Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
XANDER
“No pain?” Ivy asks as I do a deep squat with a hundred and fifty pounds on my back.
“No.”
She nods and I do another. I’m almost six months out from my injury, and I’m pain-free. Of course, she watches me like a fucking hawk, but I don’t mind because I love having Ivy’s attention.
I’m fucking addicted to her.
She’s been putting me through the paces today, and I’m a sweaty mess, but I don’t mind because I feel great, and this means that I’m so close to getting back on the ice with my team.
“We’ll head to the rink this afternoon,” she says. “Run some skating drills.”
“Does this mean I can go to Denver and practice with the guys?”
She lifts a brow and looks up at me. “Not yet. But you’re getting close to being able to do limited practice, with no contact. Your knee is still vulnerable, and hockey is violent, as you’ve pointed out to me several times.”
“That’s what makes it fun, sweetheart.”
She snorts and leads me over to the boxes. I’ve graduated up to one-legged box jumps. Even if it’s not far off the ground, it’s progress.
Thirty minutes and several different exercises later, she nods.
“Good job. We’re done for today.”
“I’m going to do upper body while you work,” I tell her, and she smiles at me. Fuck, that smile always smacks me right in the face.
“Sounds good.”
She grabs her water tumbler, the one I gave her when she started, and walks over to her desk and opens her laptop. Ivy pulls her legs up under her and immediately starts to type, those gorgeous hands flying over the keys.
“You’re not working out, you’re staring at me,” she says without even glancing my way, then takes a sip of her water.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful.”
She smirks. “You’re forgiven.”
I laugh and move over to jump on the pull-up bar and do ten reps before hopping down again. My phone, sitting on a bench nearby, lights up with a call.
“Hey, Kev,” I say into the phone as I run a towel over my sweaty head. “What’s up?”
“Just checking in,” my agent replies. “Making sure you’ll still be in Denver next week. I have a few photoshoots lined up, an interview with ESPN, and someone from PR for the team should be sending you an email with an agenda for you as well.”
“They did,” I confirm. “Of course I’m going to the children’s hospital, but I told them no cameras. I don’t need publicity to see kids with cancer.”
“Maybe no video, but just a picture for the website?”
I sigh and pull a hand down my face, and I notice that Ivy’s on her phone as well, standing at the windows, looking out at the pond that’s quickly freezing over.
This winter’s going to be a bitch.
“I got the sports drink company to film the commercial in Denver. They’ll want you dressed out in your gear and on the ice for it. Is that doable?”
“Yeah, I can skate.”
“Excellent. That’s good news, X.”
I nod, still watching as Ivy frowns. What’s up, Red?
“I’ll get reevaluated by the doctors while I’m there,” I tell Kevin.
“Do you think you could rejoin the team for the playoffs?”
“That’s my goal,” I confirm. “But we’ll see how the next few months go. I’m progressing well.”
“I’m so glad to hear it, man. Seriously. I’ll fly up to Denver when you’re there so I can be on hand for the brands that want to film.”
“I appreciate it. I’ll be in touch.”
I hang up and pocket my phone as I wander over to where Ivy’s still talking.
“Yeah, I’m sure I can do that. I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope Teddy makes a full recovery quickly. Okay, sounds good. Thanks, Sara. You too. Bye.”
She hangs up and lets out a sigh.
“You okay, baby?”
“Yeah.” She turns to me. “That was my boss at the clinic. One of our guys was in a really bad car accident, and he’s going to be out for a while . . .” They need me to help out at the hospital one day a week. If all of us take just one day, we can cover for him.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad.”
“No, it’s not. I can handle one day a week. It’s just . . .” She sighs and rubs her hands over her face, and I move in closer and brush my fingers down the braid she wears when we’re in the gym.
“What is it?”
“I got too comfortable not working at the hospital.” She cringes, as if merely uttering the words makes her feel guilty. “And I know that there are people there that need therapy too. Those who’ve just had a hip replacement or babies born with challenges. And everything in between.”
