Page 71 of Leading the Blind
Okay. Okay, focus on keeping your feet under you. As soon as you pop free, run the other way. Listen to Dillon. Keep your goddamn feet under you.
The jolt when his hand came free shook him to his toes, and he went down, his feet moving even as he hit the dirt.
“Down, Jason!” That was Dill again, and he did the stop, drop and roll, arms over his head.
He felt the wind, then the impact as the bull’s hooves hit the dirt next to his head. So he skittered the other way.
“Run! Run, Jase! Straight ahead!”
He was trying, but he wasn’t sure which direction that actually was. So he just dug in with his bootheels and pushed, sprinting toward where he hoped Dillon wanted him to go.
The impact of the bull’s hooves on his lower back sent him flying into the fence, and his entire body rattled.
Then one of the bullfighters was lifting him, hands on his vest, heaving him up the rails until someone else caught him under the arms and yanked him over.
“Wave at the crowd, buddy.” That was Cotton.
He waved, his entire lower body tingling. “She still preggers?”
“Still.” Cotton hauled him up and over, then Aje was there too.
“Ninety-five, man. Good ride.”
“Get me out of here before Doc…”
“Before I what? You okay, Jason?”Oh fuck. Fuck, he couldn’t fool Doc too many more times.
He held out his casted wrist. “How’s it looking?”
The guys kept him on his feet.
“I’ll need you back in sports medicine.” There was a long pause. “Someone get Jason his dark glasses. His eyes are having a hard time adjusting to the light. I can tell.”
Oh, Jesus. He sagged.Does Doc know? Is he gonna tell?
“See you in a few, son,” Doc said in a tone that brooked no argument.
“I need Bax.”
He couldn’t do this alone. He needed Bax…and help.
“You got this, Jase. If Doc was going to tell, he would have. Breathe.” Dillon’s voice was loud in his ear.
“I’m right here, Mini.” Bax’s hands landed on him, and he could breathe.
He nodded at Bax and Dillon and everyone else, then limped around wherever the heck they were until Bax led him to the hall that led back to sports medicine.
“Breathe, Mini. Here are your glasses.”
“Thanks. He knows, Bax.”
“He’s Doc. He probably has known the whole time. He cain’t tell. He’s a doctor.”
Oh. Oh, right.
“Let him check you out. Maybe try to give you a talking to. Then we move on.”
Jason took a deep breath. He could do that.
