate this distance between us and I want to pull her back to me. I want to put her in my lap and screamyeah. She’s mine. Fuck your rules. But I can’t. I can’t and I fuckinghate it.
Shawn looks at us. I know there’s a question there. I can see it in his eyes and I feel it hanging in the air. He doesn’t ask it, though, and turns his attention to the doctor instead.
“Do you spend a lot of time with him?” Jordan asks Maven, and she nods.
“I’m his daughter’s nanny.”
