Page 17 of Elite Player
Point taken. I replied that I’d kick her family out, if need be, then bring her home. In our conversations, I learned that she didn’t own a car and relied on public transportation to travel everywhere, but I wasn’t about to let my fiancée hop on a bus when I could drive her.
After practice, I head right to her, stopping briefly to chat with the nurses. Some of them know who I am, and I sign a bunch of napkins, take a few pictures, noting the flowers I’d bought for Jo two days ago now decorate their station.
I twist my baseball cap backward then strut into her room. “How’s my beloved doing today?”
She turns to me from her position in the chair by the window and blows out a breath. “Ready to go home.”
I nod and scan all the things she’s packed up in plastic bags and a cardboard box. “You gave your flowers to the nurses?”
She stands, and for the first time, I notice how tall she is. Probably about 5’9” with long legs, though no one would know it from how she’s all hunched over, wearing the baggiest clothes known to man. She doesn’t have any makeup on, her skin a little drawn, her big brown eyes exhausted.
“I can’t take them all home,” she says, pointing to the small bouquet on the table. “I’m keeping these, though. They’re my favorite.”
The sunflowers.
I tuck that piece of information away, like I do all of the things she’s told me. Hoarding the bits of her she allows me to have because I’d venture to guess she doesn’t often permit people all that much.
“Before we go, here…” I hold out the package. “Your camera arrived today.”
“My camera?”
When she doesn’t move, I take the sunflowers from her hand to give her the replacement camera I ordered. “I broke your camera, so here is a new one.”
She turns it over in her hands. “Nico…”
I like the way she says my name. All breathy and soft and my new favorite sound.
“You shouldn’t have done this. I didn’t mean?—”
“No. No, no, don’t start being all demure and shy. Just take the gift and sayThank you, Nico.”
She rolls her lips over her teeth, refusing. The stubborn girl holds out the box to me, as if I’ll take it back.
“Josephine, I broke your camera, and I’m replacing it. I also already paid the hospital bills and there are no take-backsies, so just accept that you’re in this with me. I’ve got a lot of money to spend, and I’d prefer to spend it on you more than anything else.”
Her jaw slackens, cheeks flushing. “You are…”
I tilt my head, filling in her blank. “Generous? Extraordinary? The hottest hockey player ever to knock you out with a puck? Yeah, you’re right, I am. Now…” I circle my hand in the air, hoping she catches on to her lines. She doesn’t, so I feed them to her. “Thank you, Nico.”
She arches her brows at me. As if she doesn’t want to, out of spite.
“Lemme hear it.” I wink. “I know you want to give it to me.”
Her tongue glides along her lower lip, the corner of her mouth twitching.
“Come on, babe,” I rasp because I really do want to hear her say it. A woman who doesn’t need or want shit from me? Who’d rather take another puck to the head than admit she might possibly like me?
I’m practically on my knees.
Begging for her attention.
Once more, I try, gliding my knuckle along her jaw, a silent command.
Her lips part, teeth momentarily digging into her bottom one before she finally gives it up. “Thank you, Nico.”
And I attempt not to grin like an absolute loon. “You’re welcome, and you ready to get out of here?”
At her nod, I load up my arms with her belongings. “I’ll carry this if you take that and the bear…?” She clutches the life-sized stuffed bear in her arms, as well as her camera and sunflowers, before turning to me. It’s a bitch to get all the bags situated, but once I do, I just my chin toward the door. “Let’s get you home.”
