Page 46 of Maybe, Probably (Love Me, Maybe #1)

Chapter Thirty

Harper

W ell, being hospitalized wasn’t on my bingo card for this trip, but here we are.

I don’t entirely remember what happened, but I remember something running out in front of me. I remember trying to swerve so I could avoid it. Then, I remember tumbling before everything went black. I don’t remember the ski patrol coming to me and assessing me before taking me to the hospital.

Everything became a bit more clear as I got set up in the hospital room and the neurologist came to check me out. After a bit of time, I was told that I had a mild concussion, and could benefit from some fluids before they would give me the okay to go home.

Once they set me up with the IV, I decided to rest my eyes for a couple minutes while I waited. It wasn’t long after that that I felt something grabbing my hand. When I opened my eyes and looked over to the side of my hospital bed, I saw the concerned look on Xavier’s face.

He refuses to let go of my hand while we wait to be discharged.

I try to get Xavier to video call Evie so that she can see that I’m alright, but he refuses to do that.

He told me I’m not supposed to be around screens with a mild concussion, and that my brain needs to rest. I try to eye roll at his behavior, but it just hurts my head, and I do my best to negotiate at least a phone call. He reluctantly agreed.

I’m discharged shortly after that, with a checklist of what my recovery is going to look like.

The doctor tells me that a mild concussion should take anywhere from a week to two weeks to heal.

I’m told to keep an eye out for worsening symptoms, and Xavier is very resistant to me going home at first.

“What if her symptoms worsen? Wouldn’t it just be safer to keep her here for an additional twenty four hours to ensure it’s just a concussion?” The doctor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. This is probably not the first time he has dealt with Xavier like this tonight.

“Like I have told you before Mr. Hawthorne. She is stable. She shows no signs of worsening symptoms, nor has she shown any indications that there is something more dire going on. As long as there is someone there monitoring her, she is perfectly able to go home and rest. At home.”

Now, here I am, sitting in our bed at the ski lodge.

Xavier has been in and out of the room getting everything I could possibly need to rest. He’s taken away all of my electronics, despite my best efforts to get him to leave them.

I almost got away with it too, until he came into the room and caught me trying to read something on my phone.

He’s very neurotic and bossy.

Winnie is laying on the bed with his head on my lap as I look out the window across the room. I tried going to sleep for a bit, but my head is throbbing a bit. I asked Xavier for something for the pain, and he ran out of the room to retrieve it all.

There’s a light knock on the door, before my best friend comes bursting through the room.

“I thought you could use some bestie time. I had to sneak past your bodyguard to get in here.” She looks behind her, like she’s expecting him to barge through the door and kick her out at any second. “He’s a little…much.”

I give her a tired smile that turns into a huge yawn. “Yeah, he’s been hovering but if this is something that will make him feel better then, I’ll let him do it.”

Evie plops down on her back at the end of the bed, resting her hands on her stomach. Turning to face me, her green eyes bore into me. “You really scared the shit out of me today.” There’s a slight tremble in her voice when she says it .

“I’m sorry Evie. I really didn’t mean to scare anyone.

I was learning so much about skiing from Xavier, and truly having a good time with him.

I felt confident to try something more. Maybe, I should have waited.

” I begin chewing on my thumb nail. I remember the concerned and haunted look on Xavier's face when I woke up.

“I know you didn’t mean to, babes. It was scary nonetheless though. I’m just glad you’re still here and not seriously hurt.” She reaches for my hand, grabbing it and squeezing gently.

A moment later, Xavier comes into the room.

Winnie quickly jumps off the bed to greet him, nudging his hand for pets.

His stride falters slightly when he realizes Evie is in bed with me.

He recovers quickly, continuing his long strides over to his side of the bed where he hands over some pain meds and a glass of water.

“You should be resting .” His voice is firm, and I catch his eyes darting over to Evie pointedly before returning to mine.

“I am resting. Evie just came in to keep me company. We’re going to have a bestie sleepover.” I look up and give him my best puppy dog eyes. He stares at me for a minute before sighing. Xavier types quickly on his phone before putting it on the nightstand and crawling into his side of the bed.

