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I leaned up and Levi steadied me as he also stood. I looked around and realized with him always positioning himself so close behind me, he was there to catch me when I fell. With all the equipment and people around, I could have been seriously hurt but thanks to him, I was fine.
It was my natural inclination to step toward him and hug him, but I fought the urge after a half step in his direction. I wobbled, but only because I caught myself about to make a very public mistake–with a million pairs of eyes watching.
The physician grabbed me as I put my foot back down and then pointed toward the bench nearby. “Sit down, I’m going to request you be evaluated as a precaution.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“I trust you, Ms. Wright, but let's be safe.”
The head referee had made his way over and crouched down as I took a seat. “We can cover the rest of the game. Make sure you’re good.”
“Yes sir,” I agreed.
The game resumed and I was escorted toward the corridor. I glanced around to look for Levi and caught him standing in his usual stance, giving me a quick nod, before turning back to the game.
When I made it to the physician’s office beside the locker rooms, he gave me a quick evaluation before deciding he wanted to ensure I didn't have a concussion.
“I need to send you to the hospital for a quick CT.”
“No,” I shook my head. I knew I hadn't hit my head, so it was pointless. And if I left, I wouldn't get to talk to Levi.
“Ms. Wright. I am insisting, but I promise it will not take long. Without one, they may make you sit out two weeks so I think if we just have the proof that you don't have a concussion, then we will be a step ahead.”
I laughed at the way he saidwe, like getting the scans was a team effort. When in reality, I was sent with an uptight escort and dropped off at the hospital with CT orders where I sat alone for four hours.
By the time I called for a cab to go home, showered, and shoved a frozen meal down my throat, I was exhausted and fell straight into my bed. The emotions of the day, along with the soreness from being pushed, lulled me straight to sleep.
* * *
I was being chased by a defensive safety for a football team that didn't actually exist. The guy was huge and scary, though, and I was running as fast as I could. Sweat was dripping down my face and I was reaching out, trying to get to the end of the tunnel we were in. At the end of the tunnel was Levi, begging me to hurry and cheering me on as I got closer and closer.
I woke up with a start, my head coming off the pillow so fast I was dizzy. I had to look around to remember where I was, and even what day it was.
Leaning back on the pillow, I smiled at how silly my dream was–like some warped reenactment of what had happened at the game, minus Ty being there. Levi was trying to save me, just like he had been when he caught me and kept my body from slamming into the ground.
I sat up once again, panicked, because I had just remembered that the game was the day before.
Which meant it was now Monday.
The day I was supposed to go into my other job.
But I settled back down, remembering I had called in ahead of time for that day off. That I already knew I didn't want to be there. It was the day of the fight, and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to see Levi…
I sat up once again, only that time, I didn't stop. I ran from my bed and to the living room, searching for my phone while simultaneously trying to find the clock I had on the wall and hoping the time was correct on it. I spent so little time at home that I never bothered to change my clocks.
When I dug my phone out of the bottom of the bag, I was shocked to see I had no calls and only a few texts from my mom asking me to check in and enjoy my day off. None from Bobby, none from Bond nor Axton.
None from Levi.
It was if my brain had fallen into such a lull that it was returning to me in stages and only as needed. Because I remembered I blocked Levi, and he wanted to talk after the game, and I wanted to listen. I had also told myself I was going to tell him about the fight because even if he was teaming up with Richard to make my life hell, he was failing and making my life full.
I didn't want him to fight.
I didn't want him to go in blind.
I didn't want him to show up and have everyone recognize him.
I looked at the time and realized the fight was supposed to start in an hour, so I ran to my room and got dressed, while at the same time unblocking Levi’s number in my phone.
