Nurse Payne’s brows knit in confusion. “Can’t you do online classes?”
“No football, no scholarship.” It’s something no student athlete likes to think about, especially ones like me who are hustling to be the first college graduate in the family.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers, the color draining from her rosy cheeks.
Way to be a downer, Spellman.
“No need to apologize,” I say hastily, feeling like a jerk. I’d been trying to loosen her up, not bring her down. The last thing I want is her pity. “It’s not like you’re the one who dared me to climb up on the roof, right?” She stiffens and presses her lips flat. “Besides, the doc says with a few months to heal and a little PT, I’ll be back in cleats in no time.”
Whether I’ll be able to kick at the Division 1 level remains to be seen.
Fear rattles my chest, but I ignore it, focusing on the here and now. No sense sweating the future, not when I’ve got a beautiful woman to keep me company.
“That’s good news,” she says, busying herself at the medical cart. “You’ll get the best possible care here. It may be a teaching hospital, but WUMC is one of the top-ranked hospitals in the state.”
“So I’ve heard.” I grin. “I was actually born here.”
Her head pops up at that. “You’re a local?”
“More or less,” I admit, scratching the back of my head. Damn, I need a proper shower. I’ll need to ask about that later. “Born and raised in a tiny little town about thirty miles north.”
I don’t mention that Millheim is practically a one-road town or that my parents barely eke out a living running the local hardware store. She doesn’t need all the gory details, and I have no interest in seeing that pitying look on her face again. I’ve worked too long, fought too hard to prove myself at Waverly. I’m not going to let this setback screw it all up.
“I’m from out east. Near Philly.”
I cringe. “Please don’t tell me you’re an Eagles fan.”
“Let me guess,” she says, smirking. “You’re a Steelers fan?”
“Hell, yeah.” My dad and I watched the Steelers every Sunday in the fall when I was growing up. For a long time, I harbored dreams of playing ball in the Steel City, but it wasn’t meant to be. Doesn’t make me any less of a fan though.
“You can relax. I couldn’t care less about the Eagles,” Nurse Payne says, typing something into the computer. “I don’t even like football.”
Nobody’s perfect, least of all me.
“That’s it,” I say, throwing my hands up in mock horror. “We can no longer be friends.”
She laughs, her shoulders relaxing for the first time since she entered the room. “I’m your nurse, not your friend.”
“Who says you can’t be both?” I challenge.
“My clinical instructor, the hospital board of directors, Nurse Rogers.” She pauses and arches a slender brow. “There’s a reason the hospital has rules against fraternizing with patients.”
“I’m going to let you in on a little secret,” I stage-whisper. “Rules are meant to be broken.”
“Not that rule,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Damn. I never thought my new BFF would be such a rule follower.” I grin, giving her what I hope is a charming smile. “You need to live a little.”
Her eyes shutter and I realize too late I’ve said the wrong thing.
“The last time someone told me that, it didn’t end well.”
“You know what they say. No risk, no reward.” I shrug and reach around to fluff up my pillow. “Me? I like to roll the dice every now and again.”
“How’d that work out for you last time?” she asks, staring pointedly at my leg.
Damn. Nurse Payne doesn’t pull punches.
