improve your healing process. I’ll give you some meds for the pain at first—”
I’m barely listening. All I can think about is that it will be two weeks before I can run.
“I don’t want meds. Let’s get another doc in here, get another X-ray.” I scrub my face then look up at him. “Please.”
Ryker stands next to me. “Blaze, these guys are the best. This isn’t career-ending.”
Jack’s gaze is filled with sympathy. A grimace crosses his face. “Listen to Ryker. It’s just a couple of weeks. Don’t let it get in your head. Accept it, refocus your goals, and move on.”
Coach Sanders puts his hand on my shoulder, and I shake it off.
Move on? MOVE ON?
He wants me to refocus?
On what?
On giving up the only thing that keeps me going?
No.
I throw the water bottle I’m holding across the room, and it smashes against the wall and spills onto the floor.
29
“Thanks,” I say as Charisma brings me a glass of iced tea. I’m on day three of sitting propped up on pillows on my bed. Sometimes I sit out in the den to mix it up, but honest to God, I’m going crazy in this dorm room. Yesterday it was sunny, and I sat out on the landing and talked to everyone who passed by.
One more day until I can resume classes, and for once, I can’t wait to sit through a lecture.
Charisma’s been here the majority of her free time, keeping me company and bringing me notes from Cartwright’s class, even though a TA is getting all my stuff together and delivering it to me. A tutor showed up the first day and went over my missed classes. He comes each day for a couple of hours in the evening and then heads out. Thank God. At least I might still graduate.
She holds out my pain meds. “Here, take these. It’s Aleve.”
I’m off the heavy drugs, only having used them on day one. Feeling stubborn, I set the Aleve on the nightstand and look at the TV, but I’m not paying attention. I feel antsy as hell. Shit is piling up in my room, and surprisingly, it bothers me. Books, papers, and my laptop are scattered on the bed.
She turns my ceiling fan on and busies herself with picking up my dirty clothes off the floor, taking them into my bathroom, and putting them in the hamper. She closes the blinds, darkening the room. Her eyes find mine and her face is blank, and I’m thankful for that at least, glad she isn’t giving me pity or bringing up the Combine. No one wants to talk about it, not Dillon or Ryker. They don’t know what to say, I guess, and they can feel my nerves, itching to lash out.
“You want me to grab some protein bars for later?” she asks.
“No.”
My eyes go over her short green and navy plaid skirt and the fitted white shirt she’s wearing. She looks hot, and I swallow down feelings of helplessness. “You’ve got fencing today? Be sure Chess Boy keeps his sword to himself. I should have taken that class.”
A laugh comes from her, and I smile. She’s been so goddamn careful around me.
“I’ll remind him what a badass you are. Maybe he’ll be scared,” she teases.
“He better be.”
She laughs and picks up notes that scattered from the fan.
I tear my eyes off her and stare down at the breakfast she brought me from the student center. “Don’t worry about bringing more food. Dillon said he’d bring me dinner later.” She lingers next to my bed, and I reach out and grab her hand. “You really need to get to class. Cartwright will be ringing that bell soon.”
While I go nuts. Alone.
She leans down and kisses me long and slow, until I’m arching up off the bed to reach more of her mouth.
“I can stay if you want…I’ll do all the work and be careful of your ankle,” she whispers.
“You could.” I cup her face. “But you’ve already missed classes just to hang out with me.”
“Meh. I catch up quick.”
My finger brushes over her shirt, lingering on where I know her piercing is. I want my tongue there.
Her eyes widen and she pulls back. “Shit—we have a quiz today. I totally forgot. I gotta go.”
Deep disappointment hits. “Of course you do, Charm. Get out of here before you miss it. I’m used to doing this solo. I got it, babe.”
She stands and gives me a searching look, her expression cautious. “Blaze?”