“Hi, Leo.” After a short hesitation, she takes his hand, then nods to the other guys. They’re all giving her these big, cheesy smiles, which is hella awkward. She doesn’t seem to notice. Or if she does, she’s hiding it well.
“I was just dropping off your dinner and checking to see if there was anything else you need before I take my first break, but it looks like your friends are taking good care of you.”
“Anything for Ash. He’s a great guy.” Declan gives her an approving nod.
“The best!” Tyler adds enthusiastically. “Everybody loves him. Most genuine guy you’ll meet.”
Jack chuckles and then covers it with a cough.
Dear god. How am I the single one when these guys are this bad at talking to girls? Do they really think they’re helping me out?
Bridget hesitates like she isn’t sure how to respond before she says, “Visiting hours end in twenty minutes. I can ask for special permission if you’d like someone to stay with you overnight, but you need to rest.”
And have them continue to talk me up to her like I’m their kid brother that can’t get a date? No way. “I’m good. They were just heading out anyway. Right guys?”
“Yep,” they all say at once and start shuffling around to leave.
“I am sorry to kick you guys out,” Bridget says, genuine sympathy in her voice. I like that she’s not afraid to tell my buddies to take a hike, but yet she still seems apologetic about it.
“We understand.” Jack places a reassuring hand on my good shoulder. “Text if you need anything. I’ll stop by in the morning.”
Each of the guys says their goodbyes and thanks Bridget on their way out. Leo gives me a thumbs-up as he disappears out the door.
When we’re finally alone, she motions for me to lie back. “How’s your pain?”
“With them around? Excruciating.”
She laughs lightly. “And now?”
“Same as before. Not too bad.”
“You can have more meds in thirty minutes.”
I melt back into the pillow, relaxing for the first time since I got here. “Does that mean you’ll be back in half an hour?”
“Yes, if someone else doesn’t beat me to it.”
I tilt my head to the side in question, and Bridget laughs quietly. “I’ll be shocked if the other nurses don’t fight over who gets to cover my break. Your presence has everyone losing their minds.”
“Everyone but you.”
Her stare holds mine as she adjusts the bed’s incline to relieve more pressure from my shoulder. “I was surprised to see you.”
“Excited?”
“Surprised.”
“I guess I’ll take it. Surprised is better than horrified.”
Our gazes lock and several beats pass while we silently smile at each other. Her turquoise eyes hold me hostage.
Bridget looks away first, checking the watch on her left wrist. “Do you need anything else?”
“No, I guess not.” I don’t want her to go. The thought of lying here all night with nothing but my own thoughts sounds downright awful. But I also don’t want her to miss her break.
“I’ll be back at the top of the hour. Buzz if you need anything.”
The minutes tick by so slowly. My head hurts too much to focus on TV or scrolling on my phone, which means I’m basically staring at the wall waiting for Bridget to come back. I have so many things I want to ask her. I don’t know her at all, really, but I feel this connection to her somehow.
When she finally returns, she’s joined by Dr. Weston, so I don’t get a chance to talk to her alone. Bridget hits the lights as they leave, orders me to get some sleep with a sexy glare, and tells me she’ll be back in a couple of hours.
Sleep? Unlikely.
I replay tonight’s game from the beginning to the hit that took me out. The Vegas player who delivered the late hit received a game misconduct penalty and was ejected, but it hardly makes up for the fact I’m lying here in this hospital bed. Damn. I cannot believe one month into the season and I’m injured. The thought of sitting around for weeks, or longer, has me getting to my feet. I head out into the hallway, not sure where I’m going but needing to move around.
The hospital is quiet. All the lights are dimmed, and the only noises are the air conditioning vents humming as they pound out cool air （it’s freaking freezing in here） and the distant chime of an elevator. I pass by several empty rooms on my way down the hall. I don’t particularly like hospitals—then again, who does? But I’m pretty stoked that it’s given me a chance to see Bridget again.