Sucker Punch (TKO 4)

“I remember my first too. It’s not easy, but unfortunately it happens. All we can do is say a prayer for their soul. Go relax and hopefully the afternoon will be a little better.”

“Thank you.” I could hug her for understanding but I walk out and straight towards the breakroom. If I smoked cigarettes, now would be the perfect time for one, but I just open my locker and get some change out of my purse.

One soda and a turkey and cheese sandwich later, I’m feeling a little better. Nora walks in just as my break is about to end.

“You took an early break?” she asks as she sits beside me.

“Yeah. I, uh lost a patient and it hit me hard. The head nurse let me take a break.”

“Oh no, I’m sorry, Paige.” She reaches out and grabs hold of my hand. Nora is lucky; she hasn’t had this happen to her yet.

“I’m fine now. It was just shocking at first. I better get back.”

“The day will get better,” she tells me with a smile.

I grin back, hoping she’s right. I check my phone one more time before closing my locker and I see Austin’s name. I want to check it but I decide it can wait until my shift is over. This way, I have something positive to look forward to no matter what the rest of my day brings.

Chapter 8

Austin

“Hey man, what are you up to tonight?” Garrett asks me as we finish sparring for the second day in a row. Normally we don’t go to the gym on a Sunday, but Garrett asked if I felt up for more practice. I’m taken aback by how kind he’s being to me. My problems aren’t his, but here he is out of the kindness of his heart, making sure I’m back where I was before the accident changed it all.

“Nothing really, probably just gonna take a shower and relax,” I tell him as I fix a plastic cup of water.

“Raegan cooked a big roast if you want to come eat. I’d bring you to my house, then back home after,” he offers. My mouth waters and my stomach growls a little. That sounds downright amazing. “Lance and Hilary are coming too.”

“You don’t mind? I don’t want to put you out.”

He crosses his arms over his chest and stares at me. “If I minded, I wouldn’t have offered. It’s either ride with me or put up with Lance singing Taylor Swift.”

“Looks like you’re my ride. I can’t take him singing this evening.”

“I feel your pain.” Garrett laughs as we walk out of the gym. As he locks the door behind him as I text Ruston to let him know my plans. He’s not home anyway, he’s with Tamilyn, so I wouldn’t have interrupted their time.

I climb into Garrett’s truck and buckle my seatbelt as he pulls away from the gym. “I really appreciate this, man. You know, everything you’re doing.”

“Don’t sweat it. I believe in you and so does everyone else in Lou’s. We’ve got your back.”

Those few words mean more to me than he could ever imagine.

When he pulls up into their apartment complex I notice Lance and Hilary’s car is already here.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I struggle to pull it out. The struggle is worth it because Paige’s name pops up. It’s amazing how happy she makes me feel by just these few simple text messages. There’s no pressure involved in any of this, and I like that.

I had texted her earlier just to see how her day was going so far. I open her message and my heart falls for a moment as it breaks for her.

Paige: Hey! It started really rough. I lost my first patient today, but the day did get better. How was yours?

Austin: It was okay. One of my friends from the gym invited me over for dinner. His girlfriend cooked so I’m there now.

Paige: Oh, well I won’t keep you. I’ll talk to you later.

I want to tell her she isn’t bothering me, but I just say I’ll talk to her later. The last thing I want to do is seem like a clinger. I climb out of the truck and follow Garrett inside. My ears immediately begin bleeding when I hear Lance serenading the kids with all of his favorite Taylor Swift songs. Garrett and I just look at each other and start laughing. Lance stops and grins at us.

“How’d the practice go?”

“It went good,” Garrett tells him. “He’s really getting better. A few more practices and I think he’ll have it,” he says as if I’m not right beside him.