She held up her hand and looked away. “I need a minute.”
Everything started to go blurry as the medic’s voice seemed to be talking in slow motion.
Trying to talk, my mouth felt dry and my eyelids heavy.
Before I knew it, there was nothing but darkness.
Opening my eyes, I looked around the room. Why was I not surprised it was empty?
I heard a door open and turned to see an adorable Paislie yawning as she stretched her arms over her head.
When she looked over to me, her smile melted my heart. “Malcolm,” she mumbled as she came to my side. “How’s the pain?”
“Hurts like a motherfucker.”
She lifted her brow and gave me a look that only a mom should be giving.
“Your sister and parents are here. I also got to meet one very adorable little girl who sure loves her Uncle Malcolm.”
My heart filled with warmth as I thought about Sophie. “Sophie.”
I tried to adjust myself but had a hard time with practically my entire leg in a cast and held up. “Fuck, I thought they only did this shit in the movies.”
Paislie helped me get more comfortable as I dropped my head back and let out a moan. “So . . . my mom and pop haven’t scared you off yet?”
She giggled and said, “Nope. I’ve only talked to them once. Autumn introduced me to them. I’ve kind of kept out of the way. You passed out in the ambulance, and once they brought you into surgery I hung out with my friend Karrie who’s a nurse. She kept me updated on your surgery.”
I wasn’t sure why it bothered me that Paislie felt like she couldn’t be with my family.
“Where are they now?”
“Um, they ran back to their hotel for a bit. Sophie was cranky and tired. I think Autumn said she was going to stay at the hotel while your mother and father came back to the hospital. She asked if I would stay with you until you woke up.”
I closed my eyes and shook my head before looking up at her. “So, tell me . . . who’s gonna be the most honest with me about this?”
Her teeth sunk down into her lip as she stole a peek at my leg and then back to me.
“You want honest?”
“Always.”
Something moved over her face as she cleared her throat. “You’re going to need extensive rehabilitation. You not only had a compound fracture of your leg, you broke your patella.”
My heart dropped. “What about racing?” Paislie’s eyes looked away. “Paislie . . . please.”
She pulled and pushed her lip in and out of her mouth nervously. “Your doctor should be the one to talk to you, Malcolm.”
“Paislie!” I said louder than I wanted to.
She jumped and took a step back before standing up straighter. “You’ll be in the cast for at least six weeks and then you’ll have to do physical therapy. Your mobility in your leg might be . . . compromised.”
I swallowed hard. “Meaning?”
“I’m guessing you use your left leg to push in the clutch. Your strength in that leg could be affected by the break. If you have good physical therapy, there’s a chance you’ll have full use and can build it back up.”
“Then that’s what will happen,” I said, matter-of-factly.
She smiled. “Positive thinking is a great way to be.”