Chapter 25
Gwen
“I don’t like this feeling,” Tess says as she paces around the room. “I don’t know much about ice hockey injuries, but I feel like we should’ve heard something by now,” she continues.
Tess, Leo, Julian, and I are waiting in Zane’s apartment for him to arrive. Lisa went to the hospital as soon as Blake got injured. I don’t think the others know they’re dating, but I have a feeling that might come out soon.
“Hey,” Zane says softly as he enters the apartment. None of us even heard the door open.
“Hey,” I say excitedly, quickly getting up and kissing him. “You were amazing. Congratulations!”
Everyone gathers around us, and one by one, they congratulate Zane on the win.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Zane tells Julian, who still seems a little shy, like this is all new to him.
“I actually have to head out, but I wanted to congratulate you in person,” Julian says with a smile. “Keep me posted on your friend.”
“I appreciate it, and I will,” Zane replies before they hug it out, and Julian says goodbye to everyone.
“That was sweet,” I say with a smile after Julian leaves.
“Did you get any news on Blake? And where’s Lisa?” Zane asks, looking around the room again.
“None of us has heard from him,” Leo says, scratching the back of his neck. “Your sister went to the hospital to check on him.”
“I feel like we should all be there,” Tess says suddenly, and everyone looks at her. “What? Aren’t we all friends now?” she asks. I laugh and nod.
“I’ll drive,” Leo says, and just like that, we all head out of the apartment and make our way to Vitality Hospital.
“How are you feeling? You got hit a couple of times as well,” I ask Zane as we sit in the back seat.
“I’m alright,” he replies. “The attack felt way too personal. This wasn’t just about ice hockey,” Zane tells us.
“Personal?” I ask.
“Perth and Johnson from the Hawks used to be on the team with Blake. I have a feeling this was personal. I don’t know what it is, but Perth was on a mission,” Zane explains, and we all go quiet.
We arrive at the hospital a few minutes later and head straight to reception.
“Do you know which floor Blake Saxon is on?” Tess asks the receptionist. She’s an older woman with thick red glasses and grey hair. She looks at Tess over her glasses, then at me.
“Are you related to him?” she asks. Tess shakes her head.
“Married?” she asks. We both shake our heads again.
“Then I can’t help you. We’re not letting fangirls into this hospital,” she says flatly.
“Fangirls?” I ask, half offended. “We’re his friends,” I try to explain.
“That’s what they all say,” the woman sighs, not even looking up at us anymore.
“Excuse me,” Zane says, prompting her to look up. Her eyes widen when she sees him.
“Zane Miller,” she says in shock. “I’m a huge fan.”
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding. We’re not fangirls. We’re Blake’s friends,” he explains, and internally, I can’t help but laugh a little at Zane calling himself a fangirl too.
“Of course. I apologize. Saxon, Blake, is in surgery on the third floor. You can wait for him in section A,” the woman says.