“But?”
“But I love sports physical therapy. What I do with you. I love it. I could take on four more clients, and do this full time, and be so damn happy. But there’s not a need for it in this area.
Unless you’re home with an injury, and it’s my main goal in life that this is the one and only time you’ll need me for anything this serious. ”
“Me, too, thanks.” I smile at her. “You’re damn good at your job, you know.”
“Oh, I know.” She laughs and swings her braid over her shoulder. “You looked like you were on a serious call too.”
“That was Kevin. My agent. Just going over some things that he has lined up for me when I’m down in Denver.”
She nods slowly. “You’ve mentioned that. When are you going?”
“We are going next week.”
Ivy’s hand rubs up and down my chest, as if she’s soothing both of us.
“Babe, did you already forget my phone call? With my boss? Three minutes ago?” She frowns. “Do we need more testing on your head?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “No, smart-ass, I didn’t forget. But you’re only picking up one day a week. You can be in Denver with me the other six days.”
“How long will you be in Colorado?” she asks.
“Could be a couple of weeks. And if you think I’ll be without you for that long, you don’t know me at all. Clingy, remember?”
That makes her laugh, and I can’t resist leaning down to kiss her perfect lips.
“You are pretty clingy. We’ll figure it out. It’s going to happen sooner or later anyway.”
“What is?”
“Us living in two places. Me here and you in Denver.”
I’m already shaking my head, but my phone rings again, and I answer when I see it’s my dad.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, buddy, I hate to bug you, but I can’t reach Tuck. I think I should go to the doctor.”
“I’m on my way.” I run out of the gym and down the hallway to the stairs. “I need ten to change my clothes and I’ll be in the car. What’s going on?”
“Blood sugar, of course. Fucking diabetes.”
“Do you need an ambulance?”
“No, I’m eating a banana, but I’ve been feeling like shit all morning. I should go see Blake at the clinic.”
I have him on speaker, and I’m already changing, not giving a shit about the sweat. I’ll shower once I make sure my dad is okay.
“I’ll be there in less than fifteen minutes. Do you want to stay on the phone with me, just in case?”
“Probably not a bad idea.”
That means it’s bad. My dad would normally assure me that it’s fine and hang up. This means he’s scared.
Fuck.
Ivy rushes in the room, her eyes round with worry. “What’s going on?”
“My dad needs me,” I tell her as I pause to kiss her forehead.
“I’m coming too,” she announces, already slinging her handbag over her neck. “Come on. I’m driving.”
I frown down at her, but she shakes her head.
“You’re upset. Let’s go.”
“Don’t get upset,” Dad says in my ear. He obviously heard Ivy. “I’m fine, I just shouldn’t drive myself.”
“What’s your sugar level right now?” I ask him, wishing that I had Harper with me because my sister is a nurse and knows way more about this stuff than me.
“Forty-six,” he says.
Fuck, even I know that’s way too low.
“Drink some juice,” I tell him.
“Don’t have any.” His breath sounds choppy. Ivy has already pulled her truck out onto the highway.
“We’re on the way, Dad. Take some breaths for me.”
I feel so fucking helpless.
“I’m not giving birth, son,” Dad says with a chuckle.
“Hey, I’m trying to help here.” I’m glad that he can laugh at a time like this.
Ivy’s driving like a bat out of hell, which is going to earn her an extra orgasm later. Okay, at least six extras.
And I’m going to eat her pussy for dinner.
I’d tell her that, but I’m pretty sure my dad doesn’t want to know.
Finally, she pulls up in front of my dad’s house in town, and I push out of the truck and run to the front door, bound inside, and see Dad sitting in his recliner, the phone at his ear.
“That was fast,” he says as he ends the call. His hands are shaking, so it takes several tries to press the red button on his screen, and he looks sweaty.
“Come on, we’re going to the ER.”
“Just the office,” Dad insists. “This isn’t an emergency.”
