Hooked by Love (Bellevue Bullies 3)

He takes me from Coach, and they help me out the back of the bench and then into the training room. Climbing up on the table, my legs hangs as the trainer takes my skate and I look to Markus. “Go, dude.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah,” I say with a nod, cringing a bit as Justin removes my sock. “I’m good.”

“I’ll be back.”

“Okay, Arnold,” I tease and he laughs as he heads out of the room. Swallowing hard and flinching as Justin removes my pad, I watch his face. Hoping like hell the look he gave me last year when I broke my clavicle doesn’t appear. While he moves his fingers along the tender area, I hold my breath, my stomach turning as he bends my leg and presses at the area beside my knee.

This was not how I wanted my day to start.

It was supposed to be a good day. I had dinner and Netflix planned for Avery for when she came over tonight after packing. I wanted to cuddle and love on her, but it’s feeling like that might change.

But then he is nodding before he looks up at me. “Just a nasty bruise, I think. Let’s do some X-rays to be sure, but I’m pretty damn confident you’re okay.”

Letting out a long breath, I nod. “Thank God.”

When the X-rays come back to show that everything is good, I’m more than relieved. Shit, that was fucking scary, but that’s hockey. Everything can change in seconds. Hell, that could be applied to life too.

“Take it easy the rest of today and try to keep it iced. We’ll see how you feel tomorrow,” Justin says as Coach comes into the room, Markus behind him.

“Verdict?”

“He’s good, but I still want him to be a game-day decision. He’s going to ice it and stay off it the rest of today and see how he does for the morning skate.”

Coach nods. “Good. All right. Let me know if you need anything, Sinclair.”

“Thanks, Coach.”

As he walks away, Markus leans against the doorjamb. “Jeez, can you be careful and stop getting hurt?”

I laugh. “Um, this was your fault,” I tease and he laughs.

“Hey, you gotta stay out of the way of my awesome shots!” But I know it’s more than that.

I roll my eyes as I shake my head. “Yeah, okay, you’re off.”

He shrugs. “I’m good.”

I don’t believe him, but I have bigger things to worry about. My heart is still pounding in my chest, and I want to say it’s all because of the injury scare.

But I know that’s not completely it.

It’s because Jude texted me while I was in X-rays.

Call me after practice. Make sure you’re alone.

After taking a shower and having my leg rewrapped, I head out of the arena and toward the Bullies’ house. I know I’m stalling and that I need to just call Jude, but first, I make sure to send an email to all my teachers with the note that Justin sent me. As I wobble, I send a text to Avery and then call my mom.

“Hey, honey.”

“Hey, Mom. Listen, don’t freak, but I got hurt at practice.”

?

?Oh, Jesus! Are you okay?” she asks, freaking out. “Are you at the ER? Jesus, my poor baby!”

Rolling my eyes, I throw my hands up. “Mom, I said don’t freak.”