My fingers clench into Brandon’s jersey as I wait, barely breathing myself. The athletic trainer is on his knee next to Nico and I can see Nico shaking his head.
Is that good or bad?
“Harper,” Brandon warns. I took another step in that direction. Fuck.
Eli leans down and he grasps Nico’s forearm. The trainer stands, but as soon as Nico rises, his leg gives out. A gasp falls over the crowd. Eli and the trainer catch him.
The trainer keeps him there and I can see them talking. Nico shakes his head.
When they start off the field with Nico hobbling between the two others, the crowd cheers, but I haven’t even caught my breath yet.
CHAPTER 46
The Hospital
Nico
When we make it back to the sidelines, Brandon swaps places with Eli.
Eli grabs the back of my head and presses his helmet against my forehead. “We’ve got you.”
His eyes search mine until I nod. I get it. We’re in this together. Except I’m the one who’s injured and being rushed off to the hospital.
Jack gives me a nod where he stands with the others, waiting for the game to resume. Luke claps me on the shoulder before running back out to the field. Caden stops next to me.
“Don’t worry. I’ll fuck that asshole up.” Caden grins. “I should have gotten him this last time, but I had to take down the guy going for Luke first.”
I nod. That Mack truck wasn’t Caden’s responsibility. Someone else was supposed to take him out before he got to me. “Kick their ass.”
He grabs the back of my neck and presses his helmet to my forehead. “Text us to let us know what’s happening. We’ll see you after we win.”
He runs onto the field and I turn to see Harper watching us with wide eyes. She’s stuck on the other side of the players. Fuck.
“Let’s go.” Marshall, our athletic trainer, starts forward. My arms are wrapped around Brandon and Marshall’s shoulders as they help support me on the way to Marshall’s car. “Coach talked to your parents. They’ll meet us at the hospital.”
I can’t put weight on my fucking knee without it giving, which makes my insides twist.
Fuck. I don’t want to deal with my parents. Mom will smother and Dad will stand to the side with quiet disapproval. I don’t want to deal with either of them. I just want Harper, but I can’t even have that. She’d be alone and that’s not happening.
“Could be a sprain, but we don’t want to mess around.” Marshall speaks quietly as we move under the bleachers. People watch me leave. Occasionally calling out good luck. The game is still going on behind me.
Nodding, I swallow against the lump in my throat. It could be a sprain. Out the rest of this game will suck, but it won’t be the end of the world. But, there’s always the possibility it’s something more.
Something that would put me out until next year. Something that might fuck with the future we all have planned. Fuck.
“Wait!” Harper’s voice comes from behind me. I force the others to stop. Speaking of my future.
Harper’s breathless when she reaches us. Her brown eyes are wide and frightened. “Nico...”
I glance at the stadium and then down at Harper. She has tears in her eyes.
“We’re going to the hospital, sunshine.” I try to stand taller to show her I’m okay. To be the brave guy she needs in her corner with everything crashing around us.
“I want to come with.” That stubborn glint in her eye tells me she’ll follow me if I don’t bring her.
But I also know I have tests they’ll perform, which will leave her alone and vulnerable.
“You’ll be alone.” I shake my head, because without one of us, she’ll be exposed. “Someone’s grabbing my cell phone. I’ll text you.”
