The fans are going nuts in the stands with shouts, stomping feet, and pounding the glass nearby. Finally, the refs move in and separate them.
Luke dips his head to see my face. “You okay?”
Still bent over, I nod, but in truth, the pain radiating in my side isn’t easing up. “Just need to catch my breath.”
The crowd boos when a penalty is called for both Ethan and Jennings. I can’t help but feel some satisfactionwhen the ref calls a major penalty and gives Jennings five minutes in the sin bin.
“Go get checked out, man. We got this.”
Luke helps me skate over to the exit, and I head down the tunnel with one of the trainers to the locker room. Every move keeps the pain waves coming. I’m sitting on the medic table, getting examined, when I hear Lily’s voice from the hallway.
“I’m his wife. I want to make sure he’s okay.” Her words are confident with just the right amount of concern. Even I’m inclined to believe her.
“It’s all right. Let her in.” I raise my voice as loud as I can without making my side scream. Our medic already helped me out of my jersey and upper gear and seems to be on a mission as he prods my midsection. He hits a tender spot that makes me jump and hiss through my teeth. The last thing I need is a broken rib. That will keep me out of the game for two to three weeks, at least—not to mention practice.
“Is it broken?” Lily asks matter-of-factly, staring down the medic as if she’s in charge.
“Could just be a fracture. We’ll check to be sure.” The medic helps me lie down on the table. “You’ll need to step out while I do the X-ray.”
“Here?” Lily’s eyes widen.
I nod. “We have a portable machine.”
“Color me impressed.” She ducks out of the room.
After the medic does his thing, he lets Lily know she can come back in while he studies the images. I’m still sprawled on the table when she rests a hand on my shoulder, her warmth pressing into my skin, setting off a slow burn beneath it. Instead of the pain radiating out of my side, all I can focus on is what her touch is doing to me. An image of tugging her against me while she’s wearing my jersey and kissing her plays out in my mind.
Best. Painkiller. Ever. Someone should bottle this.
She pulls over a wheeled stool and sits next to the exam table, keeping her voice to a whisper. “Del’s checking out that guy.”
I snap my eyes open and lift my head to look at her, but regret it immediately and groan. “Why?”
She raises a finger to her lips to hush me, which I find oddly stimulating. “Isn’t it obvious? The guy has it in for you.”
Shaking my head, I whisper back, “There’s no way he had anything to do with what happened to my cousin.”
She glances toward the medic. “Best to be sure.”
“He’s harmless.” I sling my arm over my eyes.
“Tell that to your ribs.” She snickers.
A grin is all I can manage at her humor. “I’ll be fine. He’s just holding a grudge.”
“Yeah, that’s what Mia and Sophie told me.”
I turn my head and take in those gorgeous hazel-green eyes staring at me with concern. She has her hair pulled back like usual. “How’s that going? Making some new friends?”
She rolls her eyes. “Pretending to.” She shrugs. “They do seem nice, though.”
“They’re great. I’m glad you don’t have to sit by yourself.”
“They’re a bit distracting, and I don’t need distractions.”
If she only knew how big a distraction she is to me right now, sitting there wearing my jersey. “Would you mind standing up a minute?”
She frowns at me. “Why?”
