“I’ll grab Kenz and we’ll follow.” She turns and rushes away before I can say another word.
The problem is, I want her there. I want my friend and lover by my side as I get what may be fine news and a few days of rest, or possibly bad news where I’m benched for my senior year. I have a few college offers already, but this could make them change their minds.
“Come on.” Marshall urges me forward. “She knows how to get to the hospital.”
Everyone knows how to get to the hospital. That’s not what I’m worried about. This may or may not have been an accident. That guy was going after me hard. That’s his position, but it felt wrong.
When I’m settled in the car, Brandon wishes me luck and jogs back to the game. The car ride is quiet and we make it there quickly.
When Marshall parks, he goes to grab a wheelchair. I’m not going to fight him on this. I could fuck my knee up irreparably if I act too proud for a simple wheelchair.
The hospital is bustling with people as we go into the emergency room. Marshall doesn’t stop at the desk but wheels me into the back.
“Nico.” Mom turns from where she’s talking with a doctor. My father stands next to her. They’re both dressed nicely for their night out. My dad’s olive branch to my mom for screwing around on her. The same old patterns are already reemerging.
This place, this town, is toxic for both of them.
But it’s also where my family is. The guys and Harper.
The doctor is a woman in her early forties, dressed in scrubs. She glances over me. “We’ve been waiting for you. I’ve got the MRI cleared and an x-ray scheduled. We’ll take good care of you.”
I release my breath. Whatever happens now, we’ll deal with it. My guys will have my back.
Harper
I hurry back to the game and search the stands for Kenz. She isn’t sitting where we normally do.
“Hey, little nympho.” Caden comes up behind me.
“I need to find Kenz so she can take me to Nico.” I finally spot her near Penny and the others. Good, we can get going. I wave to her.
Caden grabs my arm. “You’re not going alone.”
“Kenz will go with me.” I turn to look into his concerned green eyes. “I’m not stupid, Caden. But I’m going to the hospital. Everyone is here. I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t like it.” He glances back toward the game. Coach Turner is watching us, but we’re on defense so Caden isn’t needed.
The coach already told me I could go with Nico as long as I update him on Nico’s status.
“Nico needs me.” I can’t let him down. We’re just finding a good place together again. I need to be there for him just like I’d want to be there for any of them. They’re all mine.
Kenz jogs up next to me. “Hey, is Nico okay?”
Focusing on his eyes, I touch Caden’s jaw. “I’ll be okay.”
He leans into my touch and nods. The coach yells something to him.
“Be careful, little nympho.” He runs back to the sidelines.
“We going to the hospital?”
I turn to Kenz and draw in a breath. “Yeah.”
She dangles her keys and smiles. “Let’s do this.”
We make it out of the stadium and across town without incident. Not that I expected anything, but lately everything’s been weirder. I’ve been protected and surrounded by people, which isn’t my normal.
I used to be a loner. Now I can’t do anything alone.
