With my phone still to my ear, I say, “In here.”
I hear footsteps down the hall then into the bathroom. Gray’s eyes widen when he looks at me, and I feel my face flush as I look down and at my near nakedness.
Gray drops to his knees and looks at my knee, and without looking up, he asks, “Towels?”
“In the hall cupboard.”
Gray stands, takes my phone out of my hands, and goes out in the hall. I can hear him opening doors, and when he comes back, he has a facecloth and a towel in his hands. Moving past me, he wets the facecloth then goes back to kneeling. Somehow, he cleans the blood off my leg and dabs gently at my knee.
“Skye, I think we need to take you to a doctor. You have a laceration to your knee, and it looks deep. Did you fall?” I nod my head. “Okay, let’s get you to my car.”
I push off, place weight on my leg, and a loud yelp escapes me.
Gray reaches around me and wraps the towel around my waist. “I’m going to carry you.”
“Oh, n-no, Gray, can’t I just lean on you?”
“It’ll be quicker if I carry you, okay?”
I nod, and in one swift movement, I’m in his arms and being carried to the car. Gray opens the door and carefully lowers me into it. I look up at him. His features are of concern, and I wish he were Colt. And at the simple thought of Colt, tears run down my face.
“Damn! Did I hurt you?”
I shake my head, unable to speak.
Gray’s brown eyes probe mine, and finally, he nods. “Skye, where’s your handbag and purse?”
Confused by the question, I answer him. “On the table near the front door.”
Gray nods, shuts the door, and jogs back inside the house. It feels like forever before Gray comes back to the car. He opens the driver’s door and hands me my purse, a black T-shirt and black shorts.
“Oh shit, I’m practically naked.”
Gray chuckles. “I did put a towel around you.”
I immediately pull the T-shirt over my head and shimmy into my shorts, trying to keep them away from my knee.
“Gray, I’m fine, really.”
“No, you’re not. Colt’s a dick, and you’re hurt. I don’t think they’re going to be able to put stitches in your knee, but it needs care, and your hand looks bad.”
Looking down at the palm of my hand, I can see something is sticking out from under the skin. Sucking in a breath and wincing, I push on it causing me to whimper.
“Leave it be.” I look up at him, his hands are gripping the wheel, and he’s staring hard at the road. “I’m sorry things went the way they did at the game. Tom was out of line, and Colt should have told him so.”
A tear runs down my face. “It’s okay, it wasn’t meant to be.”
“Bullshit!”
I shake my head. “Gray, you tried. I saw Colt’s face…” Another tear rolls down my cheek and drops off my chin. “I’ve never seen him so angry.”
“I’m not going to lie, losing the game sucked. Colt fumbled the ball. Ever since you and he began arguing, he’s been playing badly.”
“You have to be in the same room to argue. I haven’t seen much of Colt since the dinner party with you and your mom.”
“Wait, didn’t he come to the school?”
“Yeah, but I was pissed. He did phone me, but after today, I’m pretty sure it’s over.”
More tears escape, and I wipe them away with the back of my good hand.
“You and Colt are both idiots,” mutters Gray with a shake of his head.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Did you try to phone him? Did you try to see him? The man misses you, but he has an ego the size of ten football fields. You need to fight for him.”
I bark out a hysterical laugh. “I need to fight for him? Come on, Grayson, he needs to grow up and get a set of balls. Not all relationships are rosy. They have their ups and downs, but it’s like he’s always waiting for the downtime so he can bolt.”
With his lips in a hard line, Gray nods. “Yeah, you’re right. Colt is used to things coming easy to him, but you’ve got to understand he cares for you, and it’s more than a little. Colt has never brought a woman home to meet my mom.”
“Never?”
“Nope.” He glances at me. “You’re the only one, and that should tell you something.”
Gray glances at me one more time, then continues to drive. I turn my head and look out the window as silent tears continue to fall. When the car eventually stops, I realize we’re back at the stadium.
“Why are we here?”
