A hospital.
My chest tightens, memories flooding back all at once?—
The game. The final drive. The hit.
And then…nothing.
Shit.
I shift again, muscles protesting, and suddenly, my mom is right there, her warm hands cupping my face, brushing back my hair, checking every inch of me like she can see where it hurts.
"Oh, honey." Her voice trembles slightly, and that’s when I notice her eyes are red-rimmed, her face pale.
My dad stands beside her, hands in his pockets, trying to look calm—but I can see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw is clenched tight.
I force my lips into a smirk. "Y’all look like someone died."
My mom sniffs, shaking her head. "Don’t joke about that, Jaxon Montgomery."
Dad clears his throat. "Gave us a hell of a scare, son."
I exhale, my head throbbing at the slightest movement. "How bad?"
Mom grips my hand tight. "No concussion. No fractures, no internal bleeding. They said it was a bad hit, but you’re going to be okay."
I nod slowly, processing. I should feel relieved, but the tightness in my chest doesn’t let up.
Because there’s only one question on my mind.
I shift slightly, my voice quieter. "Where's Madison?"
Mom and Dad exchange a look, and that tells me everything I need to know.
She’s not here.
The knowledge slams into me like a second hit, sharp and brutal.
I swallow against the ache in my throat. "She didn’t come?"
Mom squeezes my hand. "Honey?—"
Before she can finish, the door swings open.
"Well, look who finally decided to wake his ass up."
Carter.
Relief washes through me at the sight of him, his expression lighter than my parents’ but still tight with concern. He strides in, arms crossed, but his eyes scan me like he’s checking for himself that I’m actually okay.
I smirk weakly. "You miss me, Hayes?"
He snorts, dragging the chair beside my bed and plopping down. "Yeah, yeah. Don’t let it go to your head."
I huff then wince, because even that hurts.
Carter watches me carefully before his smirk softens slightly. "Scared the shit out of all of us, man."
I don’t answer, because there’s still one thing I need to know.
