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"I almost think you're a hypochondriac. Why do you keep wanting me to see a doctor?"
"Do not make me call your father," he gritted out. He wasn't impressed, but I didn't care.
"Go ahead and do whatever you want, you always do anyway," I said in surrender. "Just leave me alone. At least allow me the luxury of sitting in silence while I stare at the wall for the next hour."
"I do not approve of this."
"There's a shocker," I said full of mockery and turned my back to him. Minutes later, as hard as I tried to fight it, sleep consumed me.
"Aid…" I heard my name in the distance. "Aid… Wake up."
My eyelids were too heavy to lift. The voice sounded much closer, but I was too tired to care. I muttered something unintelligible, a leave-me-alone moan, and curled up tighter into a ball.
"Adrianna." I heard my name again, this time in an exotic tongue with a heavy roll to the R.
My eyes burned as I willed them to open. I exhaled a sleepy sigh. There were two different people near me. People I couldn't place who they were, but more importantly, where was I?
Disoriented, I cracked open my eyes to a blurry vision. I couldn't focus. I tried to sit up, but I didn't have the strength and collapsed back down, but not before strong arms caught me.
"Adrianna." This time my name was much clearer. I recognized the voice, but a familiar scent roused me.
"Hayden?" I yawned, and rubbed my eyes. They felt so swollen. "How long did I sleep for?"
"Maybe an hour? I'm not sure."
"That's it? Felt like so much longer."
"Yeah. Come on, let's get you home."
I sat up slowly with the help of Hayden, but my focus was on Kova. A fleeting shadow of regret cast in his eyes. I grimaced. Good. I hoped he felt like shit. It was too soon to forget the way he had spoken to me and how he’d made me feel. People often said no one could make a person feel inferior to anyone, but that was total bullshit. When your heart cared deeply for someone, it was impossible not to feel the weight of their words no matter how strong the front was.
Kova extended a hand out to help me, but I tugged my arm from his reach. My relationship with Kova was the same song and dance. One day I’d learn. Just not today, and probably not until I left World Cup for good.
"I need to grab my bag," I said, standing up. Jesus, I was so tired. I felt like I could sleep for a week straight. Yawning, I walked to the locker room and retrieved my bag. I couldn't leave without my medication.
Turning to Kova, I asked a bit detached, "Is it okay to leave my car here overnight?"
"Yes. That will be fine."
Hayden extended an open palm, waving his fingers at me. Placing my hand into his, he laced our fingers together and guided me out of World Cup to his car. Kova was hot on my tail, nearly stepping on my feet, but I played it off like I hadn’t noticed. It didn't matter, though, because Hayden did.
"Why don't you just piss on her?" he yelled over the hood of his car, his blue eyes intense.
"Hayden, be nice," I said, stifling a giggle. I actually felt bad.
Hayden glanced over at me, his feelings shifting in his gaze. "Aid, I'm sorry, but I refuse to hold back where that man is concerned."
"Just doing my job and making sure the others do not get the wrong idea when they see you guys leaving together," Kova replied with a twist of his lips, unfazed by Hayden's comment.
"Whatever you need to tell yourself."
At that, Hayden got into his car and I followed, putting on my seat belt then leaning back against the seat. I glanced through the tinted window toward Kova.
I was drawn to his confidence and strength. I was addicted to the way he pushed me and challenged me. I could push past an injury and keep practicing. I could train for hours on the same skill without a single complaint. But this was something that caught me completely off guard and terrified me. It was like all muscle mass had disappeared and a fifty-ton boulder had been placed on my chest. I crumbled.
Pulling out of World Cup, I spoke once we were on the main road. "Thanks for taking me home, Hayden."
"You know I'd do anything for you," he said, and I smiled. I did know that. "Do you need me to stop anywhere? Get you anything?"