I’m taken by surprise when he grips my hips, dragging my body down until he’s able to lay down between my legs. A content sigh leaves him as he rests his head on my stomach, closing his eyes.

Evie stares at him, then up at me, with a raised eyebrow. I shrug my shoulders, a small smile breaking on my face as I play with his hair. His body relaxes more at my touch.

“I didn’t know you were part of the bestie sleepover,” Evie teases, when she realizes he’s not leaving.

Xavier cracks open one eye. “Just pretend I’m not here.”

Evie just stares at him blankly.

“Sure, it’ll be completely easy to ignore the six foot tall, sexy vet who’s currently wrapped around my best friend. ”

A snort leaves me as I witness the interaction. I didn’t even get a chance to tell Evie that we’ve decided to end the fake dating and do this for real. Although, I’m sure that after this, she’ll figure it out and drill me about it when we get a minute alone. If we get a minute alone.

Xavier’s arm leaves me, but only to grab my hand, placing it back on his head before closing his eyes again. “And I plan to stay wrapped around her. But I promise that whatever is said in here, stays in here– because girl code or whatever.”

“Well– okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you…”

That’s the only warning he gets before she proceeds to dive in and proceeds to tell me how hot she thought Josie and Monty were at the Christmas Eve party.

Xavier snorts during the story, and it’s probably because Evie still doesn’t know that Josie and Monty might not be opposed to her joining in with them.

“What’s going on with work? Is your temp job done now?”

A huge sigh leaves her as she slumps down in the bed, throwing an arm over her eyes.

“Yeah, it’s done. And there isn’t anywhere hiring right now with it just being after Christmas.

I’ve got some money saved, so I’m not going to be struggling per say, but it’ll cover me while I try and find something else. ”

“I’ll keep an eye out for you and send you anything I might come across.”

“Thanks babes, I appreciate that. I’m not worrying about it just yet.”

We spend the next couple hours talking. I eventually extract myself from Xavier’s hold to lay down myself, but when I lay down Winnie crawls in between us and goes back to sleep with his head resting on my hip.

Thank God for this California king bed, because I don’t know how else we’d fit three adults, and a large dog, comfortably.

Eventually Evie falls asleep on me, mumbling away about whatever adventure her subconscious is putting her through.

I seriously need to behavior start recording our conversations to save.

Xavier’s alarm goes off once, and he checks on me to see how I’m feeling.

I get out of bed to go to the washroom because all the water Xavier is making sure I drink is making me have to pee what feels like every ten minutes, I swear.

I turn on the light and shut the door, quick to relieve my business and brush my teeth.

Once I return to the bedroom, Xavier is waiting on his side of the bed. He notices me as I start to walk toward him. His eyes don’t stray from my movements. When I’m close enough, he grabs my hand and pulls me to stand in between his thighs and looks up at me.

“Are you sure you’re good? You don’t need anything?”

“I’m fine Xavier, I promise. It’s just a mild concussion, I’ll be back to my normal clumsy self in no time.” My voice is laced with amusement as I gently shove at his shoulders.

His brows furrow, his hands that are placed on my hips tighten.

“But it’s not fine. I shouldn’t have let you go on that hill.

You would have been fine if we didn’t go down.

” There’s a tightness in his voice that brings concern to the surface.

He can’t seriously think that what happened is his fault.

“Xavier, this isn’t anyone’s fault. We couldn’t have known a rabbit was going to run out in front of me and cause me to lose my balance.”

Suddenly Xavier is up. He moves me backwards a few steps before he walks away from me, pacing with both hands running up and through his hair in frustration.

“But it is my fault!” He says loudly, before looking over to where Evie is sleeping and takes a breath before continuing.

“I should’ve known better. I should’ve been closer behind.

When I saw you lose your balance and tumble over, my whole world stopped, Harper.

I couldn’t get to you fast enough! And if you weren’t wearing your helmet–” I watch as he spirals.

My heart squeezes as I remember him mentioning his past. Is this why he’s reacting the way he is?

Did he have a sibling that got hurt skiing?

No, it couldn’t be that. No one has mentioned a sibling that’s no longer here.

No, this is something else. I walk toward him with determination.

Xavier’s been carrying this weight for a long time.