Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
~DEX~
Iget her settled into her bed. She looks so small against the pale blue sheets and tan comforter that she insists on covering her body with.
“Do you want me to stay with you for a bit?” I lower myself onto her bed and sit beside her.
I stroke a finger down her cheek. “Is there anything that you need? I filled up your Stanley with some water and ice. With the medications that you are on, you’ll want to make sure that you are drinking enough fluids. ”
The only reaction I get is a small nod.
“I can stay with you until you fall asleep, it’s no problem.”
She clears her throat slightly, but her voice still comes out raspy, “No, I’m fine, I want to get some sleep.”
“Okay, well, I’ll be in my room if you need anything. But yeah, sleep is a good idea. It’s been a long night for you.” I rise and start towards the door. “Do you want that light off?” I point to the soft light glowing from her bedside table.
“No, it’s fine. Leave it on. I’m fine with it on.”
I nod. “Okay, well, I’m right next door to you if you need anything. And I have you turned on as one of my contacts that breaks through the silence, so if you need to get up in the middle of the night, call me. I’ll help you with whatever you need.”
She gives me a small smile, faint but it’s there. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” My feet move before I really register what it is I’m doing.
I head across the bedroom and place my hands gently on either side of her shoulders.
My lips come down and grace her forehead gently.
I linger for a moment before pulling away.
Looking into her eyes, I can see they are searching mine.
“Get some sleep,” I tell her and then I flee the room, closing her door slightly.
I leave enough room for a crack of light to seep through.
Once I’m back in my room, I fully close the door and sit on my bed, hiding my head in my hands.
I can’t believe I went and kissed her like that.
Sure, I’ve been thinking of her a lot lately, more than I should.
My eyes linger on her body at workouts or when we’re at home.
During the games she is who I’m watching ninety percent of the time.
When she hit the ground like that and I heard those screams, I reacted on instinct.
There wasn’t anything that would have kept me from reaching her.
I can still hear her crying when I close my eyes.
The sound is staying with me, and I hate it.
My phone ringing pulls me out of my thoughts. I look at the caller ID and see it’s August.
“What’s up, man? I have no new information, just what I texted you and Coach Watts earlier,” I tell him.
“Yeah, I figured as much. I wanted to check in on you, see how you were doing. If there was anything that the two of you needed over there?” There’s a playfulness in his tone, like he’s figuring out how much I enjoy being around her.
“No, we’re fine. I finally got her settled into her bed,” I tell him.
“What, you’re not tucked in there with her?” August teases me.
“No, I’m in my own room, thank you very much.”
“Just thought I would ask.” I hear ice clinking in a glass over the line.
He’s had a rough night too, probably worrying about what losing their best defender will do to their season.
I’m on the coaches texting thread and they are all worried.
“Why would you sprint across that field the way you did and then carry her to the training room?”
“I wanted to make sure that I got to her quickly and also I wasn’t waiting for a cart. The cart was being used by Lucas, who was taking an elderly woman to her car,” I explain to him. “I needed to get her out of there, all those eyes on her. It’s not good for an athlete when they’re injured.”
“You don’t think it would be good for the fans and team to be there supporting her as she’s checked over by you?
You know some of the fans feel like they have an investment in the team and now in her recovery.
They wanted to see Amelia get up and wave to the crowd or something.
Carted off, not rushed off, so they have time to also process what has happened on the field. ”
I shake my head and laugh. “Now you sound like your old man. Always out to make a buck or to capitalize on the misfortune of others. Making sure that the fans are getting the premium experience.” I scold him, scoffing into the phone.
“Come on, man, you are better than that. You and I both know that.”
He sighs. “I don’t get why you did that. I mean, I thought that you would have waited on a cart. I watched the NFL games and would catch peeks of you on the sideline. Not once did you run to a player like that or carry them off the field.”
“August, I would head out to the field in a run sometimes,” I remind him.
“That was a jog, you were particularly sprinting.”
“And I didn’t lift the NFL players because they weighed at least two hundred pounds. There was no way that I could have lifted them,” I tell him.
He chuckles. “Well, still. It seemed like you were intent on being the white knight there. The press agreed too. I hear they have a picture of you carrying her bridal-style off that field. It’s supposed to run in the paper. Our press office was notified.”
“Shit, I’m sorry.” I hadn’t even thought about the optics when I was rushing to get to her off the field.
“It’s fine. I’m spinning that you’re a caring man and you were looking out for the best interest of your player and the team.”
“Thank you,” I reply, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Is Maxwell or anyone else upset?”
“Nah, they are not upset about that. Maxwell is worried about the rest of the season. Watts and I talked after you all left. There isn’t a replacement for her. No one is as tough of a defender as she is. So that will be challenging,” he replies.
“Can I tell her that?” I ask.
“Why?”
“I think it would help her mental health right now. She’s pretty down and I’m sure she’s worried about her spot on the team.”
“You can. But remember we have some good people connected to the team that she could talk to, if she would like. We pay for it and everything. They may be able to help her process it better than you tucking her into bed every night,” he teases.
