Dr. Herr lifts his brows. “There’s no way you’re playing with that hand… and that is if you didn’t get ejected.”
“Shit…”
Gabe helps me get undressed and into my street clothes while Dr. Herr calls the emergency room, letting the orthopedic doctor on call know we’re coming in.
“Do you have all your stuff, Matty?” Gabe says as he grabs his keys. “I talked to the coaching staff and they said for me to go ahead and take you.”
“Yeah, it’s right here,” I say, setting the icepack down as I rise to my feet to fetch my keys from the top of my cubby. I tuck them into my pocket, making a mental note that I’ll need to come get my car somehow. I grab my phone and the screen lights up with an unread message.
I open it, ignoring my throbbing hand when I see Jade’s name.
Jade
Hey. I wanted you to see this when you get off the ice, instead of during the game because I don’t want you to worry.
My stomach drops and my surroundings fade away, my eyes widening as I quickly move my gaze to her next message.
Jade
I’m in the emergency room because of some heart stuff. I’m okay and waiting to be discharged now.
I was wondering if I could see you soon. We need to talk.
I don’t bother grabbing the ice pack as I stride toward Gabe with my phone in my good hand. Fuck my other hand. None of that matters right now. I just need to get to her. I need to see her with my own two eyes to know she’s truly okay.
Matteo
I’m coming, Sunny.
“You look like you’re going to faint. Are you okay?”
I swallow roughly, my heart hammering against my ribcage, my stomach gnawing with fear.
“I need to get to the hospital. Now.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
JADE
“Everywhere I turned, he was there. Tearing open my chest and burrowing inside my ribcage.” - Clara Foss, Painted Inferno
Afrown pulls the corners of my lips downward as I pick up my phone and see the battery died. I didn’t even notice it was that low. I want to text Matteo after I just tuned back into the game and saw he got a game misconduct for fighting.
I didn’t even see the fight happen.
A soft knock on the door pulls my attention and I set my phone on the bed, lifting my gaze to the nurse who ducks in. It’s the first face I’ve seen in a while, other than Ellie’s.
Which she’s quietly snoring from the chair, her head tipped back and her mouth wide open.
“Hi, Jade,” the nurse says quietly, glancing at Ellie and then back at me. “We’re still waiting on the doctor to sign off on the discharge instructions and then we’ll get you out of here.”
“Do you know how much longer?”
She lets out a sigh. “I don’t, I’m sorry.” She purses her lips, rolling her wrist to check her watch. “Do you need anything?”
There’s commotion out in the hallway, although I’m not sure what’s going on out there. “Sir, your room is back here!” A voice echoes in the distance.
“No, I’m okay,” I smile at her, shaking my head. “What’s going on?”
