Tackling Love - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,42
out?”
Dr. Reed smiles sympathetically. “Made it easier to treat you if that’s any consolation?”
“It was the feel of the glass being pulled out.” I shiver at the memory.
“Happens to the best of us. Let’s get you up.” Doc chuckles as he places a hand on my elbow and pulls, while his other arm goes around my shoulders, then I awkwardly swing my legs, so they dangle over the table.
“Feeling okay? Not dizzy?”
“I’m fine.” Looking down at my hands, both of them have bandages as does my knee. “How’s my knee?”
“You’ve got a very impressive six stitches.” Doc smiles. “Okay, keep it clean and dry for the rest of today and most of tomorrow.”
“No shower?”
Doc holds up a hand. “You can shower tomorrow night, but try to keep it dry in the meantime. If it does get wet, very gently pat dry it. Are you a runner?”
I laugh and shake my head. “No.”
“Good. I was going to say no running for at least two weeks. That’s when I want to see you again to take the stitches out.” Doc looks at Gray. “But I’d like to see you next week. Can you or Colt bring her in, so I can see how she’s healing?”
“Absolutely.”
Doc looks back at me. “And if you want to help the healing process, put petroleum jelly on the wound. The most important thing is to keep it clean. Take Advil for the pain and rest up.” The doc pats me lightly on my other knee. “And no more running in parking lots.”
I smile ruefully and shrug. “I’ll try.”
“Well, if you do, don’t fall over.” Doc chuckles, pats my knee again, and leaves the room.
“Is Colt here?”
Gray shakes his head. “No, sorry. He left straight after the game.”
“Right.” I sigh and hold out a hand to Gray. “Could you help me down?”
“Think you can walk?”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
“You know it’s going to, yeah? The lidocaine doesn’t last long.”
I shuffle forward, and Gray helps me off the table. “Sounds like you’ve had it before.”
“Too many times to count.”
Testing the weight on my leg, it aches a little, and it feels like the skin is pulling, but I can walk. Well, sort of.
“Want me to carry you?”
I shake my head. “I’m good.”
Slowly, I make my way back to Gray’s car. We don’t talk much on the drive, and when Gray pulls into my driveway, I’m relieved to be home.
“Thanks, Gray. I’m not sure what I was going to do.”
“Well, from the looks of you when I pulled up, a shower?”
I laugh. “Guess that’s not happening now.”
Gray nods. “Are you going to be okay?”
Opening the car door, I slide out carefully, trying to put most of my weight on the good leg. “I’ll be fine, no need to worry.”
“Ring me if you need anything.”
I smile and nod, exhausted from the day.
There’s nothing left to be said.
Gray’s a good man, pity some of his gentlemanly ways haven’t rubbed off on Colt.
SKYE
It’s incredible how quickly a life can be packed up and stored once you’ve decided to move. My tiny home is empty. All my worldly belongings are in a storage facility with a six-month lease, which Dad paid for. He wanted to pay for a year, but I don’t want to be away that long. I simply need a break, and six months seems like a good amount of time to get my head right.
Dating a famous football player and then break up with him is hard. Every time I turn on the television, he’s there. Every time I go for a drive, his face is staring back at me from a billboard. Or when I open a magazine, there he is, smiling at me, mocking me.
At least in the UK, I won’t stumble across his image anywhere.
With a sigh, I close the door to my house. The real estate woman, who’s daughter was in my class, is leaning against her car filling out a form. She looks up at me when I get closer. “Hey, Skye, we’re all set. Are you sure this is what you want to do?”
I nod. “There’s nothing left for me here anymore. I’ll be back, though. Until then, will you take care of my home, make sure it goes to a good family?”
“Of course, I will. It’s such a shame you’re leaving. My Maddison will miss you. But in the meantime, I’ll be sure to vet the renters in for you, get some people in who will look after your home.”
I smile and hand over the keys.