“The best doc I know is Dr. Reed, he’s our team doctor. He’s always here after a game checking up on us, and usually the last one to leave.”
It’s then I take in Grayson’s appearance, he’s wearing a tracksuit.
“Did you follow me home, straight from the game?”
“Uh… yeah,” he replies sarcastically.
“I didn’t even have time to shower. You’re smelling Eau de Grayson. Smells good, doesn’t it?” With a laugh, he climbs out of the car.
I watch as Gray jogs around the hood and opens my door.
“I can walk.”
Trying not to wince, I get out and limp across the parking lot. I’m going super slow, and Gray walks slightly behind me.
“Uh… Skye? You know I like you, yeah? And I’d never hit on you as you’re my best friend’s girl.”
I stop and look at him. “And?”
Gray scoops me up and walks faster toward the stadium.
“Gray!”
“Woman, you’re hobbling. And I know I said the doc is the last one to leave, but he’ll be home, in bed, and asleep by the time you get yourself in there.”
With my arm awkwardly slung over his shoulder, I let Gray carry me. If I’m truthful, my knee is killing me, so not walking on it feels so much better. Wolf whistles pierce the air, but Gray keeps walking, past fans who shout at him, players who tease him, and then we are in the locker room.
“Lady coming through,” yells Gray.
“Why did you yell that?”
“Most of the guys if they’re still here, and a lot will be, could be naked. It’s our inner sanctum.”
Looking around, I see my first bare ass and close my eyes. Gray laughs and keeps moving. It’s not until he places me on a bench, I dare open them again.
“Who have you got here, Gray?” asks a man in a white polo shirt and khaki shorts.
“Hey, Dr. Reed, this is Skye Hadley. She’s Colt’s girl. She had a bit of a tumble in the parking lot. Can you patch her up?”
The man is only in his early thirties, tanned, short back and sides with sparkling green eyes. He smiles at me and nods. “Of course, I can. Now, what have you done to yourself, young lady?”
“I tripped.” I hold up my scraped palms and point at my knee. “I’m such a klutz.”
The doctor touches my knee first, and I jump.
“You’ve done a good job. I’m going to need to clean your wounds first.”
He walks away, and I glance at Gray.
“Thanks, Gray… for bringing me.”
“No problem. Will you be okay if I leave you here for a little while to go shower?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
Gray gives me his best smile and leaves me in what I assume is the treatment room. Within moments, Dr. Reed comes back in. He kneels in front of me and frowns at the wound, then applies liquid to a cloth and wipes it over my knee. The pain is instant, and I suck in air through gritted teeth as tears well in my eyes, and I grip the side of the bench I’m on with my one good hand.
“Sorry.” A door behind him opens, and another younger man walks in. “Ah… Jimmy, meet Skye. Colt’s girl. She had a fall. Can you hold this on here for a moment?”
“Hey, Skye.” Jimmy smiles warmly at me. “And sure, Doc.”
Jimmy holds the wad of gauze on my knee as Dr. Reed looks at my hands.
“I need to clean these up, too.”
/>
It’s then I realize just how much they hurt. Slowly, doc unfurls my fingers so he can get a better look at my palms.
“Hmm, looks like something has gone in under the skin. I’m going to go find something to ease the pain. Jimmy, do you have this?”
“Yes, Doc, I’m good.” Jimmy smiles at me. “So, how long have you known Colt?”
“Not very long. I’m not his girl.”
“No? Why’d Doc say you were?”
“Grayson Moore told him I was.”
“But you’re not?”
“No… I don’t know… things are complicated.”
“Always are with the quarterbacks. You should have picked someone else on the team. Quarterbacks are love-them-and-leave-them types. Colt is no exception.”
Before I can reply, Dr. Reed comes back into the room, black bag in his hand.
“Okay, Skye, I’m going to numb your palm.” He opens the bag and pulls out a vial and a syringe. I feel the blood drain out of my face at the thought of getting a needle.
“Whoa, Doc, I think she’s going to pass out.”
