Zaan
* * *
I know the moment the puck hits my neck that something is wrong, but my head starts to buzz, and everything gets blurry, so I don’t remember anything until waking up on the stretcher. People are talking and there’s an oxygen mask on my face, but the first thing I see is Lexi. Big blue eyes filled with tears, arms crossed over her chest protectively as she climbs into the ambulance with me.
I try to talk but the oxygen mask makes it hard.
“It’s okay,” Lexi whispers. “I’m right here. The doc says you’re going to be fine. They want to do some tests, but nothing is broken, no blood, so just relax.”
I pull off the mask anyway. “Tell me what happened.”
She reaches out and runs gentle fingers through my damp hair. “You took a puck to the neck. They’re not sure why you passed out, but they think it hit the vagus nerve or maybe your carotid artery.”
“I don’t even know what the first one is.”
“Me either, but Mack is on her way to the hospital. She’ll be there to translate for us.”
I groan. “Did we win?”
“I don’t know.” She looks apologetic. “They ended the period when you were carried off, to give everyone time to settle down. Both teams came off the bench…the whole thing was pretty scary. They were going right to overtime after a ten-minute recess.”
“Pull it up on your phone.”
“No.” She puts a hand on the side of my face. “We need to make sure you’re okay before we get your heart rate pumped up again. Okay? Please?”
I want to protest but the paramedic gives me a look. “Put the mask back on, please. You lost consciousness so I’d like you to keep it on until a doctor has checked you out.”
I reluctantly put it back on.
I feel bad that I scared Lexi, because she looks shaken up, but I’m dying to know what happened at the game.
Unfortunately, the next hour is a little bit of a blur.
I’m starting to feel like myself again, but my neck is sore, so the doctors are taking this very seriously. I’ve never had an injury like this before, and it’s a little disconcerting to have all these doctors and nurses fussing over me.
Mostly, I’m keeping an eye on Lexi because she’s pale.
She looks scared, and I hate that for her.
“Hey, guys.” Mack comes in smiling. “Everything is okay. It was a blow to your carotid artery that caused increased blood flow, reflexively causing your blood pressure to go way down. You probably felt light-headed and woozy. Once you were on the stretcher, blood flow began to recirculate, and you came out of it pretty quickly. Obviously, they did all kinds of tests to be sure, and we’re still waiting for a few results, but I’m sure you’re going to be fine.”
I sigh with relief but Lexi bursts out crying.
She covers her face with her hands and sobs, and Mack gently begins rubbing her back.
It kills me not to be the one comforting her, but I’m hooked up to an IV and can’t reach that far.
“Babe, don’t cry. I’m fine. God, please stop crying.” I reach out my free hand.
“I’m going to give you two a minute,” Mack murmurs, slipping out.
“Hey. Look at me.” Hearing her sob is gut-wrenching. “I can’t reach you, will you please come closer so I can touch you?”
She’s still sobbing but scoots her chair closer and finally lowers her hands. Her makeup has run a little, giving her a raccoon-like appearance, but I don’t care about that. I just don’t want her to cry anymore.
“Get a tissue,” I command softly. “And then come sit close to me.”
Sometimes, especially when she’s this upset, it helps if I just take control. She’s as strong and independent as they come, but once in a while I get to go alpha male on her.
