Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
“Nicole?” I ask again.
Finn pauses. “Uh, I’ll ask Grant to get a hold of her.”
I peak one eye open and look around. “He’s not here?”
I’m surprised because it feels like more than half the team is in this tiny room. Finn answers. “Dude we’re packed in here. I’m sure he’ll come by, but I’ll make sure he gets ahold of Nicole.”
I let out a breath. “Did we win?”
Everyone starts talking at once. I make out that we did in fact win, and another teammate, Mack, says “Don’t worry. They said you’ll be out a few games is all.”
I nod. As the conversations go on around me, I can’t shake this feeling. I have never felt more alone in a room full of people before.
Finn corrals the others. “Guys, we should go. Guy, your brothers will be here soon, and I’ll get with Grant, but if you need anything, call us.”
Each of the guys give me a fist bump on their way out, and only when I’m left by myself do I hit the call button on the bed.
The nurse comes in. “Everything okay, Mr. Brody?”
“Did my things make it here?”
She opens a closet door. “Yeah, one of your teammates brought your bag. It’s all in here.”
I strain to look where she’s pointing. “Will you please get my phone for me? It’s in the front pocket.”
She does as I ask but is quick to point out, “You really should be resting. You’re on concussion protocol, and someone will be in every hour to wake you up and check your eyes, but you should be resting in between.”
I take the phone she’s holding out to me. “How long do I have to stay here?”
“Your doctor will be the one to answer that, but I do know he wants you monitored for at least twenty-four hours.”
I huff and hold up the phone. “Thanks.”
She opens her mouth to say something but quickly closes it. She walks out of the room, and I hit the speed dial for Nicole. It rings and rings, but she never answers. Fuck. I grunt, leaning my head back.
I look at the missed calls and texts and see all the ones from family and friends, but not one called or missed message from Nicole. She said she would be watching the game.
Ozzy and Miller both come in, and they’ve already talked to the doctor about my discharge. They have arranged to fly me back to Whiskey Run, and I’m going to stay with Ozzy until I’m recovered. At least that’s what they think. They don’t know that as soon as I get out of here, I’m going straight to Nicole’s.
As we’re waiting for discharge papers, Grant comes in. His face is void of any emotion, and he seems to be measuring me up. I still haven’t been able to get ahold of Nicole, so I ask him. “Have you talked to Nicole?”
He nods, and I let out a sigh of relief. Thank God. I was beginning to think something had happened to her.
Both Ozzy and Miller shake Grant’s hand and start talking about the game. Grant asks me, “Can we talk?”
Miller stands up. “Guy, me and Ozz are going to go down to the cafeteria. We’ll be back.”
The whole thing has me sketched out. Grant is being really weird. As soon as my brothers leave, I ask him, “Is Nicole okay?”
He just stares at me.
I sit up in the bed. “Grant, what is it? Is she okay? She’s not answering my calls or my messages and—”
Grant blurts out, “She was here when you were brought in.”
I shake my head, confused. “She was here? Why didn’t she stay?”
Grant paces back and forth. “She flew here to San Antonio to surprise you. She was at the game and saw you get hit. She came here, and somehow she got past security—they wouldn’t let her up since she’s not family—and she was here… in this room.”
I try to remember, but it seems like last night was a blur. But I definitely don’t remember seeing Nicole. I would remember that. “Why did she leave? Where is she?”
Grant crosses his arms over his chest. “Because your ex-girlfriend was here by your bed, holding your hand when she got here. She told Nicole to leave.”
I move to the edge of the bed. “She was here when Nicole came?”
Grant rubs his jaw. “Look, my daughter is wrecked. I’ve never seen her like this. She’s completely devastated that you’re hurt, and she’s hurt by all this.”
I put my hand to my head. “Grant, you have to believe me. I didn’t ask for Katelyn to come here. We broke it off a long time ago and—”
Grant nods. “Yeah, Finn told me you ran her off and seemed surprised she was here.”
“I was,” I assure him.
He shakes his head. “Well, your girlfriend—”