Graham guides us down the stairs until we’re standing in the alleyway behind the frat house.
What should we do now?Sinc asks.
I guess we better take her to the St.Viola Hospital to get checked out.The student clinic isn’t going to be open this late on a Saturday.I turn to my friends.Look, you guys don’t have to come.I can take her, if you want to go back to the party.
Mats chuckles.I hate to tell you this, but a lone guy bringing in an unconscious woman is not a good look.They’ll probably call the cops onyou.
Sinc nods.Besides, the party was boring.This is a lot better.I feel like a superhero or something, rescuing women.He looks around in case there are more damsels in distress.
Okay, thanks.I appreciate the support of my teammates and the way we work well together off the ice.
Mats jogs off to get his car, and Sinc goes back in to retrieve our jackets.Coty and I wait on a nearby corner.Evie has hardly moved.Her head rests against my chest.She looks peaceful…and young.
Once we get to the emergency room, it turns out to be almost empty.St.Viola is a pretty sleepy town, and student misadventures probably make up most of the Saturday night business.
What do you mean you don’t know her full name?The nurse on duty is not impressed with my impatient explanations.This is clearly a medical emergency, and they’re not even busy.
Mats pushes me to one side.It all happened so quickly.We saw this guy practically carrying a woman up to his room, and then we stepped in to prevent something bad from happening.
Sinc flashes his boy-next-door smile.And now we brought her here to make sure she’s okay.
The younger nurse at the station smiles back at Sinc.Give them a break, Sharon.She points to me.That’s Viktor Zelenko, captain of the Monarch Mustangs, and the rest of them are also on the team.They’re not leaving town or anything.Get all their contact info.They’ll call us tomorrow once they find out who this young woman is.Right, boys?
I nod, thankful for small towns and hockey fans.
The duty nurse sighs.Fine.
She takes our information and directs us to an examination room.I lay Evie out on the hospital bed and cover her with the blanket we brought.We stay there until the doctor arrives.Then the younger nurse tells us to wait in the lobby.
Maybe we can figure out where she lives.Someone may be worried about her,Coty suggests.
If she came to the party with friends, they certainly weren’t looking out for her.I search my memory for anyone I saw her with tonight, but I’m coming up blank.Then I remember last night’s party.Actually, last night she was with some girls from Alpha Zeta Mu.
Mats sighs.I’ll message Lana.His ex-girlfriend is now the vice-president of that sorority.
It seems weird that she didn’t even have a phone.Everyone has a phone,Sinc says.
It could be anywhere at the party.She probably had a coat too.Again, I regret that I wasn’t more observant.Of course I noticed Evie but deliberately tried not to look at her.
Lana says there’s no new member called Evie there,Mats reports back.I’m sure texting his ex on a Saturday night wasn’t his favourite thing to do.She probably thought it was a booty call.
The doctor meets us in the lobby.Gentlemen, your friend is very fortunate.She seems to have ingested a light dose of the sleeping pills, so she should be fine by morning.Maybe a little groggy at first.He reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out the gelcaps, which are now encased in a plastic baggy, like evidence.And thank you for bringing these in, that helped a lot.Anyway, I’d like her to come back in tomorrow, once she’s conscious.
He looks at me.Viktor Zelenko, right?I’m Everett Arbor.Enjoyed your playoff run last year.Can you make sure she returns?Here are the times I’ll be here.
I take his card and pocket it.Okay, I’ll do that.
The doctor leaves, and the nurse takes over.It’s the younger one who likes us.She hands us a sheet of aftercare instructions.I wonder how often this happens.
Oh, we took out her contact lenses too.She passes me a bottle with violet lenses that explain her new eye colour.It’s like Evie was in disguise.What are your plans for her now?
We’ve been searching, but we can’t find anyone who knows her.So, I guess she’ll have to stay at our house,I reply.In her own room, of course.
Look, I’m sure you’re good guys, but it might be better if there’s a woman around when she wakes up.Memory loss can be very traumatic.
We can get someone to be there.Either someone’s girlfriend, or I’ll call a friend.
That’s fine.She turns to me.You’re the one that knows her best?
