Chapter Twenty-Six
Will
My entire body hurts radiating from my left knee like I’ve never felt before, and the noise happening right now is pissing me off. I know I was injured during the game, but I’d really like it if everyone would just stop asking me questions. I can’t fucking think right now.
“Hi, William, I’m Dr. Martinez, I’m the orthopedic surgeon here. Can you rate your pain on a scale from one to ten for me?”
“Twelve!”
“Alright, William, we’re going to give you some Fentanyl. Have you ever had Fentanyl before?”
“No.”
“This should help some with the pain. It might not take it all away, but should be more manageable, ‘kay, buddy?”
Three seconds later it feels like someone threw a brick at my head and I’m more fucked up than I know how to deal with.
“Where’s my phone? I need to call my girlfriend. And probably my dad.”
“We’re gonna get these pads off you and take a look at your leg, then you can call your girlfriend. Dad’s already on the way.”
What the hell is he talking about? Taking my gear off? I open my eyes and sure enough, I’m still wearing all my hockey gear, skates and helmet included. I try to sit up so I can help take everything off and they just push me back down while flashing me irritated looks.
My jersey and shoulder pads come off with little issue.
They don’t let me leave my undershirt on.
No one makes any comments about the five hickies I have dotted over my torso, but I know Kennedy’s going to be so embarrassed.
“Where’s my chain?” I demand with a hand at my throat feeling nothing but skin.
A woman holds up two giant plastic bags, “All your personal belongings are in here.”
I’ll sue this hospital if they lose it. I have to tell her that I didn’t have a choice, that they made me take it off. “No, my girlfriend. You’re not listening to me, I need to call my girlfriend! She was at my game and saw–”
“I’ll call her for you as soon as I take a look at this leg.”
There’s some movement at the foot of my bed and then I think I actually black out for a second before I bolt straight up.
“Jesus Christ! I thought you said you gave me pain meds!” Two men are now holding down my shoulders as two others remove my skate from my foot and cut my shin guards off. If I could punch that man in the face right now I would.
“Push another 50 mcg.”
“I need to call my girlfriend!”
“Transpo’s here for his MRI.”
“Hi, William, can you please confirm your full name and date of birth for me?”
“Can someone please explain to me what the fuck is going on!”
There’s a moment of pause before the man who's been talking non stop leans over my hospital bed. “You messed up your knee pretty bad. You’re definitely going to need surgery. The MRI you’re about to get will tell us if you need emergency surgery tonight or if we can stabilize you and get you on the surgery schedule for tomorrow morning.
I know you want to call your girlfriend, but I’m trying to make sure you’re going to walk again, preferably without a limp for the rest of your life. ”
Just then, like a one two sucker punch, the second dose of the pain killers kick in and I lose the ability to form complex thoughts.
“I’m hungry,” I announce. The person pushing my hospital gurney laughs.
“That’s good. Hopefully we can get you some food here pretty soon.”
Two people have to transfer me to the MRI table, stuffing pillows around my leg to keep it from moving.
Right now my leg is at some strange horrible angle that’s causing my ass cheeks to go numb.
They let me pick the radio station to listen to while in the machine and I try not to think about how badly my knee is fucked up.
I have no idea how long I’ve been in this machine when they pull me out and transfer me back to the hospital gurney. I don’t realize they aren’t taking me back down to the ER until I’m being pushed into a full room and see Kennedy in the corner of the room sitting in a chair.
“All right, William,” A feminine voice says after having me confirm my name and date of birth.
“I’m going to be your nurse tonight. Looks like you’re due for another dose of pain meds, you should be feeling these pretty quickly.
” I’m once more hit on the head with multiple bricks and suddenly my body feels like it's floating.
“The doctor should be in here shortly to discuss next steps.”
“Bye, thank you,” Kennedy says, standing next to my hospital bed, hands hovering in the air, unsure what to do or where she’s allowed to touch me.