“Fuck you, man. I didn’t tuck her in. I carried her in there and got her situated,” I admit.
“Why didn’t she use the crutches?”
“She’s in pain.” My voice rises a bit and then I remember that we share a wall, so I do my best to be quieter when I speak again. “Besides, the pain medication that I gave her kicked in and Haldman gave her some more, so she’s pretty exhausted.”
“Well, that’s good. Keep her drugged up while you can. Might help her process things better, you know.”
I do know. I know that we both went through the same thing with our injuries. Those first few days after my shoulder injury were spent in blissful unawareness, which was just what I needed. Once I felt a little stronger, more stable, then I could deal with the reality of what my situation was.
I hope she has a better outcome. There are no guarantees that when an athlete gets injured, whether it requires surgery or not, that she’ll ever fully recover.
Or even come back to being the player that she was.
And this injury could be recurring for her.
I’ve seen it happen time and time again with NFL players.
“Yeah, I know.” I say quietly.
“She’s going to recover, man. She will. I haven’t known her that long but she’s strong as hell.
Amelia’s got this. You have to stay positive and keep on helping her.
Don’t let her mope around that apartment.
Hell, bring her to work with you if you want.
Anything to get her out of the house and make sure she isn’t getting all depressed. ”
“Good idea, I will do that.”
“Thanks.” He pauses for a moment, and I hear more ice clinking.
“The team is also looking to see her. Watts and I talked about that tonight too. How do you want to do that? I’m not sure she wants a ton of people trampling through her house.
Should we have something here at the stadium?
Like, have her come in for a lunch or something? ”
“Yeah, you could do that. I’m pretty sure I know a few of them who are going to come over here regardless of what you say about not going to her apartment,” I note.
“I’m not worried about them. It’s the rest of the team that is eager to see her. I feel like that should be more of a social thing so that she doesn’t feel like she’s on display.”
“Look at you, having a heart. Are you feeling okay?” I tease him.
“Yeah, fuck you, man. I can be sensitive and caring,” August replies.
“Sure, you can, but not often, which is why it’s freaking me out.”
“Uh-huh. No musical or magical beds over there. You stay in yours and you keep her in hers.”
“Oh, but you had to lift that fraternization rule when I got here because you had so many players and coaches hooking up!” I remind him.
“That was one coach and one player. And I didn’t lift it for you. I didn’t want to be the owner with the double standard.”
“I’m sure Maxwell was happy about that,” I tease him.
“Those kinds of things don’t make him happy or sad. Money is what he values, and he didn’t want to be subject to a lawsuit, so we lifted the policy. At my suggestion,” he informs me.
“Well, it was a good thing you did. Now I can be free to bang whomever I want,” I tease him.
“Yeah, because that has worked out so well for you in the past.” I know he’s referring to Elise.
“That’s a low blow, even for you.”
“Sorry, just giving you shit,” he replies, and I can hear the sincerity in his tone. “Have you heard any more from her?”
“Nah, the conversation has been between lawyers. She called me though; no voicemail, no text message explaining the call. I think it was an accidental call,” I tell him.
“Probably better you didn’t reach back out to her. Wouldn’t have done either of you any good,” he reasons.
“No, it sure wouldn’t. And I promised her that I would only talk to her through the lawyers.”
“What else does she need? You gave her the brownstone; she got half of what you had and then some from what you said. And she kept the fucking dog. I swear she’s coping way better than you are.”
“Yeah, she probably is. But the whole thing was my fault, August. What was I supposed to do?” I ask.
“I guess,” he replies nonchalantly. “Have you heard from your mom and sisters lately?”
I shake my head but remember he can’t see me.
“No, they have checked in to make sure I’m doing okay.
But other than one-word answers, I don’t keep much of a conversation going,” I admit sheepishly.
I was raised by a single mom, so treating my wife the way I had didn’t sit well with them.
They know it and so do I. I acted like my father’s son.
Plus, I knew better.
“Well, you should. They love you and as close as all of you were, I’m sure they miss you. Even if you knew better.” He takes the last sentence right out of my mouth. That’s how well he knows me.
“Doesn’t change it,” I sigh into the phone.
“It sure doesn’t but you have to start somewhere. You can’t avoid them forever.”
“I know. You’re right and I will call them at some point. I have to get settled here and make sure that Amelia’s comfortable and all.” The words slip out, but I don’t exactly believe them.
“They love you, you know. Sure, they like Elise, but you are their family. The shame of the screw-up will fade,” he reminds me.
“Thanks, August. I appreciate it.”
“Glad I could be of service. Now go get some rest. You coming in tomorrow or do you want to stay with her? Because if you do, that’s okay,” he offers.
“Thanks, for that. I’ll play it by ear. I want to see how she’s comfortable first and then go from there.”
“Sounds good, man. Call if you need anything.”
“Will do, have a good night, man,” I say before hanging up.
After I hang up with August, I get ready for bed. But before I turn in for the night, I check in on Amelia. Thankfully, she’s passed out in her bed. Good, she needs her sleep. I head into my room to get some of my own.