Page 69 of Worth the Fight

I think she mumbles a soft, ”yeah,” then I can hear her sniffling, and I wish I could be there for her. Wish I could wrap my arms around her and hold her. I wish I could hold her hand at her doctor’s appointment.

And then an idea sparks. Why can’t I?

“Anyways,” she says, pushing out a heavy breath. “I went to the ER last night, and they confirmed with an x-ray that it’s fractured. I’m in a boot again. I should be getting a call from the specialist’s office for a follow-up appointment.”

“I’m coming to see you.”

“What? No, Lukas. I’m just being a baby. This isn’t worth another trip out here. Don’t flip your world upside down just for me.”

“Mags. I want to be there for you.” Even if it is a minor fracture, the mental toll that an injury takes on an athlete can be the hardest part. “When you came to me after I fucked up my shoulder, do you realize what that did for me?” I was spiraling. Classic Lukas, I was refusing to talk about it. Refusing to listen to anyone, dosing myself with pain pills and not caring who I hurt in the process. She flew through the night to be with me. “When you first fractured your foot and I was deployed, I barely gave you an ounce of attention during that phone call.” And now that I know what I know now, how my attitude and selfish reaction started splintering our relationship, I want to do it right this time.

“I hope it isn’t as bad of a fracture as before,” I continue. “I don’t ever want to see you hurt, but I want to be there for you. I need to, I think, for both of us. I want to replace that memory for us.”

She pauses for a minute, seeming to soak in my words. “What about Ivy? Isn’t this your weekend with her?”

“Yeah.” I scrub a hand over my forehead. Candi and Rick are going away for the weekend. Their first time actually away from Ivy. “I wouldn’t be able to get out there for a week or two. Even if you’re managing just fine, I want to do this, Mags. Maybe I can come to your follow-up appointment or something.”

“I’d like that,” she finally says, and I grin.

“You’ll have me?” I tease, and she finally releases a laugh. It’s soft, weak, but still a laugh. “And hey, looks like we get to spend an early Christmas together.”

Winter is the busiest time for a ballerina. She normally has back-to-back performances in the days leading up to Christmas and on Christmas day itself. We decided that it wouldn’t be worth it to fly out there, as I’d be away from Ivy and my family, and she wouldn’t get a real break, anyway. Even though my stomach churns at the thought of her being injured again, I’m happy we’re getting this unexpected time together.

“I can’t wait to see you. You still haven’t told me what you want for Christmas.”

A squeal comes from downstairs, followed by a thud so loud the lamp on my bedside table rattles. Sounds like Theo and Harper are back at it.

“I already told you what I want.”

“Me isn’t an appropriate answer, Lukas.”

I grin as I stand, opening my bedroom door and perking an ear, listening to Harper taunt Theo as she likely has him pinned already. “You wrapped in tinsel is.”

“You’re terrible.” She giggles.

“Naw,” I tell her, starting down the stairsteps. “Just a man in love.”

CHAPTER 33

Magnolia

“Lukas, I can put weight on it. That’s what the walking boot is for.”

Lukas grumbles, reluctantly setting me down on my feet. Once he’s confident that I’m stable, he reaches for my hand, and we take the few paces to the elevator. The silver doors open for us, and we step in, silent as they close behind us. “You should let me carry you,” he finally mumbles, and the disappointed, childlike look on his face has a giggle bubbling from my chest.

“And what? Let you walk the two miles to the clinic carrying me like a baby?” I take a step forward, pressing my palms to his chest. “As much as I love being wrapped up in you, we’d sure be a sight, maneuvering through noon traffic in downtown Paris like that.”

The corner of his mouth twitches, and he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “I don’t care what anyone thinks. Just want you healthy. Healed. I don’t like seeing you wince in pain.”

I thought he had missed the few times I winced while stretching out my foot and ankle. The boot helps keep my fracture from worsening, but I’m allowed to take it off twice a day, and there are daily stretches I’m advised to do. It’s not that they’re particularly painful; it’s that my foot isn’t used to that kind of movement right now. And the fact that this is the third injury to the same spot doesn’t bode well.

The elevator opens, and Lukas reaches for my hand, lacing my fingers together with his. The crisp wintery air slaps us in the face as soon as we exit the lobby. “See,” I tease, playfully swinging his hand back and forth. “Good thing we’re taking a cab, or you’d be carrying me through the winter storm.”

I turn my back to him, raising my free hand in the air to signal for a cab.

Lukas’s lips press against the side of my neck, and a soft kiss is placed before his mouth moves against my skin. “Wouldn’t that have been romantic? Me, traipsing through the blizzard, muscles flexing beneath my ratted T-shirt as I carry the love of my life—the injured love of my life, may I add—to the closest doctor?”

I giggle, shoulders squirming at the feel of his lips against my neck. “I love the idea of watching your muscles flexing, but what happened to your jacket?”