41. Harper
41
HARPER
I scream as I watch Felix hit the ice hard.
The entire stadium goes quiet as Felix lies motionless on the ice. Pierre skates over and you can hear the worry in his voice. Moments later, the medics arrive and then someone brings out a stretcher because he’s not moving.
“Felix. No. No.” I scream at the TV. Everything in my life stops in that moment as I pray that he wakes up and shrugs off what just happened. Instead, there is nothing but hushed gasps as the medics move him onto the stretcher.
“I have to go. I have to be with him. I can’t lose him. I’ve only just found him. I love him,” I scream into the room.
Everyone starts moving around me, but it’s like I’m underwater. He has to be okay. I need to tell him that I love him.
This can’t be how our story ends.
“Issy has organized for you to be at the hospital. Let’s go,” my brother says as I grab my bag and rush out after him. I’m in a daze. I need to see him. I need to know he is going to be okay.
“He’s going to be okay, Harpie,” Sam tries to reassure me as I lean into him for support. “I promise, okay.”
“I can’t lose him, Sam. I can’t.”
“You won’t,” he reassures me.
We meet Issy and some of The Mavericks’ staff in the waiting room.
“Issy, is he okay?” I ask her.
“They’ve rushed him in for some tests, they believe it’s a bad concussion, but they want to make sure there’s no bleeding.”
Shit. A brain bleed, that is serious. “This is my fault, I distracted him.”
Issy shakes her head. “It was always going to be a heated game between Felix and his old team, especially after everything.”
“My shit today probably added to it.”
“It’s going to be okay,” she reassures me.
It feels like forever before the doctor comes out and addresses us. “Is there a Harper here?”
I stand up. “That’s me.”
“He’s asking for you.” He grins.
“Is he okay?” I ask.
“Mr. St. Pierre has a severe concussion. He’s going to be out for two weeks to recover,” The doctor advises, and I hear the team mumble between each other.
“Can I go see him?” I ask the doctor.
“Yes, just one at a time for the moment. He’s in Room 2105,” he informs me. Issy gives me a thumbs up and I rush down the corridor toward his room. I open the door, and there he is, sitting in the hospital bed, looking fine, if not a little groggy. He looks up and the pain on his face vanishes, and a wide smile lights up his face.
“You’re wearing my jersey. You wore it.”
I rush over to his bed and wrap myself around him, trying to be gentle as I burst into tears. “I thought I lost you. I can’t lose you. I love you.”
“I thought you didn’t want me because you weren’t at the game,” he says.
I pull back and wipe the tears from my face as I shake my head. “Josh leaked AI-generated nudes of me today just before your game.” Felix’s eyes widen before he grimaces in pain. “Sorry, can I get you anything?”
“Josh leaked fake nudes of you?” I nod. “Fuck, that’s what the fuckers were talking about.”
“Who?”
“Stephen and Dave, they kept on saying shit about your nudes and …”
“And you fought for my honor.” I grin at him.
“Hell, yeah, I did. I may have also told Stephen when I was pummeling him that his teammates are fucking his fiancée.”
This makes me smile. “Bet that felt good.”
“Not really, he clocked me for that, and I hit the ice and ended up here.”
“Watching you hit the ice, my heart stopped.”
“You were watching my game?” he asks.
I nod. “Everyone was over helping me deal with the issue.”
“You were watching my game, wearing my jersey.” He grins widely.
“Of course,” I answer him, a little confused.
“And you just told me earlier, you love me or was I hearing things?”
“I love you and I’m sorry it took me this long to tell you.”
“I wasn’t worried. I knew you did. I heard you that night in The Hampton’s when you whispered to me while you thought I was asleep that you were falling for me.” I stare at him in disbelief. “You said be patient and I was, but I don’t want to be anymore. I love you, Harper Rose, and I want to start our future together right now,” he says, reaching out to me. “Are you in?” he asks as he cups my cheeks.
“I’m all in.”