Page 62 of Break Point

I nod and lift my racket.

“I’m fine,” I say, and a second later my ears begin to ring, and the world turns bright, bright yellow.

I’m going to fucking pass out.

Right. About. No—

“Jaden!” Bryson’s face is so close. Why is it so close?

I blink wildly, and I want to turn my head, but I can’t. Someone is holding me in place. And I’m on the pavement. Why am I here? Did I hit my head?

“Let me—” I try to get the words out, but my head feels so fuzzy that I forget what I’m asking before the question comes out. What do I need? Do I want something? I’m on the ground. It’s my challenge day. I know these things. I remember these things.

“I just need to—” I try to roll to my side, but I’m suddenly being held down by a man in a fire uniform.

Oh fuck! Are they here for me?

“What’s happening? Bryson? Bryson?” I feel like I’m shouting, but my voice is scratchy, and I can’t hear a damn thing, only the incessant drumming of my pulse in my ear. I strain my eyes, shifting my gaze from one side to the other, trying to push my periphery a little farther so I can find him.

My coach is kneeling next to me, and her sunglasses are off. Her sunglasses are never off. Her forehead is pulled in so tight, and she’s holding something. I glance down as best I can without lifting my chin, and I see my hand in hers. She’s holding my hand. Do I feel her hand? I squeeze, and she squeezes back.

“I’m right here, Jaden. Bryson is calling your parents,” Coach says.

“What? No, they were just here. They can’t come again. They can’t take off—”

“Shh,” Coach hushes, leaning in closer to me. It’s hard to focus on her when she’s this close. A hand rests on my forehead, and I try to peer up to see whose it is. I think it’s hers. “You had a seizure, Jaden. The paramedics are here, and they’re going to transport you to Mercy. You’re going to be just fine. I’m coming with you. Taryn is getting your things. It’s going to be okay.”

“But . . . I was playing. And then . . .” I stutter and blink several times, wishing I could focus on one goddamn thing. I feel like vomiting, but I also kind of feel like I just did.

“Can Bryson come? I need Bryson.”

I try to spot him one more time and finally do as the emergency personnel lift me on the stretcher, popping the wheels in place just as Bryson takes my free hand. He and my coach walk alongside me until I’m lifted into the back of the ambulance. All I see is cold metal cabinets, rolls of tape and gauze, emergency vests, gallons of water, saline bottles. My arm itches. Why is my arm itching?

“Hey. I’m right here,” Bryson says, taking my hand again, this time encasing it in both of his. The ambulance doors shut, and I think we’re alone.

“Where’s Coach?” My voice trembles. I’m going to cry. Fuck, I’m going to cry.

“I talked her into switching with me. She’s going to drive and meet us there. Unless you want her instead, I can—”

I try to shake my head.

“No!” I blurt out. “I want you.”

The tears slip down my cheeks. I feel those. They’re hot, and I’m terrified.

“I’m right here.”

Chapter 23

Bryson

I’m not family.

Turns out, pretending to be someone’s spouse or family isn’t a thing the way it is in the movies. I knew that, deep down. We covered HIPAA extensively in my medical law class. I still tried, though. I made it all the way to handing over my ID for the nursing station to check it against the intake forms. The university provided those, though, and I’m not Jaden’s emergency contact. Why would I be?

The paramedics only made an exception because of how freaked out Jaden was, and she kept calling for me.

I lean against the waiting room wall and pinch the bridge of my nose as I squeeze my eyes shut. I can’t stop replaying every moment. The way she simply looked off the moment she hit the court. The slow pace of her feet as she tried to move her body side to side. Her skin was paler than normal, and she kept shaking her head like she was trying to focus. And then she just dropped to the ground, as if someone had pulled her plug and rendered her lifeless. She hit the court so hard, landing on her elbow and shoulder, then the side of her head. Her body was stiff for what seemed like forever, until she began to jerk.