“They’re playing for you. They know you’re still their leader. Your main objective now is to get strong and healthy again. And you’re at your parents’?” The curiosity in his voice couldn’t be disguised.
I laughed. “Yeah, I couldn’t believe my mother came to see me either. I don’t get it.”
“Maybe she feels remorse?”
I snorted. “Yeah, sure. That’s why my parents left me to go out to a function tonight. She came because I had her down as my emergency contact on my forms and they called her. And how could she say no without looking like the cold, uncaring bitch she is? First thing tomorrow, Ezra, please contact the Kings and make sure I get those forms changed. I want your name as my emergency contact.”
“Not a problem. Consider it done.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. I’m gonna call Fallon now. Talk to you tomorrow.” I ended the call and hit Fallon’s number.
“Oh, jeez, Dev. Thank God. You’re okay? I tried calling, but no one answered, and I was going crazy here. You’re sure you’re all right?”
I waited for him to stop and catch his breath.
“I’ll be okay. Sucks that I can’t play, but better safe than sorry.”
“Of course, of course. You can’t take a chance. I don’t know what I’d do if you were hurt. I’ll make sure you have everything you need once you’re home. When will that be? I have to make all the arrangements.”
I bit back a smile. Fallon had always been intense, but it made him great at his job. Next to Brody, I trusted him with everything I held close. I’d offered him the position of working for me as my PA, never imagining how much I would come to lean on him. He, on the other hand, kept himself a closed book.
“Tomorrow morning around ten, after my parents leave, I need someone to come here and take me home. Can you arrange for a car to get me?”
“You’re home? Thank God. You think I’m just gonna send you a car? Fuck that. I’ll do it myself. But Dev, I think you need a nurse as well. Or some kind of home health care to make sure you’re okay and not overdoing it.”
“Yeah? I guess…all right. Can you arrange that for me?”
“Consider it done. Anything you need.”
“What I need is to get out of here. I’m already feeling smothered.” I raked my hand through my hair. Sweat beaded on my forehead.
“Try and rest. A head injury is nothing to joke about. I’ll get you all sorted out, and you’ll be in your own bed by tomorrow night.”
Tears poured down my face. “Thanks,” I whispered, furious with myself for losing control. “I’ve felt so cut off and alone.” I huffed out a laugh. “I can’t believe I’m acting like a baby.”
Fallon made a sound of disagreement. “Don’t you worry. I’ve got you. You know that.”
“I do. And I appreciate it.” I wiped my face. Now that I was on familiar ground and in touch with people I trusted, that unbalanced feeling would correct itself. “More than you can possibly know.”
“Go to sleep, and I’ll get everything ready for you at home. See you tomorrow.”
I ended the call and sent a text to Brody, letting him know what happened, where I was tonight, and where I’d be going tomorrow. A minute after I sent it, he responded.
Take care of yourself. That’s all I care about. Rest and heal.Then a heart emoji.
I took my pain meds and closed my eyes. The last thing I recalled was Brody telling me he loved me.
**
My parents came to see me at eight the following morning before they left for classes. My mother stood at the door to my room, as if afraid of catching something if she entered. My father stood by my bedside and examined my medicine bottles. “I hope you aren’t becoming addicted to these. There’s an epidemic of people dependent on them because of injuries. It’s a quick slide for you athletes, I’ve heard.”
King of the warm and fuzzies—that was my father. “Don’t worry. I feel better this morning, and I don’t need them.” It wasn’t a lie. I’d had a decent night’s sleep, and it had made me feel almost whole. All the aches and pains from playing the game, along with the brutal sack, felt manageable. The occasional blurry vision and constant pounding headache had all but vanished, but a dull ache remained, though I still had no memory of what happened on the field leading up to my injury. I knew I’d need to go to the doctor here and get checked out, but it all seemed overwhelming, like a mountain I hadn’t prepared to climb.
“Your mother told me about your…relationship.”
I crossed my arms, and I could see him checking out my tattoos. “Nice, aren’t they?”
He grimaced. “I’ve never understood the need to desecrate your body like that.”