Dr. Reed chuckles. “Not a fan of needles? How about we lie you down?”
Jimmy scoops my legs onto the table, and I lay back, instantly feeling better. I turn my head as the doc holds the needle over my palm.
“Little pinch,” says Doc, and that’s when I feel the sting of the needle going in. “I’m going to leave that for a minute and check out your other hand.” Doc moves around the table and inspects it. “This one is only grazed. Jimmy, can you put some antiseptic on this and give it a good clean?”
Jimmy nods and pours liquid onto a cloth and wipes my palm while Dr. Reed goes back to my other hand. I wince as Jimmy cleans my torn skin. When I look back at the doc, he’s pulling out a chunk of glass from my hand.
That’s when everything goes black.
A foul stench hits my senses, and I push the offending smell away.
“She’s awake.”
My eyes fly open, and Gray is standing over me with Dr. Reed who has a small vial in his hand.
Jimmy is nowhere to be seen.
“I passed out?”
Dr. Reed smiles sympathetically. “Made it easier to treat you if that’s any consolation?”
“It was the feel of the glass being pulled out.” I shiver at the memory.
“Happens to the best of us. Let’s get you up.” Doc chuckles as he places a hand on my elbow and pulls, while his other arm goes around my shoulders, then I awkwardly swing my legs, so they dangle over the table.
“Feeling okay? Not dizzy?”
“I’m fine.” Looking down at my hands, both of them have bandages as does my knee. “How’s my knee?”
“You’ve got a very impressive six stitches.” Doc smiles. “Okay, keep it clean and dry for the rest of today and most of tomorrow.”
“No shower?”
Doc holds up a hand. “You can shower tomorrow night, but try to keep it dry in the meantime. If it does get wet, very gently pat dry it. Are you a runner?”
I laugh and shake my head. “No.”
“Good. I was going to say no running for at least two weeks. That’s when I want to see you again to take the stitches out.” Doc looks at Gray. “But I’d like to see you next week. Can you or Colt bring her in, so I can see how she’s healing?”
“Absolutely.”
Doc looks back at me. “And if you want to help the healing process, put petroleum jelly on the wound. The most important thing is to keep it clean. Take Advil for the pain and rest up.” The doc pats me lightly on my other knee. “And no more running in parking lots.”
I smile ruefully and shrug. “I’ll try.”
“Well, if you do, don’t fall over.” Doc chuckles, pats my knee again, and leaves the room.
“Is Colt here?”
Gray shakes his head. “No, sorry. He left straight after the game.”
“Right.” I sigh and hold out a hand to Gray. “Could you help me down?”
“Think you can walk?”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
“You know it’s going to, yeah? The lidocaine doesn’t last long.”
I shuffle forward, and Gray helps me off the table. “Sounds like you’ve had it before.”
“Too many times to count.”
Testing the weight on my leg, it aches a little, and it feels like the skin is pulling, but I can walk. Well, sort of.
“Want me to carry you?”
I shake my head. “I’m good.”
Slowly, I make my way back to Gray’s car. We don’t talk much on the drive, and when Gray pulls into my driveway, I’m relieved to be home.
“Thanks, Gray. I’m not sure what I was going to do.”
“Well, from the looks of you when I pulled up, a shower?”
I laugh. “Guess that’s not happening now.”
Gray nods. “Are you going to be okay?”
Opening the car door, I slide out carefully, trying to put most of my weight on the good leg. “I’ll be fine, no need to worry.”
“Ring me if you need anything.”
I smile and nod, exhausted from the day.
There’s nothing left to be said.
Gray’s a good man, pity some of his gentlemanly ways haven’t rubbed off on Colt.
SKYE
It’s incredible how quickly a life can be packed up and stored once you’ve decided to move. My tiny home is empty. All my worldly belongings are in a storage facility with a six-month lease, which Dad paid for. He wanted to pay for a year, but I don’t want to be away that long. I simply need a break, and six months seems like a good amount of time to get my head right.
