Page 140 of Forever Offsides

The nurse looks unsure, but I give her a nod. “I know what I’m doing,” I reassure her. “I can guide him, and he has no problems lifting me if I get into trouble.” Though the thought of him picking me up and the subsequent pain that would come with that almost have me in sympathetic tears.

“Hit the button if you need anything.” She leaves us, and Rhett sits beside me on the bed.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” I reply and slowly—because just lifting my arm requires way more strength than it should—I touch the purple skin beneath his glasses. “Seriously. When was the last time you slept?”

“I’ve gotten a little. I’ve also gotten used to sleeping beside you so…” He clears his throat. “I heard you were awake from one of the nurses. Your family isn’t here yet, but I’m sure they will be soon. How are you?”

I put my head on his shoulder. “I’m better now.”

His hand comes to my back, which is exposed from my open gown. Oops.

“Is my ass showing?”

He chuckles. “Not really.” His hand glides down to the top of it, but instead of doing anything inappropriate, he moves the fabric to cover me up. “Quinn…”

“Yeah?”

“I…” He sighs. “I’m so happy you’re awake.”

“I know.”

“No, baby girl, you don’t.” He releases a tense breath. I can tell he has a million things on his mind. A million things he wants to say. Finally, he sags and says, “Let me help get you up. That’s what she was doing, right?”

“She was going to help me to the chair.”

“Let’s do it. How do I help? Coach me.”

He gives me a dimpled smile, and I smirk at him when my heart rate goes up on the monitor.

“You have such a thing for me.”

I laugh only to wince. “Don’t make me laugh. That hurts.”

“I’m sorry.” He kisses my forehead. “Tell me when you’re ready.”

“Stand sideways beside me and hold out your left arm. I’m going to use it to help myself up, but I can already tell I’ll need help, so your right arm will need to band around me. Don’t pull me up. Just support me and help if I need it. We’ll need to go slow.”

“Got it.”

“I might make noises of pain because I’m positive this will hurt despite the medication. Don’t freak out and don’t release me.”

“Shit. Okay, I won’t.”

“Good. On three.”

His arm comes out and I grasp it to pull myself up, but it’s a total motherfucker of an event. He ends up gripping my right hip from behind my back to help me stand. I hold onto him for a minute, neither of us moving. My head is spinning, and a wave of nausea takes hold.

Panic strikes him. “You okay? Do I need to get the nurse?”

“No. Just give me a minute. It’ll pass.”

“You sure because your blood pressure and heart rate are flashing on the monitor?”

“I’m orthostatic. It’s not uncommon right now.”

“Ortho—what?”