“I’m okay,” Eli promises, reaching up and caressing the side of her face. “I swear, this is just protocol.”
“You weren’t moving at all,” she counters softly.
“I was napping,” Eli jokes and winks. “You kept me up too late last night.”
“Okay, you two…” I interrupt and glance at Griffin, who is in the corner of the room looking amused. “I’d bet money you have a concussion, but the doctor will be able to tell us the degree of severity. I’ll call Dr. Luongo in neuro for a consult.”
“Thanks, Sadie,” Eli says.
“Yes, thank you,” Griffin adds, and Dixie looks up and sees him there for the first time. Her eyes do a quick sweep, and then her head immediately swivels to me and widen in approval, as if to sayYou’re right. He’s hot.It’s about as smooth as a cactus. I’m mortified by her obviousness.
“Dixie, this is Griffin Sullivan, Eli’s goalie coach,” I say.
“Hi. I’ve seen you around, but we haven’t officially met. Eli has said a lot of positive things about you,” Dixie explains and walks around the bed to shake his hand. “I’m Dixie Braddock.”
Griffin shakes her hand, but his eyes dart to me quickly as he adds, “Braddock? Like Jude Braddock?”
His deliciously dark eyes find mine again, and I shrug. “Yep. The Thunder’s little superstar is lucky enough to call us his sisters.”
Griffin laughs again. “And the plot thickens.”
There’s a vibe between us so strong it’s electric. At least it feels that way…But maybe it’s only wishful thinking. Man, he is seriously handsome. And charismatic. And sexy. I love the easy smile parting his lips and the warm glow in his eyes, the five o’clock shadow shading his strong, angular jawline, the way he is filling out that suit…
“So the tests?” Dixie’s voice pulls me away from the list I’m making. “All of them? Now.”
I blink, trying to ground myself in reality again, and nod. “I’m on it. I’ll send Shelda in to get his vitals while I call for the consult.”
I turn and leave the room. Shelda is walking toward me. “I heard your sister’s boyfriend is here?”
Of course she heard already. Shelda is that little birdie that flutters around the hospital hearing and seeing everything. She’s not a gossip or busybody, by any means; she’s just been working here since she was sixteen, first as a candy striper and now as a nurse, and everyone knows her, loves her, and talks to her about everything. She’s my favorite head nurse in this place and a dream to work under.
“I hope that handsome devil isn’t too banged up,” Shelda adds, and I smile.
“He’s probably got a concussion. I’m going to call for a consult. Can you go in and take his vitals?” Shelda nods. “Oh, and if Dixie gets too…Dixie-ish, feel free to kick her out. She’s a bit of a bossy control freak in a crisis.”
Shelda lets out a breezy laugh. “No worries, sugar. I can handle overbearing girlfriends and wives in my sleep.”
She pats my shoulder as she passes by on her way to the room.
I head to the desk and call for a consult, mentioning it’s also a personal favor if they can get here as soon as possible because it’s a family member. Dr. Luongo shows up less than five minutes later. He’s one of the first doctors I met here, and he’s one of my favorites. Tall, lanky, with curly salt-and-pepper hair, a friendly smile, and a quick wit.
“Hey, Sadie, is it your dad?” he asks, concern flooding his deep voice.
“No. My sister’s boyfriend,” I reply. “He’s the goalie for the Thunder and he got knocked out during the game.”
“Ah,” Dr. Luongo sighs. “That definitely sounds like a concussion, but let’s see how bad it is. Room?”
“Four.” I point and force myself not to follow. Although Eli’s not technically family, he’s close enough that I wouldn’t be considered unbiased so I shouldn’t get involved in his case. I’ll let Shelda handle it.
I walk down the hall to check on the elderly patient in room two. He’s asleep and his vitals are stable, his IV full. As I make my way out of his room, Griffin is standing in the hall outside Eli’s room, his cell phone to his ear. I can’t hear what he’s saying, but he looks pissed. His jaw is clenched, and his brow is pinched. Still gorgeous, though. I bite my bottom lip to keep myself from laughing at my reaction. Seriously, it’s like I’ve never seen a hot guy before.
He glances up and sees me, and I quickly wipe the smile off my face and head around the corner to the front desk. Hopefully I didn’t look like a weird stalker or something, just standing there staring at him. A second later, he’s standing on the other side of the desk.
“The doctor’s been in there a while,” he says to me, clearly concerned.
“Don’t worry, he’s probably being extra cautious because I told him Eli was family,” I explain and smirk. “Or else my little sister is asking him a million questions and demanding a million unnecessary tests. It’s probably a combination of both.”
He laughs. “I think it’s sweet that she’s so…”
