Page 75 of Body Check

“Well, son,” he says, and Jason blows out a breath.

“It’s official?” Pain laces his voice.

“Achilles tendon rupture,” Doc says. “We’ll get you prepped for surgery. You’re being admitted. It may be a couple of hours before we can get into the O.R.”

“But it’s happening tonight?” I ask.

He nods. “Before dawn, that’s for sure. I’ll be assisted by Dr. Iglesias. She’s the best ortho doc in Dallas. She’ll handle your aftercare while I meet the team in St. Louis. Two days, maybe three, and then we’ll get you home.”

“Thanks,” Jason says tightly.

“Son, you stink. We’ll have a nurse come by to give you a sponge bath,” he adds. “Unless you’d rather do it yourself, Amelia?” He winks at me.

Crap. So, he definitely saw us. Will he tell the rest of the team? Will he tell management? Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I choke out a strained laugh. “A nurse should be fine. Thanks for offering.”

Doc hums, clearly amused. “I’ll see you in the operating room, Jason. Amelia, I’ll find you after. Once we’re in there, it shouldn’t take more than an hour or two.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

He leaves us alone again, and I turn to Jason.

“What are you thinking?”

He blows out a breath. “I’m glad you’re here,” he says quietly. His rich brown eyes meet mine. “I’m glad it’s you.”

“I wish it wasn’t you,” I admit. “When you went down…”

It was one of the scariest moments of my life. He didn’t get up. It took him a long time to get back up, and then when he limped off the ice? My heart was in my throat. I could hardly concentrate on the rest of the period, my only thought the man in front of me now.

Jason shakes his head. “We can’t think about that.” He reaches out his hand and I take it, his strong fingers curling around mine. “We just have to get through tonight.”

“Are you worried? About the surgery?”

“Not any more than I was the last time.” He sighs. “First time I’ve had an Achilles issue, though. Usually it’s my knee that’s being operated on.”

“Is there anyone I can call for you?”

“I should probably tell my mother. She was blowing up my phone earlier.” He looks around the room. “I don’t even know where it is.”

“I’ll check in with the nurse. Do you need anything else?”

He reaches for me, drawing me close until I’m practically leaning on the cot he’s lying on. “Don’t go. Not now.”

“I won’t leave you,” I promise.