Page 55 of Goalie interference

Reed just scoffed, shocked that I wouldn’t just buckle and apologize for betraying our friendship.

“Look, fire me, don’t–I really don’t care. Ash is hurt, and that’s my priority.”

Reed opened his mouth, then closed it again. Without another word, I turned, left, and didn't look back.

We may have been friends, but Ash was everything.

The love of my life, and he needed me.

Chapter 27

Thayer

“Thay–errr,” Ash beamed, smiling wider than I’d ever seen before…especially considering he was lying in a hospital bed.

The sight alone was nauseating, but his good spirits were helping, at least.

“Oh, they got you the good drugs then?” I chuckled softly, my stomach settling a little more at the sound of his laughter.

“Oh yeah,” he breathed, grinning and humming when I kissed his head. “Do more–my head hurts a lot,” he went on, humming and giggling when I kissed his head a few more times before taking a seat next to him.

Ash was all kinds of loopy, playing with my hand and trying to pull it under his collar because I wasn’t touching him enough–so he said.

Watching him throw a tantrum because the doctors made me leave the room to examine him was a good time, but his I sleep naked next to him every night–I don’t see the big deal was the real test of my maturity.

Ash was okay.

He was fine–they were releasing him in a few hours.

I kept repeating that in my head like a mantra, but none of it was enough to wipe the memory of him lying lifeless on that ice for a full minute.

Ash didn’t remember it–he swore he moved right away, but I watched it in seconds that felt like minutes.

Ash was okay.

He was fine.

“I’m sorry,” Ash mumbled, hugging my hand to his body groggily. “My leg hurt–I should let you pull me–”

“Stop it,” I said softly, almost cracking when he set his chin in my hand like he was looking for me to guide him, even now. “Your leg wasn’t–”

“Oh, no, it was,” he huffed, his pouty expression dissipating quickly. “That guy fell on me, but I went down so hard because my leg gave out.”

That didn’t make it his fault–he wasn’t wrong for telling me he was fine if he really believed he was…

But he’d also just confirmed my fears.

My fears about sending him back out that day all those months ago were that–that he was fine, but that one more good hit and he wouldn't be.

“You’re gonna be so bummed,” Ash babbled on, avoiding the sleep he definitely needed because I was there, but I also wasn’t leaving.

And just like that, giggly Ash was back.

“Why’s that?” I mused, a knock at the door catching a fraction of my attention.

“Because doc said I can’t resume normal activities for a week,” Ash dragged out, eyes wide and locked on me as the door opened. “I asked if that meant sex, and he said yes, so.” He stuck his tongue out and blew.

In walked Reed, snickering to himself as Ash finished his childish bit. Ash got tense, eyes going wide, and if Reed didn’t already know about us, Ash’s face would have given it away.