“Scarlett!” she gasps in surprise.
“Is Georgie up for a visitor?” I ask quietly.
“Yes, she is, go on in,” Ella encourages as she leaves the room.
I step inside the room, stopping as I spot Georgie in her bed. I see bruising on her face and how swollen it is—and she’ssopale. I can’t even imagine how bruised and battered the rest of her body is.
The fall was bad. I knew that before, but I can see it now.
“I hope you don’t mind that I came,” I say softly. “I know we’re still becoming friends, but as soon as I saw the text from Ella, I wanted to check on you.”
She smiles gently at me. “I think we’re friends already. And I’m glad you came.”
Relief washes over me. “I’m so glad.”
“You can have a seat. Beckham went to get some lattes. He’ll be gone for a while.”
I nod and move over to the chair that is pulled up to her bedside. “Are you okay?” I ask, noticing the stitches on the side of her face.
“The stairs got the better of me,” she manages to joke.
“When Ella texted me what happened, my stomach dropped out,” I tell her. “I didn’t see that text for a while because I was out doing some last-minute Christmas shopping, but as soon as I saw it, I headed right over here.”
“Thank you for coming to see me. That means a lot.”
“I can’t imagine how much pain you’re in. I’m so sorry.”
“It could have been so much worse,” Georgie says. “I’m thankful.”
“I know you’re going to have a recovery period, and I want to help. If you need someone to keep you company, help with laundry, anything, I want to be there.”
“Thank you, I’m sure I’ll take you up on that. I’ll especially need help when Beckham is on the road.”
“Then I’m your girl. Along with all your other girls,” I tease.
She smiles. “I’m so lucky to have so many good friends.”
Her phone begins to vibrate on the table sitting next to the other guest chair. “I had Ella put up a post about the accident on Connectivity and Instagram,” Georgie says. “I explained why Beckham is a scratch tonight.”
What? Why would she have to explain that? Of course Beckham would be with her—she fell down a flight of stairs and ended up in the hospital!
“Scarlett, you know Beckham’s reputation prior to coming to Miami,” she says slowly. “I also know how sports works. You don’t take days off unless you’re hurt. Or a baby is born, or someone dies. Beckham risked everything tonight to be with me. I wanted your dad and the coaching staff to see why. He didn’thave time to get team approval. Beckham has been with me because I needed him. And he needed to be with me.”
Understanding dawns on me. “You’re worried about the consequences of him not showing up tonight.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Do you mind if I read what you wrote?”
“We’re friends, of course I don’t mind.”
I retrieve her phone and swipe it open. I pull up her Instagram feed and tap on her post to read what she wrote. The last paragraph makes me emotional.
Beckham put everything aside to get me through this crisis. We didn’t know if I had suffered any severe neck or spinal injuries, and I was terrified. He was determined to make sure I stayed calm, and he reassured me that he wasn’t leaving my side. Because that’s what you do when you love someone. I was in a crisis, I was hurt, I was scared. Beckham made it clear he was going to stay with me because he loved me, and he knew I needed him. He spent hours in the ER, holding my hand. Listening to diagnoses. Helping me be brave. Beckham knows his responsibility to the team, and he takes that seriously. He’s the first one to practice. The last one to leave. And the first to arrive on game day. And that is how he will be after today, too. But for this one day, his personal life took precedence. Beckham didn’t take that lightly. But he made the decision that was best for him—for me—to be with me when I needed him most. I hope you all can admire him for making that decision as much as I do. Georgie.
Her words hit me right in the heart. I blink back tears after I’m done reading. There’s no question Beckham did the right thing tonight. There’s no hockey rule or code that he’d put above Georgie.
My heart begins to pound. Rules and codes are important, I understand that.
