Page 51 of Nailing Heat

“I’m a physician’s assistant. I can prescribe you medication,” I tell her.

“No, you’re a sports trainer.” She grins at me to lighten the moment.

“Yeah, well, I’m a bit more than that. I’m a physician’s assistant who loves sports, and this is what I chose to do.”

“Well, then it’s good your here because I need something.”

“I’m sure you do.”

We make it into the training room. Thank god the lights are on a motion sensor, and I don’t have to try and maneuver a free hand to do it myself. I place her gently on the table.

“Do me a favor and try to relax. I know you’re in pain, but it’s going to be easier to examine you if you’re not all tensed up.”

“How is she?” Coach Andie comes rushing into the training room.

“I don’t know yet. I got her here,” I snap. I look over and see her bristle from the sharp response. “I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I’m really worried about her.”

“We all are,” she replies softly. “Do you have any contacts over at BayCare?”

My brow furrows. “What’s BayCare?”

“The local orthopedic hospital,” she says lowly.

“Oh, sorry, I haven’t looked up the hospitals here yet.” Embarrassment flushes through me. I should have done that sooner.

“No, you’re good. I came here to see if I could help at all.” I look and find Andie’s eyes are frantically searching Amelia.

“I’m good.”

I slip into business mode and begin getting her an ice wrap so that I can maybe get some of that swelling down to see what we are dealing with. On my first glance I can see that her knee has turned red in color and has already become swollen. I think that this means that there is definitely something torn in there. I need to be sure. I place the ice wrap over her knee.

“Just take deep breaths in and out,” I tell Amelia. I fight the urge to bend down and kiss her forehead.

Amelia looks up at my green eyes, hers filled with tears, and she nods and sniffles.

I head over to my medicine cabinet, punch in my code and open it. Thankfully, because I’m a PA, I was able to have this here. It’s locked so that Lucas cannot access it because he doesn’t have the right credentials. I pull out the prescription ibuprofen and head back over the table. Andie has already fetched her a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Thanks.” I take it and turn towards Amelia. “Okay, honey, I’m going to need you to swallow these. Then I’m going to check out the knee and see how bad it is.” She nods, her eyes looking at me, and I can see the question that is on her mind. The same one that any athlete in her position would be thinking: How bad is it? When will we know how long until I can play again? I’ve seen that look on many faces of professional football players who had worse or lesser injures than Amelia right now. Either way, whatever message I have to deliver is not one that I’m looking forward to.

“I’ll let you know what we’re dealing with as soon as I move this knee around a bit, okay?” Another small nod from her.

There’s a loud roar of the crowd coming from the stadium. The noises that can be heard in here aren’t many unless the crowd is going wild, apparently. I’m normally out on that field watchingthe girls and praying that I’m not needed. But tonight, I was and by the last player I’d ever hoped would be on my table like this.

“You’re going to be okay, but let me move this a bit, okay?” I tell her, my hand on her leg just below the knee. I instantly feel her tense at my touch. “You’ve gotta keep this relaxed, or else it’s going to hurt a lot worse.”

“Dex,” my name spills from her lips and it sounds so strained. It kills me.

“It’s going to be alright.” I tell her because it will be. I’m going to get her the best care.

“What’s the prognosis?” Coach Watts comes barreling into the room.

“We don’t know yet,” Andie tells him.

“How do you not know that yet?” Watts asks, sounding more than a little annoyed with me.

“Because I’m trying to get her comfortable in here before I start moving that knee around.” I step away from Amelia and head over to where he’s standing. I go toe-to-toe to him. “I am not going to dive right into putting her in more pain. Look at her face, that is one scared girl on that table and that knee hurts like a bitch right now. So, yeah, I’m taking my sweet time getting that knee moved around.”

He stares at me. I see him inhale and exhale. He might be counting to ten for all I fucking know. I don’t know the guy that well to be sure. I hope I haven’t caught myself on his bad side for this.