Dating a famous football player and then break up with him is hard. Every time I turn on the television, he’s there. Every time I go for a drive, his face is staring back at me from a billboard. Or when I open a magazine, there he is, smiling at me, mocking me.
At least in the UK, I won’t stumble across his image anywhere.
With a sigh, I close the door to my house. The real estate woman, who’s daughter was in my class, is leaning against her car filling out a form. She looks up at me when I get closer. “Hey, Skye, we’re all set. Are you sure this is what you want to do?”
I nod. “There’s nothing left for me here anymore. I’ll be back, though. Until then, will you take care of my home, make sure it goes to a good family?”
“Of course, I will. It’s such a shame you’re leaving. My Maddison will miss you. But in the meantime, I’ll be sure to vet the renters in for you, get some people in who will look after your home.”
I smile and hand over the keys. “Thank you. Tonight I’m staying at the Hilton near the airport, then tomorrow night I fly out. After that, I’ll be in the UK, so if you need anything at all, please call.”
She grabs my hand. “Oh, honey, everything will work out. Things always do. Maybe this move will be good for you?”
Feeling my throat close, I offer her a smile and nod. If I speak now, I know my emotions will get the best of me.
Pulling my hand out of her grasp, I turn and head for my car. Once inside, I start it, give her a wave, and look back at my home one last time before driving away.
“Skye, you have to tell him.”
“Gray, he hasn’t called, he doesn’t care. My flight is booked, and I’m going.”
I hear his intake of breath. “Colt is an idiot.”
“I’m not going to argue that point with you.”
“My momma is going to whip his ass. What time do you fly out?”
“I leave two hours after the game.”
“Keep in touch, yeah?”
“I will, and Gray…”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for being my friend.”
Before he can say anything else, I end the call.
Room service was delivered when I was speaking with Gray, and we’ve been on the phone for half an hour, so the food’s starting to cool. Picking up a french fry, I put i
t in my mouth and turn on the television.
Dammit! Colt’s face fills the screen, so I quickly turn it off.
Part of me wants so badly to ring him, but it’s been a week, and there’s been radio silence from him. Nothing. I recheck my messages, but there are zero new ones. With a heavy heart, I put my phone on charge, pick up the remote control, and click to the pay per view channel. At least this way I won’t accidentally see Colt’s face on the screen. So as not to torture myself, I pick a comedy and hit play.
Some mindless entertainment should put me straight to sleep.
Tomorrow is a new day and a new chapter in my life.
COLT
The team and I are all in the locker room. We’re dressed and almost ready to hit the field. If we don’t win this match, we can kiss the Super Bowl goodbye. Coach is giving his normal speech to rile us up. I’m nodding, making the occasional grunt to show my support and seem like I’m listening. Problem is, I’m not. As soon as I walked back in here, visions of Skye and the look on her face came flooding back. Someone shoves me, and I look up to see everyone is standing in a circle, and I’m still sitting.
I stand, thrust my helmet in the air, and shout, “New England Warriors rule!”
My teammates roar at me and run out of the locker room. Gray is beside me, but I can tell by his wrinkled brow and gaze that he’s concerned about me. “You got this?”
“Yeah, man, I got this.”
“Well, come on then, let’s win this game,” roars Gray.
I nod, my heart not in it, but I jog toward the field. There are equal parts cheering and booing as I run on. Gray uncharacteristically stands next to me while the national anthem is played.
“Did you ring her?”
“No,” I reply while looking straight ahead.
“You’re an idiot.”
The anthem stops, and I look at Gray. “Thanks, bud.”
“You know she’s leaving tonight, don’t you?”
I shake my head but say, “Maybe it’s for the best.”
Gray grabs my faceguard on my helmet and butts heads with me. “That girl loves you, and you… you’ve fucked it all up.” Gray jogs away, and I go to my position on the field.
It’s going to be a long-ass game, and I need to focus.
Tackling Love: A Sports Romance (Tackling Romance Series Book 1) Page 11
