CHAPTER 38
Raffi
Hospitals stink. Not even of something whiffy like potpourri, but of bleach, or whatever the cleaning solution is they use to make the whole building smell of chemicals.
Could be worse, could smell like blood. I’ll take small mercies where I find them right now.
I know where I am before I open my eyes.
There’s a familiar ba-dum-bum-bum throbbing in my brain and pulsing pain in my head. Something went down last night on the ice. Last thing I remember was skating out for the first period.
Flashes of Wyatt signing he loved me, my name across Victoria’s shirt, and the game intro skate flash in my brain. Relief settles into my chest. I might be hurt, but at least I remember who my people are, where I am, and what happened.
Better than last time, at least.
Someone’s holding my hand, their warmth radiating into me as they sit in silence, just holding onto me.
Forcing my eyes open, it all takes a moment for thebanging in my head to simmer down to an acceptable level. After a few blinks, I take in the room. Victoria’s holding my hand on one side. Apollo sits on a chair in the far corner of the room, and Mom’s got the chair to my left.
It’s bright out, but the room only has one small window and the blinds are pulled. When my gaze lands back onto Victoria, she offers me a tired smile. Her hair’s pulled into a ponytail, her skin seems paler than usual, and her bloodshot eyes have dark lines under them that suggest she probably hasn’t had much sleep.
Fuck.
“Hey, Firecracker.” My voice is croaky, dry, hard to force out.
“Hey yourself.” Her chin trembles as she blinks back tears. “You remember.” The last bit’s barely a whisper.
“I do. You okay?”
She arches a brow so high I’m afraid it might jump off her face, but that eye roll. I damn near get a hard on right here in my hospital bed. Her face says “Of course I’m not okay, you idiot.” And I love her for it.
“Cap.” I nod across the room to Apollo.
“Hey, Raffi, how you feeling?”
I close my eyes briefly. “Like my face collided with a wall.”
He nods, his movements slow like exhaustion is pulling him down. “Close enough. I’m going to step out and tell the nurse and the guys you’re awake. Okay?”
Victoria answers for me. “Thanks, Apollo.” Gratitude sparkles in her eyes.
When he leaves, I turn to Mom. “Have you been here all night?”
She shakes her head. “No, sweetheart. We had Wyatt last night.” She grins so wide it’s hard not to smile with her. “Tori’s mom took him this morning so we could come and sitwith you. Dad’s out in the waiting room with your teammates.”
As though she summoned him, Dad walks through the door. He drags Apollo’s chair across the room and plants it next to Mayrik before picking up her hand.
“By all accounts you’ve been keeping the severity of things from us, Raphael.” Mom’s eyes bore into me from her seat.
Victoria shifts her weight. “I should take a walk.”
Subtle as ever, but I’m not going to get through this conversation without her right here by my side. Clasping her hand, I shake my head. “Stay. Please.”
She flits her gaze to my parents before settling back into her seat. “Okay. But you know I’m not going to keep my mouth shut.”
“It’s one of the many reasons why I love you.”
She smiles a tearful smile, sniffing. “Just one.”
