Chapter 6
6
Cassie and Reagan were in their seats and watching the game as they were every weekend. Reagan always came with her to these games, which gave her a bit of a buffer from her overwhelming family.
“Is it just me or does Grant keep looking up here at you?” Reagan whispered.
Cassie blushed. “I think I’m losing my mind.”
“Over him? I would too if he were constantly searching for me in the crowd.”
The game had just started again after halftime, and Grant had played the whole game so far. She’d admit that this season was the first time she’d really concentrated on the defense, but she couldn’t take her eyes off him.
“Do you think he’s really looking at me?” Cassie leaned on her friend as she asked, insecurities creeping up.
She and Grant spoke in some way every day. More often than not, it was in person. He’d seamlessly become a part of her life and it was strange how quickly it had happened.
“I don’t think it, I know it. That man can’t take his eyes off you.”
Cassie grinned. As she watched, Grant stole the ball from a player on the other team and kicked in down the field. Her whole family shouted as he cleared it.
“Your neighbor is pretty good. I can’t imagine why he’s down here on this team instead of playing in the big leagues like he was.” Ben never took his eyes off the game as he spoke.
All that did was remind her that this man wasn’t here to stay and broke her heart in ways it really shouldn’t have. They could remain friends after, but he had a life in DC to get back to and she didn’t think it would last long.
“Yeah,” she answered and hoped he would drop it.
After a few more minutes of play, she watched as Grant collided with another player in what was definitely a foul, even if the ref didn’t call it. The entire crowd gasped as he went down and Cassie squeezed Reagan’s hand as they waited for him to get up.
The cheering started as soon as he began to move. The crowd was roaring for him as much as they were shouting at the refs.
“That’s a fucking card, ref!” Ben was shouting.
“Are you blind?” her father was backing Ben up.
Grant waved at the stands and she pretended it was just at her. It was childish to do, but she did it, anyway.
“You can breathe now.” Reagan used her free hand to pry Cassie’s fingers off her other one.
“Sorry.” Cassie quickly let go and dropped her hand into her lap.
“I was right there with you, so no worries.” Reagan smiled at her. “I’m glad he’s up.”
“He’s going to be so sore,” Cassie lamented. “That looked like it hurt and it should have been a card.”
Reagan nodded.
As the game went into stoppage time, the fouls added up. Most of them were called, but a lot weren’t. The other team wasn’t winning and were clearly willing to play dirty to change that.
The next time Grant went down, he immediately cupped his hand and signaled for the medical staff. She couldn’t see what was going on in detail from her vantage point, but even Reagan was gripping her hand back this time.
“He’ll be okay,” Ben reassured her.
Cassie cut a questioning glance at him before looking back at Grant. “I’m sure.”
“You aren’t hiding it well, you know? You’re lucky I’m the only one that’s here tonight, because the way you’re freaking out is obvious.”
“Nothing is happening,” she bit out.
“Doesn’t change what your thoughts are.” He shrugged and pulled out his phone. “Awe shit.”
“What?” She stopped, watching the field as Grant walked to the sidelines. That was a good sign, right?
“Don’t freak out,” Ben warned.
“If you don’t start talking, then I’m really going to freak out. This is not me freaking out.”
The look he gave her told her he didn’t buy it. “He’s broken a finger or two. They’re going to take him to the hospital because it’s an open break.”
Cassie gasped.
Ben was keeping his voice low, so the crowd didn’t hear him, even though they were all yelling, anyway. “Jack’s got him. He’ll be taken care of.”
Cassie pulled out her phone and sent Grant a text so he’d see it as soon as he got on it again.
Cassie: I’m so sorry. I hope it’s not too bad. Call me when you can.
To her surprise, her phone rang immediately from him.
“Come here,” was all he said.
Cassie looked at Ben. “Take me down there.”
Ben hesitated, and she held up her phone to show him who she was talking to. He nodded and turned to their dad to say something before leading the way down the stands.
He helped her into the back of the ambulance, to the shocked surprise of her other brothers. Cassie ignored them all as she went straight to Grant.
“Wait, did you drive?” Ben asked.
Cassie shook her head. “Reagan did.”
“Let me know when you’re done then and y’all need a ride.” Ben closed the doors to the ambulance and backed away.
“This is an interesting development,” Jack commented.
“Are you okay?” Cassie ignored him as she spoke to Grant. Then she laughed nervously. “I mean, of course you aren’t.”
“I’ll be okay. Thanks for coming with me.” Grant laid his head back on the stretcher and squeezed his eyes closed, taking deep breaths.
“He’ll be back at it before too long.” Jack took Grant’s vitals and logged them on the computer.
She had no doubt he’d be okay, but what about his career? They all knew he was here to get back on his feet after his last injury, and this wasn’t going to help things.
Cassie squeezed Grant’s uninjured hand and was reassured when he did it back to hers. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but she still felt terrible for the man next to her and where his dreams would land after this.