Page 74 of The Surprise Play (Nolan U Football #3)
She’s put on her doctor’s coat but buttoned it wrong, so it’s all out of alignment. Brushing a curl off her face, she sets the kit down on the floor and proceeds to go through all the toys, taking my temperature and blood pressure.
She seems to know not to go near my leg, and even though she stares at the bandage a few times, she resists the urge to investigate it.
I get my knuckles tapped by the little hammer instead and am sure to make my fingers shoot out in response. She giggles and does it again. Her sweet amusement continues to fill the room until she tires of my antics… and to be honest, I’m tiring fast too.
Getting over surgery fucking sucks.
I feel depleted, and I’m gonna need more painkillers soon. I try to hold out for as long as I can each time, but the pain is already starting to creep in, my knee throbbing.
Shifting gently, I reposition my butt on the couch just as Sienna walks in.
“Just heard from Zander’s dad.” She eyes me cautiously, and I nod, telling her it’s okay.
As much as it kills me that I’m not there, I really want to know how Zander’s getting on at the Scouting Combine.
“He’s doing great.” Her eyes start to sparkle.
“In this latest update, his dad couldn’t talk fast enough.
I think Zander’s really showing them how amazing and committed he is. ”
I nod, pleased with the news. “He’s gonna get drafted by the best. It’s a guarantee.”
“Yeah.” Sienna nods, glancing down at Zoey, then back up at me. “I think you’re right.” Her smile is nervous as she clutches the phone to her chest. “I wonder where we’ll end up.”
I shrug and smile, hoping to ease her uncertainty. “At least you’ll be together.”
“True.” Her shoulders relax as her smile starts to grow. “That’s very true.”
“And you’ll make new friends and set up a really great life for yourselves.” She nods, and I throw in one last nugget. “And we’re only ever a phone call away.”
Walking across the room, she bends down and presses a kiss to my cheek. “You’re the best, Wily. Thank you.”
“Tank you,” Zoey adds, collecting the last of her toy medical kit and grinning at me. “Better soon, Wywee.”
“I’ll definitely get better now that Doctor Zoey’s patched me up.”
She giggles, taking her mom’s hand and walking out of the room.
Blake pops back down the stairs a few minutes later, asking if I need anything.
I boss her around, figuring I might as well take advantage since her stubborn ass isn’t leaving me.
I still don’t get it.
I’m not sure I’d drop everything and give up my life to nurse her. Shit, that makes me sound like an ass. Maybe I would.
But I have other people who can help me, and we can afford to hire a nurse or something. She doesn’t need to be doing this.
Which I tell her for the thousandth time when she pops the pills in my hand and holds out a glass of water.
“Would you seriously shut up about this? I’ve made my decision! And this is going to be so painful if you keep going on about it.”
“I just don’t understand your decision,” I grumble.
“You’re my brother, I love you, and you need my help right now. What’s not to get?” She flicks her hands wide with exasperation before plunking down on the couch beside me.
I give her a once-over, my eyes narrowing as I try to read her .
She huffs and shuffles around to face me, bulging her eyes with a pointed look. “What?”
“I’m just trying to figure out if that’s the full story.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Why are you really here?”
“I’ve told you!” Her face bunches with irritation. “Seriously, dude. I thought you’d be grateful for my help.”
“I am.” I grab her forearm and give it a soft squeeze. “It’s really nice of you, and I’m sorry to keep pushing this, but I’m just trying to make sure you’re okay.”
Her delicate features stiffen, and I don’t miss the tic in her jaw before she turns to smile at me.
“I’m great. Seriously. If I was super stressed about school, I wouldn’t be doing this, but I’m breezing through the year, and it’s a good time to be able to help you out.
I’ll stick around until at least spring break, and then we can reassess from there.
And I promise I’ll make myself scarce when Satch comes over. ”
“It’s not that?—”
“I will,” she cuts me off with another one of her pointed looks. “And when she can’t be here and Sienna’s busy with Zoey, I’ll be the one to drive you to appointments and stuff. This is gonna work, bro.”
I shoot her a side-eye, my lips quirking up at the sides. “I’m already recovering from a serious injury, and you’re expecting me to get in a car with you? I thought you cared about me.”
She fights a laugh, lightly punching my arm. “Suck it up, shithead. And we’ll be taking your truck.”
I whip my head to look at her, feigning horror. “Not my baby.”
Her laughter grows, and she goes to punch me again. We have a little laughing tussle on the couch until my knee catches and I let out an involuntary hiss.
“Would you behave yourself?” Blake tells me off, spinning back to face the TV on the wall.
Nudging me with her elbow, we both fight silly grins when she reaches for the remote and turns on the TV, scrolling through the channels until she lands on a rerun of Trollhunters .
“Remember this?” Blake giggles, tucking her legs beneath her and nestling on the couch beside me.
I stare at the TV, drawn back in time as I sit with my sister and lose myself in the adventurous cartoon.
She rests her head on my shoulder, just the way she used to, and I swear I try my best not to worry about her, but something is eating at my gut, warning me that Blake staying here is not just about me.
Something has happened in Chicago, and I need to find out what.