After the guys leave, I check on Sleeping Raffi. Disney probably wouldn’t have made the same money if they’d had a snoozing hockey player instead of a princess, but it makes me giggle.
Apollo said he’d tell their coach Raffi had a wicked case of the shits and that’s why he won’t be at morning skate tomorrow. And thankfully, they don’t have a game until way later inthe week, so he won’t be in trouble for having to sit out a game.
At least I don’t think so. If he misses practices during the week will his coach bench him for not showing up? I’m sure there is a complex system of rules at work, but I don’t know any of them, and it didn’t occur to me to ask his friends before they left.
Eloise stays. She’s going to take Apollo’s car back later, and if we need it again for something, we’ll figure it out later. Apollo didn’t seem too worried that his teammate keeps using his car. Eloise said it’s because he has a couple.
Jeez. The wealth is strong with this one.
She sets up camp on the couch and lets Wyatt pick the movie, so the three of us snuggle and watchRuby Gillman: Teenage Krakenfor the eleventy billionth time. By the time it’s over, Eloise offers to hang out with Wyatt as he smushes together multiple colors of Play Doh like a sociopath while I check in on Raffi. She’s the best.
“What time is it?” Raffi’s voice is hoarse and croaky when I enter the room.
“You don’t need to worry about the time. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been hit by a tank.” He keeps his voice low and quiet, so I mimic it.
“I brought you a drink.” I circle the bed and hold out the glass with a straw. It’s room temperature because I didn’t want icy water to make things worse for him.
When he tries to move, his arm catches on the IV. “What the hell?”
Settling on the edge of the bed, I brush his cheek. He’s clammy. The only light in the room is a sliver from the hall so I can’t see his face, but he sounds like shit.
“It hit you pretty hard. We needed to bring in a doctor.”
He gulps down the drink. “Who’s we?”
“Ares, Apollo, and Artemis came by to help get you out of the car and into bed.”
“Your bed?” There’s a levity to his voice. If there was more light, I imagine he’d be wiggling his eyebrows at me. The urge to smack him makes my fingers twitch.
“Yes, dummy. My bed. I wasn’t sending you back to that house of animals. Who’d take care of you?”
“Tate’s a pretty good nurse, but he doesn’t have your rack.” He reaches a hand out and slides it in mine.
“Why didn't you tell anyone you were getting such bad migraines?”
“They aren’t all like this.”
“One is one too many, Raffi. How often do these happen?”
“Not that regularly. I keep on top of it. Maintaining a daily routine can sometimes help stave them off. Guessing I didn’t hydrate enough yesterday. Usually I get a warning though. Not today. I’m sorry for scaring you.” He strokes my hand.
“I can handle it.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“Neither should you.” There’s sternness in my voice. I’m trying hard not to judge. The more time I spend with his teammates, the more I get him wanting to stay in their circle.
“What did the guys say?” He shifts up in the bed a little with a grunt.
“Well, they called a fancy doctor who’ll be back later to change or remove your IV. They brought your meds, carried you to my bed, and helped me get you settled. I’m going to guess they love you a lot.”
There’s a smile in his voice when he speaks. “I love them, too.”
“They’re worried about you. We all are. Apollo is going to cover for you at practice tomorrow morning so you can rest.There’s no way any of us are letting you skate, so don’t even argue.”
He chuckles, and it makes the bed vibrate. “I like when you’re bossy and have mom voice.”
