"I need to get back out there," Mike says. "Can you get him into a sling? Ice it. We'll do X-rays after the game."
"Yeah. I've got him," I tell him.
Mike leaves, and it's just the two of us.
“Hey there, Trouble.” He chuckles, but coughs through the pain.
"Don't," I say. Walking over to him, I cup his face with my hands. "Don't tell me you're fine. Don't tell me it doesn't hurt. Don't be Captain Black right now. Just be Emmett. My Emmett.”
His eyes soften. "It hurts like hell."
"I know." I press my forehead to his. "I'm sorry."
"Not your fault."
"I hate seeing you hurt."
"I know, Trouble." His good arm comes around me and pulls me closer. "I'm okay. I promise."
I pull back just enough to look at him, his stormy green eyes, the pain in them, the vulnerability he only ever shows me.
"I love you," I whisper.
His breath catches. "What?"
"I love you." The words come easier the second time. "I'm in love with you, Emmett Black. And I hate that you're hurt. And I hate that I can't be out there taking care of you publicly. And I hate that we have to hide. But I love you. And I needed you to know."
He stares at me. Silent. Stunned.
Then he kisses me. It's desperate. Urgent. His good hand tangles in my hair. Mine grips his uninjured shoulder. We pour everything into it. All the fear. The relief. The love. When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard.
"I love you too," he says. "So fucking much."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." He kisses me again. Softer this time. "I've been wanting to say it for weeks."
"Why didn't you?"
"Scared." He laughs. "Turns out getting hit into the boards was good for something."
I smile despite everything. "Idiot."
"Your idiot."
"My idiot." I kiss him one more time. Then I force myself to step back. "Let me get you in a sling."
I grab the sling from the supply cabinet and help him get his arm positioned. He winces as I adjust the straps. "Sorry," I murmur.
"Worth it." His eyes are on mine. "For you? Always worth it."
My heart is so full it might burst.
“Oh shit, the proposal.”
“I’m not going to miss that,” Emmett says.
“But we have to get you checked out.”
