Page 36 of Kickoff

“Mase, you saved me… Again.” She flipped her hand around to intertwine our fingers. The tears pooling in her eyes looked different now, more like gratitude tears.

“I didn’t save you save you, but let’s just say I am glad I insisted on playing nurse tonight. Who knows what would have happened if I hadn’t been sleeping on your couch?”

“Thanks. For being there.” Her lips trembled. “I can’t believe I’ll miss the next meet. My team needs me.” Melinda’s brain on painkillers was a fascinating thing. We were having two different conversations at once.

“Yeah, well, I know the feeling. When that concussion glued me to the bench last year, I became a lion in a cage after two games. You’ll get through this. You’re stronger than appendicitis. If it brings you some sort of peace, I’ll check with your coach. To make sure it doesn’t affect your college offers, the rest of your season, or anything else.”

“You would do that for me?”

“Yes. As long as you take the required time to heal and don’t rush back.”

“Oh…okay. I can’t believe I had surgery. I really thought I had food poisoning or a virus. Thank you for bringing me here.”

I nodded, watching her. My lips parted. I had so much to tell her but changed my mind. Now wasn’t the moment to spill the contents of my heart. “I’m relieved you’re out of danger.”

“Me too.”

“I have something for you. It’s not much, but I hope it will bring you some comfort.”

She frowned, and I fetched the stuffed animal I bought from the hospital gift shop while she was undergoing surgery.

Her face lit up. “Wow, it is adorable.” I had chosen a pastel-blue and lilac stuffed baby elephant. She twisted the animal in her hand and looked at me with a quizzical gaze. “Mase, are the drugs playing tricks on my mind, or is Mason written on its foot?”

I gave her a half-shrug. “I promised you earlier I would get you a prize if you were a good girl and listened to Nurse Pierce’s orders. There were none with the name Melinda. What can I say? Now, you’ll think of me each time you cuddle with it.”

“It’s not the medication messing with my brain. You still are terrible, but somehow it suits you.” Her eyes sparkled with emotion. “Thank you. I love it. Very much.” She kissed the elephant’s head and brought it to her heart like it really comforted her. “I almost died tonight. And I didn’t, because of you. I will make Mason the elephant a superhero cape.”

“I’m sure he’d like that.”

“Do you want one too?”

“Nah. Thanks, I’ll pass. You could get me a trophy, though.”

“I’ll think about it.” We exchanged small smiles. “Do you think I’ll be able to swim again?”

“Yeah. You just need to take a little break.”

“Okay.” We stayed silent for a full minute. “I’m so tired. It’s like I’ve been buried alive after being stomped over by a mammoth. Everything is heavy and hurts. Not like before, but still, every inch of me is sore.”

“You should sleep it off.” I glanced at the clock mounted on the wall. “They’ll come to inject you with another dose of painkillers soon. I’ll talk to Paige and visit you after school if you’re still here.”

“That is nice of you. I like this version of you.”

Yeah, well, me too.

I moved closer and kissed her forehead. “Rest.” My entire body woke up at the contact. I just kissed Melinda Shepard. Well, her forehead, but still, my lips were on her skin. This night was nothing like I expected, but I wished to be nowhere else. “I’ll watch over you. I’m not leaving your side unless I have to.”

She extended her arm to clutch my hand, and seconds later, her steady breaths informed me she was asleep.

A knock resonated on the door sometime later, and I presumed it to be the medical team, but instead, Mr. and Mrs. Shepard walked in, followed by Dr. Shinde, the surgeon who had operated on Melinda.

“Melinda, honey,” her mother said nearing the bed while her dad stayed by the door to talk to the surgeon. Tears shone in her eyes as she took her daughter’s other hand between hers.

Melinda’s eyelids fluttered open, and she squinted, looking confused. “Mom?”

“I’m here, honey. How are you doing?”

“Huh...I’m okay…I think.” She closed one lid as if keeping both open took too much energy from her. “I-I had surgery… That’s what the real Mason said.” She winced. “My brain is made of jelly... I…huh…I can’t remember how I got here, and I won’t be able to swim next weekend. Mason is a hero, and I’ll make him a superhero cape. But not the real Mason…the other Mason. The one with the big purple trunk.”