But all I kept thinking was Pain, pain, pain, she’s in pain.
My finger moved to stop the message, my body already in flight mode, but her words brought me to a halt. “I think I took one too many painkillers, I dunno. That was… very stupid. I didn’t ice my ankle, either. Like Grandpa Moe and you said. But I remembered I don’t have a freezer. Or ice. I… don’t have many things here. I didn’t complain about the cabin because I don’t think I should, y’know? I was trying to be strong and independent. I… I don’t think I have many friends.” A brief pause. “I don’t even know if I have friends back home in Miami. Does my assistant count? We went out for dinner once, but I don’t think she had fun.” A strange sound came through the line. “Maybe I’m not all that friendly. Or nice. I think you liked me today, but you don’t like me all that much so, yeah. Anyways, Willow’s with me. Do you think that’s okay? I’m sure you have a great lap, but she looks comfy in mine.”
I blinked at the screen, standing frozen at the side of my bed, the only thing moving was my heart, pounding furiously.
A new voice memo popped up, kicking me back into gear.
“I wanted to clarify,” her voice explained when I hit play. “That I’m not thinking about your lap. Not too much. But if it’s as hard as your chest, it’d explain why Willow likes it here. Because I’m soft. And you’re hard.”
A new message appeared.
“Your lap is hard.”
Then another one.
“Not you.” A pause. “Although you’re hard, too. I guess? A hard-ass. Not your ass, but you. It’s your personality that I don’t like.”
I shook my head, and looked up, finding myself at the foot of the bed now, with my sweats and a hoodie in my hand. I dressed quickly.
When I looked back at the screen, a new memo was in.
Jesus, she was sending them as I played them. Why wasn’t she calling me instead?
I ran out the door.
And in record time, I was on her porch, the door, of course, irresponsibly unlocked. A trail of curses fell from my lips as I crossed the tiny cabin in three long strides.
The moment my eyes stumbled upon the sight of Adalyn, curled up with Willow, a strangled sound climbed up my throat. I rushed to the bed and I kneeled down. It slapped me in the face then. How impossible it was for me not to acknowledge the emotion stirring furiously against my rib cage. Christ, I wanted to shake her. To shake myself, too. To howl, for some fathomless reason that I knew had to do more with me than her. But I made myself push it all down, because she was passed out. Right where I’d left her. Vulnerable and alone.
Clamping my jaw down, I curled my arms around her, securing one at her back and one under her thighs. Jesus, she was so soft against me. And she felt so warm. Too warm. Stifling a grunt, I pulled her against my chest as tightly as I could and picked her up.
It was then, when I the blanket fell off, that I saw what she was wearing.
The charcoal black, the starred sleeves and shoulder pads, the team’s emblem at the right side of her chest. It was my L.A. Stars jersey. Mine. I didn’t need to see the back, because no one else on the team had worn black—only me at the goal.
I closed my eyes. All I needed was a moment. Just a few seconds before I did something reckless I’d regret.
Her head bobbed against my chest, and I reopened my eyes to hers as they looked up. “Cameron?” she asked, blinking with confusion. Surprise. “You’re here. Why are you here?”
“I shouldn’t have left you here, alone.” I swallowed hard. “I’m so sorry I did.”
Adalyn blinked again, and then again, and Jesus fucking Christ, then she went and gave a smile. Big and sweet and beautiful. So much that the gorgeous brown in her eyes lit up.
Willow jumped off the mattress with a whimper, getting my attention. Walking lazily toward the door, as if marking a path. Encouraging me to take her home.
I returned my eyes to the woman in my arms and I followed behind.
I’d thought Adalyn would ask where I was taking her, or perhaps complain or put up a fight. But instead, she murmured, “But I didn’t ask you to come for me.”
My throat went tight with the words. “You never need to ask, love.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Adalyn
I woke up with a jolt.
The first thing I became aware of was how comfortable and warm I was. How good the linen around my body smelled and how plush the comforter was.
I rolled onto my side, eyelids blinking and trying to make sense of where I was. My legs bumped against something solid and warm.