I grab her hand, threading my fingers together with her icicles, finally able to relax knowing she’s here. “You’re so beautiful.”
“Hi, Will,” Miranda’s voice says from somewhere. “I know you’re high on whatever pain meds they gave you, but before you say something neither of us wants me to hear, just know: I’m here too.”
Kennedy lets out a watery laugh at that. I gasp, suddenly remembering my exposed chest with Miranda here, my hands shooting up to cover myself, only to discover a mint green hospital gown covering me up that I have no recollection of shoving my arms through.
Kennedy pulls a chair right up to the edge of my bed and drapes her arm over the railing, ice cold hand clutching mine, just the way I like it.
Her face is red and blotchy and I can tell she’s been crying.
“Why’re you crying, baby? Don’t cry, I’m fine.
I’m literally fine.” I say it as best as I can but my tongue feels a little heavy and I think the words are coming out slow.
“You’re not fine. Stop saying you’re fine!”
“Okay, I’m not fine. I need you to kiss it better.”
“Still here,” Miranda says, again from somewhere. I forgot she was here.
Kennedy swipes a cool hand across my forehead and down my jaw, pulling a groan out of me. Why does that feel so good? “How’re you feeling? The meds the nurse gave you should be working by now, right?”
I turn my head toward her palm and attempt to plant a few open mouth kisses. “Better now that you’re here.”
“This is painful,” Miranda says from somewhere. Kennedy goes red. I love how easily she blushes. It’s so cute. I love making her blush.
“Miranda can you shut up? You’re really ruining my fucking rizz right now.” I don’t know why that makes Kennedy laugh, but I’ll say it a hundred more times because I love when she laughs at me being stupid.
“Do you hear yourself? I’m ruining your rizz?”
Kennedy looks somewhere beyond my hospital bed, I’m assuming where Miranda must be. “He’s clearly out of his mind on pain meds, give him a break,” then she fixes her gaze at me, “Be nice.”
I wink. “I’m always nice,” I purr, flicking my eyes over her seductively. “You know that.”
“I actually can’t be in here right now. This is too much for me to handle. I’m sorry, I’ll be back in five minutes.”
“Finally!” I wish I knew where she was so I could flick her off.
Instead I yell after her, “Thanks for ruining my moment again! Don’t come back until you can handle being around people in love!
” I tilt my chin up towards Kennedy, hoping she gets the hint that I want to make out right now.
I lick my lips and wink at her again. “Now where were we?”
Instead of climbing over my bed railing like I imagined her doing, she throws her head back and cackles. “Apparently pain meds make you horny.”
“You make me horny.”
Her eyes go wide and she clenches her teeth, hissing at me, with a hint of a smile, “You have to stop.”
“What? It's true.” I’m really not understanding what all these reactions are about. Why is everyone trying to harsh my vibe right now? My girlfriend is the hottest person alive, of course I want to make out with her at any given moment and tell her how beautiful she is.
She hisses out, “Be serious,” through clenched teeth before her face transforms into a tight polite smile.
“Alright, William. Looks like we’re prepping you for surgery. I just have a few things to go over with you and some consent forms to sign. Then we’ll getcha over to the O.R. with Dr. Martinez.”
Kennedy says something about calling my mom while the nurse asks me another 500 questions.
When Kennedy returns she talks to the nurse in the corner about me and I almost sing, “I can hear you,” but think better of it at the last minute.
My head and tongue really do feel heavy and not being able to see her face makes the effort of the bit not worth it.
“Aright, baby,” Kennedy says, leaning over me, petting my head with her cooling touch. “They’re taking you back for pre-op, but I’ll be here when you get back. Your mom said they’re about ten minutes away.”
I pretty much black out everything she says after the word baby. That’s the first time she’s ever called me that. “I love you.”
She flushes, smiling down at me, hands stroking through my hair, “I know.” She kisses me once, quick and polite. “I love you too.” She steps back, and without another word, I’m pushed out of the room.