“Come give me a hug.”
“Riley!” Chris roars and then he takes off around the shop.
I normally frown on playing around in a garage. An auto shop is an extremely dangerous place filled with hazardous items. However, it’s not every day I get to put that horrified expression on my brother’s face. After years of being on the receiving end of his jokes and pranks, this feels like poetic justice.
While we’re running around, I notice Nat has his back to us and he’s standing very still. It’s unlike him to not pay attention or join in the fun.
I stop chasing Chris.
At that moment, Nat drops a hand and massages his leg through his jeans.
I can only imagine the scars he’s hiding there. He hasn’t once brought up what he went through with the accident, his surgery or the months of intense physical therapy. It’s almost as if he’d rather erase that painful time out of existence.
But not mentioning it won’t change the fact that it happened. His body endured severe trauma. His leg is currently being held together by metal rods and scarred tissue.
Nat’s leg, whether he likes it or not,isa concern.
And I have a sick, twisted feeling that he’ll push it to its breaking point before ever admitting he needs help.
Chapter Fifty-One
NATHAN
I give Chris a ride back to my place, gripping the steering wheel tightly as I drive, lost in thought.
The pain in my leg has been steadily increasing over the past forty-eight hours. It struck up last night while I walked up the stairs with Riley to her apartment and again when I caught Riley as she was slipping on that puddle in her garage.
Both times, I intentionally distracted myself and Riley by kissing her through the intense, sharp strikes of pain.
Believe it or not, Riley’s lips offer temporary relief.
But I won’t always have the opportunity to grab Riley for a kiss and the throbbing is now lingering long after the initial stab of white-hot pain. When leaving Riley, I had to grit my teeth to keep the discomfort from my face.
I don’t think she noticed.
Ihopeshe didn’t.
If Riley finds out that something is wrong with my leg, she’ll want to force me to the hospital and who knows what those doctors will tell me? They were gung-ho about me never playinghockey again and insisting I shouldn’t bother trying to put my skates back on.
No way.
I won’t let them derail my plans.
After I take Chris to the airport this afternoon, I’ll drop by the pharmacy and get the strongest pain killers I can find.
Max will be announcing the Lucky Strikers picks any minute now. I’m so close to my dream. I can’t afford to let it slip away.
Chris breaks the silence. “You okay, Nat? You’re sweating, bro.”
“Am I?” I wind up the windows and crank on the air conditioner.
I had the windows down because Chris called my smell ‘offensive’. Since I’ve been dating Riley, I’ve fallen in love with the smell of auto repair. It’s calming to me, so I don’t get the fuss.
The rumble of the engine and the cadence of the tires rolling over the road lulls me into a worried daze.
Chris clears his throat, breaking the silence.
“Given the way you were all over my sister, I’m assuming you’re serious about her?” Chris’s usually jovial expression is replaced with stern scrutiny. “I’m assuming you’re not just looking for a good time?”
