Page 60 of I Blame the Dimples
“Are we… still friends?” The vulnerability in Stella’s voice is so familiar it drags an unexpected laugh from me.
Somewhere along the way, the lines between social butterfly and social outcast became one and the same.
“Remember who you’re talking to, Stella. My answer to that ridiculous question will always be yes.”
Chapter 24
Wes
“How do I look?”
I’m hetero through and through but hearing my captain’s voice just about made me drop to my knees in proposal.
I shuffle into the room, throwing a wink to the bruised and bandaged Cody lying under the covers.
“To me, you’ve never been sexier.”
Cody’s chuckle turns into a cough, and I try not to wince. His one eye is completely swollen shut, while the other seems to have broken a blood vessel. In the span of twelve hours, my captain has become a demon cyclops. And that’s being generous.
“You’ve always been too charming for your own good, Wes.” Cody tries to shift on the bed, and I hurry over.
“And you’ve always been too eager for your own good. Don’t try to move, let me call the nurses.” Grumbling, Cody leans back against his pillow and fixes a battered eye on me. At this rate, he could give Nick Fury a run for his money.
“Is Hunter okay?” I hit the button to summon a nurse and shake my head in exasperation. Even beaten to a pulp, Cody’s top priority is making sure his team is alive and well. They don’t make them like this one anymore.
“Hunter is pissed you took on Vector for him. Says you’ve destroyed his badass reputation.”
Another chuckle echoes from the lump on the bed, “Hunter couldn’t be a badass if he tried. Not with that haircut, anyways.”
“Facts.” I smirk at the thought of Hunter’s sheepdog bangs. Suddenly remembering everyone I promised an update, I whip out my phone and send a quickhe’s awake!text to Trip, Nico, and Mo.
“Who won?” With my phone buzzing with happy emojis, it takes me a second to figure out what Cody is asking.
“The game? It got postponed to next weekend. Taber threatened to forfeit so the refs gave Silverwood two options: either they were the ones to forfeit or we do a rematch next weekend. Doesn’t take three guesses to figure out which one they chose.”
Nico stopped by late last night with Lace to check in on Cody and bring me food, so I got the latest scoop of lacrosse gossip.
“Why did Taber threaten to forfeit? You boys could have easily won the game without me.” Visibly agitated, Cody shifts around on his bed, wincing at the movement.
“Cap, no one wanted to win. Hell, no one wanted to play once you were injured. You’re our leader, so if you sit out, we all sit out. There was no question of continuing the game.” Something glistens in Cody’s red, unswollen eye, and I’m not sure if it’s appreciation or pain. Kind of hard to tell at this point.
My phone starts to buzz, so I sneak a glance down.
NICO: About damn time. Tell Cap he’s late to morning practice.
MO: Keep me updated on his diagnosis.
TRIP: YAY!!!
TRIP: Is he in good enough shape for Stella to come visit??
“You’re smiling.” I sheepishly look at my captain, tucking my phone back into my pocket.
“Sorry, everyone is happy to hear you’re conscious. I think you’re more popular injured than not.” Cody laughs just as a nurse rushes into the room.
“I apologize for the delay, what can I help you with?” Cody opens his mouth to speak but I cut him off.
“My friend here is in a lot of pain. Is there anything we can give him to make him more comfortable?” The nurse pulls out her notebook and flips the pages until she finds the right one.