“I don’t understand, how I would have run into an intersection.”
“It’s my fault, I should have never left. I should have stayed at home like you asked.”
“It is not your fault. Please don’t ever think that. I’m the one who did this.”
“Thank you for saying that, but if I was home, none of this would have happened. Please know how sorry I am. I can’t tell you how scary this has been, I really thought I was going to lose you. When I got here, your room was empty because you were in surgery, but I didn’t know that and I thought the worst.”
“Didn’t someone tell you that?”
“No, but I didn’t stop to let them. Since you were bleeding internally, they had to go in immediately to find out why. After being in there they realized it was your spleen, but it took some time to figure that out, and in the process you lost a lot of blood.”
“God, this is just so much to process,” I tell her, exhaling loudly.
“It’s my fault and I can’t apologize enough.”
“No, it’s not. Plus, it doesn’t matter now. You’re here and that’s what’s important. I’m scared to ask what you decided, but I have to know.”
“I’m sorry I left. It was wrong and dumb of me, especially since this happened. Nate and I both know where my heart lies and that makes things a lot easier for both of us.”
Hearing her say those words spins my world upside down. My breathing becomes quick and the machine to my left starts to beep erratically. I can’t lose her. She chose him.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” she asks me.
With my eyebrows creased and tears welling in my eyes, I can’t bring myself to say the words. She grabs my face and looks deep into my eyes. Then a nurse bursts into my room. Arion jumps away from me and I can’t help but look at her. She’s crying like I am and the nurse takes my attention away from her.
“Bain, I’m Sharon1. What’s the matter?”
I blink a few times, willing myself to look away from Arion. “Nothing, I’m okay, just sore.”
“That’s to be expected. You took a hard hit. Your heart rate is a bit elevated. I’m going to look at your wound, okay?”
I nod my head and look down as the nurse lifts a bandage and examines me. The second I see what she is looking at, I become woozy and let my head fall back, looking at Arion instead. She mouths the words, I love you to me and instantly makes everything better.
She has her arms tightly wrapped across her body and is chewing on one of her fingernails.
“I’m going to grab your doctor so he can look you over. I’ll be back. I’m glad you’re awake.”
“Thank you,” I briefly respond, watching Arion again. It’s like a game of cat and mouse. She’s so slow and hesitant coming to me and ultimately that makes me nervous. I want her to run to me, but she doesn’t.
“Baby, come here,” I order her. “I can’t take it any longer, I need to know what you’ve decided.”
She smirks at me and kisses me gently, then says, “Did you ever doubt that I would choose you?”
“Clearly I did. I lost my fucking mind without you.”
“Well, I didn’t. Deep down from the second I laid eyes on you, I knew that you were my future. You’re my everything, Bain. You’re all I ever wanted and I was dumb to get clouded in thoughts of my past just because Nate came back.”
“Really?” I ask, honestly confused by her confession.
“Yes, really.”
“Jesus, I love you, Arion.”
“I love you more.”
“You know, you said you only needed one more day off and it’s been practically two weeks,” James jokes with me.
“I know, I’m sorry about that, it’s not like I got hit by a car on purpose,” I retort humorously.
“I know, I know,” he repeats.
I was released from the hospital yesterday and boy does it feel good to be at home. I’m sore as fuck, but the doctors say that goes with the territory. Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I catch sight of Arion, so breathtaking that my cock and body ache for her. She walks back in with a water for James and sits next to me. So close that she is practically on my lap.
“Don’t let me interrupt you two,” she says with a smirk on her face.
“You won’t. I’m glad that you’re here,” James adds. “I wanted to talk to both of you about rumors that the Nets are thinking of trading Bain.”
“What?” I spit, so angry that I hurt my incision. Pain radiates through me, so harsh my breathing skips a beat. Traded? “The season hasn’t even started yet, I really don’t understand. I was their top pick in the first round.”
“The Miami Heat really like you and are willing to make a sweet deal, at least that’s what I’ve heard. I’ve yet to confirm this with anyone from the Nets organization. I don’t want to freak you out, but it’s also my job to be honest with you.”
I look at Arion as she stares at me with worry etched all across her face. Jesus, if only I could get into her head, even if it was just for a few moments.