Isn't It Bromantic (Bromance Book Club #4) - Lyssa Kay Adams Page 0,14

I play again?”

“You know I can’t tell you that yet.”

“Please, Madison. Give me an idea of how long I will be off the ice.”

She pursed her lips and exhaled a reluctant sigh. “If you were an average person, it would be a year before you could return to normal activity.” Madison held up her hand at the look on his face. “But you are not average. You’re a professional athlete in top physical condition who will have access to round-the-clock care, nutritional support, and a detailed rehabilitation plan.”

“So how long?”

“Our goal is to get you back on skates by October.”

Vlad let his head fall against the pillows. Four months off the ice. He pressed his fist to his forehead. How could this be happening?

“But there is a lot that happens between now and then,” Madison said. “Most people with this kind of break wouldn’t be allowed to put any weight on their leg for at least a month. You? We expect you to stand for a few minutes every day starting next week.”

“What happens next?” Elena asked in a voice that managed to be both quiet and determined. She had inched closer to his side as she spoke. As much as it pained him to admit, there was something comforting about her presence and her journalistic skill for pushing through the panic of the situation to ask the important questions.

“He’ll stay here again tonight,” Madison said. “Barring any complications, he should be able to go home tomorrow.”

Elena made a noise. “Tomorrow? You can’t send him home tomorrow!”

“We’ll make sure he has everything he needs,” Madison said.

“But this was major surgery. What if something goes wrong?”

“Elena,” Vlad said, trying to redirect her attention, because the look on her face was the same one she’d given him when he was sixteen and had the boneheaded idea to jump into the frozen Om River.

“The trainers will be in contact every day,” Madison said with a patient smile. “Probably more than Vlad would like. We’ll equip the house with mobility assistance and training tools, and he’ll have a detailed rehab plan. If you have any questions—”

“Of course I have questions! Can he go up and down stairs? Can he get his leg wet? How often does his bandage need to be changed? Does he need to ice it? Will he get painkillers? What if he falls down?”

Madison smiled again. “I know how worried you must be. But all of those questions will be answered, I assure you. Trust us to do our jobs, okay?” She nodded without waiting for a response and turned her attention to Vlad. “One thing I do need right now is access to the house. The team needs to deliver several things before you can go home tomorrow.”

“One of my neighbors has a key to the house. She can unlock the door for you.”

“That will work. Let her know we’ll be there this afternoon.” Madison folded the iPad against her stomach and winced, as if her next words were going to hurt. “I don’t mean to pry, Elena, but I need to know if we should hire someone to take care of Vlad for a while or if you are planning to stay—”

“She’s leaving.”

“I’m staying.”

Vlad dragged his gaze from Madison’s confused and uncomfortable expression to gape at Elena. He switched to Russian. “What—what did you say?”

Elena held his stare. “I’m going to stay and take care of you.”

“Why?” He hadn’t meant to sound so incredulous, but he was.

“Because you need me,” she said. At his answering silence, she blinked rapidly and shrugged. “I mean, you need someone.”

Madison cleared her throat. She didn’t speak Russian, but she obviously understood tone of voice. Her own conveyed a desire to get out of there as quickly as possible. “Why don’t I leave you two alone to discuss things, and you can let me know what you decide tomorrow?”

Vlad spared her barely a glance as she ducked out of the room. As soon as she was gone, Vlad ran a hand over his hair. “Elena, what are you doing?”

“You need someone to take care of you.”

“The team can hire someone to help.”

“But they don’t have to, and why would you want a stranger? I can cook for you and—”

He cut her off before she painted too tempting a picture. “What about your classes?”

“They’re over. I defended my thesis last week.”

Vlad’s lips opened and closed twice as he searched for something, anything to change her mind. Anything short of I need you to go, because