His lips twitched. “Sorry.”
I reached for his hand. His fingers were cold, but they curled around mine with enough pressure that I felt it in my ribs. I brought our hands to my forehead and stayed there for a second. Just breathing.
“Come here, I need you closer.” He tugged my hand, and I leaned forward, kissing his temple and hugging him withoutputting any weight on him. “I’m still here, honey. Sorry I scared you.”
“You passed out,” I whispered, pulling back into the seat. “On the field.”
He winced. “I remember the hit. Then… nothing.”
“SVT event. You were in tachycardia for over four minutes. You lost consciousness at 178 BPM.
He turned his head toward me slowly. “Did I code?”
“No.” My voice cracked. “You stayed with us.”
His jaw clenched, eyes drifting to the monitor above him. “But I scared you.”
“You terrified me.” I leaned in closer, brushing my thumb across the inside of his wrist. “I’m still shaking.”
He reached up—slower than usual—and cupped the side of my face. His hand was cool, rough against my skin. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize,” I said. “Just… don’t do it again.”
His chest rose slowly. “Are they going to clear me?”
“No.” I didn’t sugarcoat it. “William and the cardiologist are reviewing everything, but even if your levels stabilize, you’re looking at mandated rest and full electrophysiology evaluation. Likely ablation.”
His face fell. He didn’t argue. “How long?”
“Months. Maybe longer.”
He turned his head away. His jaw clenched again, tighter this time. His hand slipped from mine.
“I let everyone down,” he muttered.
“Stop,” I said sharply. “You didn’t. You’re alive. That’s what matters. That’s all we care about right now, okay? You don’t get to feel any guilt. If anything, this is on me.”
“On you?” He frowned.
“I shouldn’t have let you play. I keep thinking if I would’ve stopped you or begged or?—”
“Sloane, I was cleared by everyone, not only you.” He kissed my hand now, a soft sigh brushing against my palm. “How did you get here so fast, honey?”
“I came with you. In the ambulance.” My voice cracked again. “Your sister is here too, and Ivy. We were all waiting, but I had to see you. I had to make sure… you…fuck, Oliver.” I covered my face with my hands, my own heart rate jumping way too fast. “I’ve never been so fucking scared in my life.”
“I’m so sorry.” His voice was deeper, gravelly. He kept touching me, but all my emotions were bubbling up, and he didn’t need to see that. “Sloane, hey?—”
“I’ll get Rachel. She wants to see you.”
“Wait, no, don’t?—”
I darted out of the room, shutting the door and running to the waiting room. Ivy and Rachel went back immediately, and I sat in the chair and let myself cry.
36
OLIVER
The door clicked shut behind her, and the quiet that followed felt heavier than anything I’d ever worn on the field.
