“Yes, two months with hard work and he’ll regain full mobility and maybe even be kicking farther than ever before,” his dad adds.
“Dad,” Todd says quickly, irritated.
“Yes, thank you so much, Coach. And thank you for calling … Yes, you, too.”
As soon as his dad hangs up, the room erupts. Brian leaps over me and hugs Todd, causing him to flinch in pain.
“Careful, careful,” he says to Brian. “Broken leg here.”
“I was so worried, man,” Brian says, still attached to Todd and currently crushing me.
“Oh, yeah, you knew it was going to be fine.” Ryan chuckles.
The door opens again, and a nurse comes in. “I heard someone needs pain medication and a cast.” She smiles sweetly at Todd then turns to the room. “I’ve got to take him for a bit. We’ll be back.” Her eyes land on me.
I don’t think I like this nurse or the way she’s looking at Todd. Then I think I better pull it together, because I’m being ridiculous.
“I’ll miss you,” I whisper to him as he leans his forehead against mine. I let go of his hand, but his fingers stay wrapped around mine for a bit longer. “Go. Get your pain medicine,” I say through my smile and then reluctantly hop off his bed and watch them wheel him away.
Chapter 18: Feeling Better?
TODD
I’m finally feeling good. Whatever it is they gave me is awesome. I’m a little sleepy, but my leg feels great. I have to struggle to keep my eyes open while the doctors and nurses talk to me. I need to see Ashley, and I need to find the chapel, but first, I just need to lie back and close my eyes …
ASHLEY
Todd’s been gone for over an hour, and I’m starting to get worried. What if, when they went to put the cast on, something went wrong? The evil, flirty nurse said she would bring him right back.
The waiting room has cleared out since everyone heard the good news and also since it’s now one o’clock in the morning.
My leg is nervously bouncing up and down, but I can’t control it. It has a mind of its own. I texted Shane the good news, and he immediately called me and started screaming, “I told you,” into the phone. I know he was worried, so I’m glad at least someone is relieved.
“He’s back in his room now,” I hear, and my eyes land on the evil, flirty nurse who is giving me a big, insincere smile. “He’s a little out of it, though.” She giggles.
“Out of it?” I ask, not amused by this girl, nurse, whatever.
“Since they have to make sure the leg is truly aligned when they put the cast on, it’s pretty painful, so they gave him some strong pain killers. I’m guessing you’re Ashley?”
I shoot a questioning look to Ryan, who is sitting a few seats down from me and clearly amused by this conversation. Then I glance back to flirty nurse.
“I am Ashley. Why?”
She smiles. “Well, he’s been talking about you.” She giggles again.
“What does that mean?” Once again, I am not amused.
“Let’s just say, I can tell he really likes you.” She smiles. Yup, still insincere. She probably tried to flirt with him, and he put a stop to it. This woman has no idea what she is talking about. “Do you know where his parents are?” she asks as her eyes glance around the waiting room.
“They went to get coffee.” I try giving her a fake smile back. “Can we see him?”
“He’s asleep right now, but you can go back there. He’s in the same room as before.” She gestures to the hallway behind her.
“Can he go home tonight?” Ryan asks as he gets up to join us.
She looks around. “Well, technically, I’m not supposed to discuss this with you, because you are not family, but I’m pretty sure they are going to admit him for the night since he’s pretty out of it. But you didn’t hear that from me.” She smiles and giggles, now she’s flirting with Ryan. She is the worst.
TODD
I hear a lot of voices and want to open my eyes. I try, I want to join in on the conversation; however, sleep seems like a much better option. Then I hear Brian say something about, “Who cares what the nurse said? We’re all coming in at once.” And then Ryan says something, but I can’t really make out what. The deep black silence is so appealing, so I go there, instead.
“Todd. We’re going to go, honey, since it’s three a.m. We’ll be back first thing in the morning,” I hear my mom’s voice, which instantly comforts me.
I’m glad they are here, and that they’ll be back. I still can’t bring myself to respond, though. I’m not sure where I am, but I’m glad they will be back.
“Todd, everyone is gone, but I stayed. My dad let me stay. Can you believe it? I guess he figured we wouldn’t be able to do anything,” I hear Ashley’s voice, and then she giggles. I love her laugh. “I love you,” she whispers close to my ear, and then I feel her hand in mine and what feels like her soft hair draped over my arm.
I try to squeeze her hand. “I love you, too,” I say, unsure if the words actually came out.
“Todd?”
Maybe they did.
I try to open my eyes again, and there she is, a little out of focus at first, but it’s definitely her. It’s incredible to wake up to her beautiful face. I want to do this forever.
“How do you feel?” she asks as her hand strokes the hair away from my forehead.
“Tired,” I answer groggily.
“I bet.” She smiles. “Go back to sleep.”
“No, I don’t want to waste a minute with you.”
“You heard?”
I smile. “Everything.” I look down at our hands intertwined and see the lump from the large cast now on my leg under the blanket. As soon as my eyes land on it, I feel the weight of it. I hadn’t really felt it before. “Well, I think I heard everything. I don’t really remember much.” I squeeze her hand tighter. “But I did hear you say you’re allowed to spend the night.” I smile. “So I’m going to need you to come here.” I try to scoot over to make room for her and am quickly reminded I broke my leg. I try hard not to wince in pain, but Ash doesn’t miss it.
“Does it hurt?” she asks as she scoots closer to me and rests her head on my chest. She fits perfectly here in my nook.
“A little, but it feels much better than before.” I want to ease her concerns; she doesn’t need to worry.
“I like your cast,” she whispers as she runs her fingers along my chest.
“Yeah? Is it blue? I think I picked blue …”
She lifts the knit blanket to double-check. “Yup, blue.”
“It’s such a waste to have you here alone in the middle of the night and not be able to do anything with you,” I say.
She smiles, because she thinks I’m kidding. “I’m pretty sure that’s the drugs talking.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s not.” I run my hand over her hip, letting it linger as far down as I can reach without moving any other part of my body. I know if I move, it will be excruciating.
“You said some pretty funny things the last few hours.”
“Really?”
Oh, God. What did I say? And who heard?
“Yeah, that you love me. Over and over. I think that’s why your parents finally left.”
“Doubtful.” I laugh while I continue to run my hand along the curves of her body as she nestles into me. I wish I could reach her ticklish spot behind her knee. “But it is true. I do love you, over and over. I guess our secret is officially out now. What else did I say?”
“Um … You pretty much love everyone. Sidney is the best sister ever. You love Ryan and Brian, but you couldn’t pick who you loved more.”
“How’d they take that?”
“Pretty well.” She smiles, her nose wrinkling up.
“And you kept asking for a wheelchair.”