Page 30 of Just One: Box Set

Chapter Four

P hillip was tired of lying in the hospital bed.

He’d been in the hospital for two weeks and he was going stir crazy.

His leg was finally removed from traction, but the heavy cast was like a fucking torture chamber.

He’d not seen Amy since she declared he would go home with her.

He was shocked when she suggested it, mainly because she’d blown him off when they’d met back in Vegas.

But he hadn’t stopped thinking about her.

Dr. Spencer walked in, and as if he’d wished her into existence, Amy followed behind him.

“Well, Mr. Cross, I’ve got some good news.

” He watched as Amy walked around the bed and stood opposite him.

“Looks like you’ll be able to go home tomorrow.

Your last set of X-rays shows the bone is healing nicely.

If you stay off it, there is no reason to keep you here.

Now, I assume your family has worked out who you’ll be staying with? ”

He glanced at Amy, who shrugged. “I’m pretty sure that hasn’t changed since the last time we talked. Amy has offered to provide me with a place and will also be doing my rehab there.”

Dr. Spencer glared at her. “So, you’re just going to ignore my warning?”

Amy held his gaze. “Which time? The one where you said it was unprofessional, and you’d report me to the board? Or was it the most recent one where you said you’d make sure to tell my boss I was fucking a patient? Which is impossible since he’s holed up in here.”

“What the fuck did you say to her?” Phillip sat up in his bed.

“What the hell is your deal? Amy is practically family, and what you’re saying is completely unprofessional.

Her offering me her home and care is not.

” Phillip glared at the doctor. “Do I need to find a different doctor? Because Amy will be my physiotherapist, regardless of your asinine assumption.”

“Don’t worry Phillip. This is personal. Dr. Spencer is just upset because I’m allowing a man I barely know to move in with me when I wouldn’t let him. Granted, had I not caught him shoving his cock down a nurse's throat, he’d probably be there now. Isn’t that right, Dr. Spencer?”

Dr. Spencer made a choking noise as he glanced at Phillip, who knew his jaw was hanging open.

“Seriously? This is your type?” He shot a bewildered look toward Amy.

“I get it now… high-profile guys aren’t your taste because of this douchebag.

” Phillip turned back to face him. “Because of you, she shot me down weeks ago. So, whatever fucked-up scenario you have in your head is way off base. And I can assure you, if I was lucky enough to have a woman like her, I’d do everything in my power to keep her.

But your wandering dick has her convinced all men are scum. ”

Dr. Spencer closed his eyes and clenched his fists at Phillip’s words.

“I’ll send a nurse in with your discharge papers in the morning.

Ms. Hunt has the information about the rehab plan already.

I’ll need to see you back in the office in two weeks to check on the progress of your bone healing.

Then we can determine when the cast will come off, barring the two-week check is good.

If it is, then will you be allowed to start physical therapy.

You’ll need to use crutches to move around, a shower chair, and no driving. ”

“Fine.” Phillip grunted, his anger still thrumming like a live wire in his veins. “I’ll see you in two weeks.”

Dr. Spencer turned and left. Phillip turned his gaze to Amy. “Seriously. That stuck up prick was your boyfriend?”

“Yep.” She bit off her response.

Amy started to move away, but he reached out and grabbed her arm. “You know I’m nothing like him, right?”

“Aren’t you?” She pulled free of his grasp. “You’re a pro soccer player, Phillip. Women throw themselves at you. Why would you be faithful to someone when you have a smorgasbord of ladies?”

Phillip snorted at her words. “Is that what you think of me? Yeah, women throw themselves at me—but it’s because I’m a pro-baller and nothing else, Amy.

They see stars when they look at me, not to mention my bank account.

And do you know how many of those women I’ve taken home?

Zero. I don’t sleep with groupies, or every woman I encounter.

Sure, I’ve had one-night stands, but I’m not a player.

And I would never cheat on someone I was serious with. My momma raised me better than that.”

“Maybe that’s true. But I’m not taking a chance on someone who is in the limelight or has a career that’s demanding.

I’ll always come second and maybe it's selfish, but I want to be the most important thing to a man. Because when I fall… I fall hard.” Phillip watched as she gripped the doorknob and paused.

“As ridiculous as it sounds, I want him to fall just as hard. Unless that’s something you could see giving me—this will always remain a professional relationship. I’ll see you in the morning.”

He watched her disappear outside, leaving him alone with something to think about.

She was right. Soccer was the most important thing in his life—but that was because he didn’t have time for anything else.

