He didn’t seem to care.
“Our on-call dentist did what he could. You’ll want tomake an appointment with your dentist. Ice your face if you can and ice your ribs along with pain medication. Take it easy for the next few days. Nothing strenuous. Focus on your breathing when you can and try to take some slow, deep breaths even though it might hurt a bit. Okay?”
I nodded.
“We checked over your leg and it looks fine, so as long as you don’t have any issues with your prosthetic, you should be fine.”
Another nod. Damn! Worst injury ever for a chatty person like myself.
Cage thanked the doctor. As he stood, I noticed he was still wearing his uniform pants and cleats with a gray Minnesota T-shirt. Flint would have already been there with a complete change of clothes and his truck waiting in the parking lot. I think I saw the same thoughts go through Cage’s mind as I looked him over.
“Easy does it.” He helped me sit up, one inch at a time.
Blood-tinged saliva hung in a long string from my mouth. I couldn’t even swallow properly yet. Attractive.
There really had to be a limit for how many hospital trips were allowed in the first six months of a relationship. Cage had to think, “She’s going to the hospitalagain?” Could I be anymore clumsy?
“Shay…” I tried to talk without moving my mouth at all. It sounded like I was mad, gritting the word through my clenched teeth.
“I told you she’s with Penny. She’s fine. She said you were carrying her and you fell.” He shook his head as he eased my gown from my shoulders. “Whatever you did, it kept her from getting as much as a scratch. You…” his eyes met mine “…didn’t get so lucky.”
That’s all that mattered to me. Everything happened so fast, but I remember the moment I lost my footing all I thought about was Shayna and hugging her to me, protecting her.
He stared at my naked chest. I quirked a brow. It was not the time for that. Cage shook his head with a small smirk.
“I’m just wondering if we should leave off your bra. It might feel too tight around your ribs.”
I nodded. He helped put my leg on, like the pro he’d become with it, then he helped with my shirt and pants.
“Easy.” He helped me off the bed.
My ribs… they hurt.
“You want me to get a wheelchair?”
I shook my head.
“Want me to carry you?”
I gave him the are-you-serious look.
“It was just an offer.”
Big surprise. We were met with a small crowd of photographers as we exited the hospital.
I tipped my chin down, and Cage held one hand in front of my face as he guided me with his other hand. A familiar black Mercedes pulled up.
“We’ll find a cab,” he mumbled to me as Flint got out and opened the back door.
“No.” Cage shook his head.
“Swallow your fucking pride and put your girl in the back of my car.”
They had a brief stare-off.
“This means nothing.”
Flint nodded.