“Hey, you called me, so now I’m in charge.” I nod at Ivy, who grabs Dad’s wallet and keys, and then we’re out the front door as I help him walk out to the truck and sit in the back seat with him.
“So, you’re in town between games?” Dad asks me, and Ivy looks at me in the rearview mirror.
“I’m home because I hurt my knee, remember?”
Dad frowns and his eyes blink slowly, and damn it. We’re in Silver Springs, and the closest ER is in Bitterroot Valley. Ivy’s already on the highway headed that way, but it’s a thirty minute drive.
“I have a candy bar,” Ivy says, rummaging through her purse. “Here, Greg. You need some sugar.”
“Don’t want it to get too high,” he mutters. He looks confused.
I fucking hate this. Is this the horror my siblings have to deal with when I’m not here? Jesus Christ.
Ivy’s dialing her phone, I assume calling my family or the hospital, but I’m laser focused on my dad.
And when we finally pull up in front of the ER, Blake and Harper are already here, along with a team of people and a gurney, and I help them get Dad on it and inside.
“Talk to me,” Blake barks as he immediately starts to take Dad’s vitals and we hurry into a room in the ER.
“He called me, said his levels were low and he should go to the doctor. When I got there, he said he was at forty-six. Claimed to have a banana but I didn’t see one when we got to his house. He ate half a candy bar on the way here. He’s disoriented and confused. Sweaty and shaky.”
Blake nods and gives orders as the team starts an IV.
“Too much fussing,” Dad mutters, but he holds onto Harper’s hand. “Where’s the baby?”
“She’s with the nanny,” Harper says with a smile. “We’ll get you feeling better, and then you can hold her all you want.”
He nods, and I feel my chest ache.
I fucking hate seeing him like this.
I glance around for Ivy, to hold her hand and pull her to me, but she’s not here. She must be in the waiting room, calling the others.
“Go check on her,” Harper says with a nod. “I’ve got this.”
“Five minutes,” I reply and rush out to the waiting room, where sure enough, there’s my girl standing at the far wall, her phone to her ear.
“I know, Ava. But we’re at the hospital and Blake’s with him. Harper and Xander are here too.” She looks up at me as I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “Okay. Just head this way when you can. I’ll keep you posted as I know more. Just drive safe. Okay, see you soon.”
She hangs up and blows out a breath.
“Ava’s up at the ski resort, working on a condo. She’s on her way, but the weather’s shit and it’s going to be slow going down that road.”
“You’re so fucking incredible.”
She frowns up at me. “No, I love you. This is what happens when we’re a we. Tucker and Darby are on their way, and I left a message for Easton. I assume he’s at work. I couldn’t reach him.”
“So fucking incredible,” I insist and tug her against me, wrapping her up in a hard hug and kissing her head. “Fuck, I love you.”
“I love you too. How is he?”
“The same, but he’s in good hands now. They’ll take care of him.”
She nods and squeezes my arms, soothing me. “You should go back in there. I’ll be right here.”
“I don’t want to leave you here by yourself.”
“I’m fine. Honest. Go be with the family, and I’ll be here when the others arrive.”
I start to shake my head, but she gives me a little shove. “Go. Go be with your dad, X. I’m good here.”
Finally, I nod and walk away, but I stop at the front desk.
“Hey, just want to let you know that I’m with Greg Hendrix. My siblings will be here soon, and they’ll want to come back to be with him.”
“As long as the doctor clears it, it’s no problem. If the room gets too full, you might have to rotate.”
I nod in agreement and then head back to check on my family. I’ve known that the emergencies Dad has been through were scary. All the sibs told me about them after the fact, and I hated that I couldn’t be here to help.
But now I know what they go through, and the guilt that I’m not here to carry the burden with them sits heavy in my chest.
I’ve missed being home in Montana full time for a couple of years now. I still love hockey, too, but the need to be home more and more has been eating away at me.
And spending the past few months here with everyone has been amazing.
So what the fuck am I going to do when I’m cleared to play again?