Now, glancing down at his cast leg, he wondered if he’d been missing out on other things—things like the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about.

Phillip’s mind wandered back to what Amy said.

Unless that’s something you could see giving me—this will always remain a professional relationship.

I’ll see you in the morning. She wasn’t exactly blowing him off.

Instead, she was telling him what it would take to make her his.

And for the first time in days, Phillip felt like there was something good coming out of this injury.

“Knock, knock.” Harley’s voice filtered into the room, tearing him from his thoughts. “How’s my favorite brother doing?” She barreled into the room and plopped down on the bed beside him. “Heard you’re getting out of this place tomorrow.”

“Yep.” Phillip watched as Archer stepped in and wrapped his arm around his sister. “How’s married life treating you?”

Harley glanced up at Archer and smiled. “Good. Really good. Your sister is the best thing to happen to me, and I am beyond thankful she agreed to be mine.”

“Yeah, she’s one in a million.” Phillip grinned at her. “Who told you I was outta here tomorrow?”

“Amy.” Archer smirked at Phillip. “She said you’re going to be staying with her for a bit.”

Phillip pressed his hand to the back of his neck. “She.. ah, suggested it. Is that an issue with you?” He hoped like hell it wasn’t because he didn’t want to have to eat crow with Dr. Spencer—not to mention he didn’t have anywhere else to stay.

“I think it’ll be good for her.”

Phillip looked at him questioningly. “Um… don’t you mean good for me?”

Archer huffed a laugh. “Nope. I mean good for her. She’s had her head buried in books the last few years and then with the nasty break up she went through…

well, she seems to be afraid to give love a real chance.

I mean, I get it. What her dickhead ex-boyfriend did was the lowest of low, but I’ve tried to tell her that not all men are like him.

Just because a man might have a demanding job, it doesn’t mean he’ll cheat.

Look at us.” Archer tugged my baby sister into his arms. “We’re both going into careers that are demanding as hell.

But she will always come first for me. Always. ”

“And the same for me.” Harley kissed him, smiling when she looked back at me. “Maybe you’re just what she needs.”

“I don’t know.” Phillip shook his head. “I don’t know what my future holds. What if I can’t play again? I won’t be able to give a woman what she deserves.”

“I thought you said you were going to leave the game once you won the MLS cup. You did that, Phillip. You won. Was one win not enough for you?”

Phillip sighed. “Just one win is all I wanted. But going out like this—not so much. Besides, what will I do if I don’t have soccer?”

Harley leaned forward. “Didn’t you say several of the colleges around here were trying to convince you to come on board and coach their teams?”

“Yeah… still.” Phillip bristled in his bed.

He didn’t want to sound like a whiny bitch about it, but going out because you were injured wasn’t how he saw his career ending.

Then his mind strayed to Amy. He felt an undeniable connection to her.

And if she agreed to give him a shot, she’d be the one win he’d never forget.

“It doesn’t matter right now, anyway.” He tapped the cast on his leg.

“This fucker kinda puts a damper on anything.”

“A damper?” Archer laughed. “I know it's weird to say this because she’s my sister. But dude… you’re going to need someone to bathe you.” He cut Phillip a sly grin. “And since Amy is the one taking care of you, I’d assume my sister will be that person.”

“Archer.” Harley smacked his chest. “Jesus… Phillip, don’t you dare do anything inappropriate. Amy is family and we can’t have holiday’s all weird because you decided to play hide the sausage.”

“Hide the sausage? What is this, first grade, sis? And you know me better than that. I wouldn’t do anything that made her feel uncomfortable—on purpose, that is.”

Harley stood and leaned in to hug him. “Lord… we’re turning into one big family for real. First Damon, now you. Thank God we don’t have any more girls in the family since Andre is still single.”

“True. Though… there’s always Calli.” Phillip joked, making Harley roll her eyes.

He said goodbye to them and settled into bed.

Phillip still needed to talk with his coach and figure out the next steps.

His career was on indefinite hold, and he hated letting the team down, all because of a bum leg.

Just thinking about his injury made it throb.

Hitting the button for pain meds, he leaned back and closed his eyes.

As much as he wanted this to be a nightmare, he knew it wasn’t.

And though his team had won the MLS Cup, he hated that it had come at such a cost. Then again…

it had opened the door to something that could be better.

Phillip smiled as he let the drugs lull him to sleep.

He might not have soccer anymore but having her might be far better than any trophy he’d ever tried for.