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King's best friend throws herself in my arms, and I pull her close, scanning the place for my girlfriend. "Where is she?"
Mags steps back. "She's through there. They told her she could wait outside the operating room."
I nod, unsure if I should follow or wait here. "What happened?" I ask without taking my eyes from the door Mags pointed at.
"One of the frat guys across the street backed out of his driveway and into ours to make the turn into the street."
What?
"He did what?" I try to picture the scene but come up blank.
"It's trash day, and one of the neighbors is moving. The street was packed with a truck, cars, and trash bins. Andrew couldn't turn into the street without hitting another car. So, he backed into our driveway to make it. It was an accident. Echo came around the Jeep—" Mags covers her mouth with her hands, fresh tears running down her face.
I press my lips together, preventing myself from asking where I can find said Andrew. Accident or no accident, we'd have a chat.
"I'm gonna go check on King. Are you okay here?"And where the hell is Kiwi?
"Yes, I'm fine. Go make sure she hasn't lost it yet. She was a mess when I got here, but they wouldn't let me wait with her." Mags squeezes my hand, and I return the gesture before making my way to the back.
I don't have to look far for King. The place is not big, and I find her after one more turn. She is leaning against the wall opposite a door. She has the Helix in one hand, arm crossed over her chest, and she's chewing on the thumb of the other.
"Princess," I whisper. I don't want to startle her.
Her eyes find me instantly, and her lips begin to tremble. I'm at her side in a few strides. Taking the blade from her hand—knowing where she keeps it—I tuck it in the sheath in the back of her jeans. I wrap my arms around her shoulders, drawing her close. She falls apart, and my heart breaks for her.
"Is there any news?" I murmur against her hair, but she shakes her head into my shirt.
"I'm sorry I made you leave practice." She peers through her wet lashes.
I study her before responding, hating that she feels the need to apologize. "Are you kidding me? You always call me, no matter what or when. Understood?"
A small smile appears. "I'm not used to relying on someone," she admits. Chewing on her bottom lip, she adds, "You were the first one I called. The only one I wanted with me. Not Kiwi. And he's always beenthe one."
Something inside of me snaps into place at her words, and I swallow over a new emotion clogging my throat. I know exactly what she means. She is the first one I want to talk to—no matter how trivial it is.
We wait for another hour before a middle-aged woman in bloody scrubs comes out of the OR. King is crushing my fingers in a vise grip as we listen to her explain about Echo's injuries. They were able to stop the internal bleeding. Through an utter miracle, she has no broken bones, but she would have to be kept as still as possible for the foreseeable future. Good luck with that—this dog is the Energizer Bunny on speed in a canine's body.
The vet is keepingEcho overnight to monitor her vitals and assures us she will let us know if there are any changes, but she believes she will remain stable.
We would be able to bring her home the following evening. I want to argue with the woman because I won't be here tomorrow. Isn't there a way to get her home sooner? But then logic sets in; I am selfish in my need to take care of the two. Echo is part of King, and that makes her automatically important to me.
Once we are at my place and King is in the shower, I call Kiwi. He was supposed to join King at my away game the next day. Instead, he'll be staying back and driving King to pick up Echo.
It gives me some comfort but won't prevent me from checking in on them hourly, except when I am on the field.
We'rein the locker room. Most of the guys have already left for the bus to take us to the hotel. Kai is waiting as I put my shoes on. Finished, I pull out my phone to check if there is any word about Echo.
"Bro, I don't know which pussy you're more whipped for, King's or Echo's."
Narrowing my eyes at him, annoyance laces my reply. "Do you listen to yourself? Half the shit that comes out of your mouth makes no sense."
My roommate curls his lips between his teeth.
"What?" I challenge him.
Kai keeps a steady gaze on me. He is rarely serious, and it's clear I went too far. "I'm worried about you. Just because I joke around—or drink myself into oblivion—doesn't mean I don't see what's going on."
I consider his words. The buzzing current that had been building since he blurted out his first comment disappears. "Explain."
