This couldn't be happening.

This couldn't be happening.

This couldn't be happening.

And yet it was.

It didn't matter how many times the four words floated through my head, because it changed nothing. I hadn't seen the asshole coming, and though I only had a vague recollection of the hit, I knew it'd done some damage.

Drifting into consciousness, there was a dull pounding behind my temples as I blinked my eyes open. The makings of a hospital room greeted me—white walls, a dull beeping, and the overwhelming smell of antiseptic—and as I attempted to shuffle around in the bed I'd been given, a searing pain flared up my right leg.

Something between a groan and a hiss fell from my dry lips, bringing the conversation Isla and Cameron were having across the room to a sudden stop. Before I clenched my eyes shut once more, I saw their blurry faces turn my way with shock.

Soft footsteps sounded against the tile floor before I felt Isla's hand rest gently on top of mine. "Seb?" she asked carefully. "Are you awake?"

"What the fuck do you mean am I awake?" I replied, my voice gravelly and hushed. "I opened my eyes, didn't I?"

"That's not what she meant, Seb." The wheels of Cameron's chair squeaked as he pushed himself closer to the bed. When he didn't immediately continue, I exhaled slowly, forcing my eyes open halfway to see the troubled expression he wore. "You've been in and out of it for nearly a day."

My forehead scrunched up in confusion, worsening my headache. "What do you mean?"

They both appeared wary as they glanced at one another, and suddenly, a series of hazy memories crept back inside my head. Ones of a restless ride on a gurney and an uncomfortable CT scan. I vaguely recalled getting checked over by the nurses and asking lucid questions about all I didn't understand, but now, with the worry inside my chest growing by the second, I was afraid to hear what had truly happened.

Before I could get an answer however, the door flew open and Henry stepped inside.

"I finally got some fucking information out of the doctor and—" He stopped short when he noticed I was no longer unconscious, relief flooding his expression. "Seb. You're awake."

"Yeah," I forced out, grimacing as I used all the strength I could muster to push myself into a sitting position. "Thanks for pointing out the obvious."

There was no smile or laugh in response to my attempt at lightening the mood, but the change in his demeanor was instant. "Well, since you're awake," Henry said, stone-faced as his nostrils flared, "then maybe you can tell me where the hell your head was at during that last period. You skated the entire game as though you were a force to be reckoned with, and then it was like you decided to check out." His skin reddened as anger overtook him. "Seriously, Seb, it didn't even look like you saw the guy charging straight at you until he managed to take you out."

And it had looked that way because it was true.

"Hey," Cameron barked, cutting Henry off with a glare. "That's enough. Either calm down enough to tell us what the doctor supposedly told you, or go and sit in the waiting room with everyone else."

Everyone else?

If there were people waiting to see me, stuck in the waiting room wondering if I was alright, then things were likely worse than I thought. Fuck.

Isla's hand rested on Cameron's shoulder, trying to calm him as he glared at Henry, who returned a narrowed gaze.

"Guys," I said, clenching my fists against the stiff sheets as their gazes spun towards me. "Can one of you please tell me how bad it is." I exhaled slowly, trying to ignore the weight in my chest that was growing by the second. "I just... I need to know."

Henry didn't waste precious time by sugar coating the truth. "You're done for the season," he replied bluntly.

"Be a bit harsher about it, why don't you?" Cameron muttered under his breath.

"Okay, that's enough," Isla said sternly, stepping in before the two of them came to blows. She glanced back at me, her expression softening. "We're gonna go and grab some food. Leave you two alone to talk."

I nodded as Cameron rolled himself across the room, though Isla hovered back for an extra moment.

She placed her hand on top of mine and leaned down, pressing her lips against my hair. "It'll be okay, Seb," she whispered, and I forced my lips to twitch upwards when she pulled back. She squeezed my hand once more. "It'll be okay."

Despite the sincerity and hope accompanying her words, I wasn't so sure I believed them. I couldn't. Not when I was stuck in a hospital bed. Not when my luck had taken such a drastic turn for the worse.

As Isla followed Cameron into the hall, disappearing once the door swung shut behind her, Henry's gaze bore into the side of my head. He said nothing; allowing the tension to thicken and the silence to stretch. Waiting until I finally cracked.

"I know I fucked up, okay," I said roughly, avoiding his hard gaze as I kept my eyes trained on my lap. "I get it."

"Do you really, Seb? 'Cause my god, it certainly doesn't seem like it. I mean, fuck, man, this is your career."

It wasn't enough that I'd been injured after a dirty hit, but he thought he could add fuel to my wound by patronizing me about it while I lay helpless in a hospital bed? Fat chance.

"Don't you think I know that?" I snapped, breathing heavily as my temper bubbled over. Realizing I'd been hooked up to a monitor as it began to beep rapidly, I gritted my teeth, needing to calm down before I drew attention. "Trust me, I do, but nothing you say right now is going to change the fact that there's nothing either of us can do about it."

"Oh, there's something to be said alright, and you need to hear it." Joy. "Ever since I signed you, you've shown nothing but dedication to the game." His anger faded as he spoke earnestly. "You had a goal, and that was to make it to the NHL. You worked your ass off for it, keeping your eyes set on the prize, and I never cared when you went off to have your fun on the side because your head was 100% in the game when it needed to be."

My forehead creased, not understanding where he was trying to go with all of this. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about distractions, Seb," he said matter-of-factly. "More specifically, the recent one that's had your mind on things other than hockey for the last couple of months."

Something clicked then, allowing me to put the pieces of the puzzle together one by one. "This is about Jo," I said, disbelief making way for a new surge of rage. "You think this is all on her? That she's the reason I'm sitting here right now?"

Henry simply shrugged. "Maybe not directly, but you can't deny that since she came into your life, you've been prioritizing her over furthering your career."

"I'm already in the NHL, there's nowhere else for my career to go!"

He looked pointedly at my busted leg. "Sure there is. Down."

"I can't believe..." At a loss for words, I shook my head before meeting his eyes with a glare. "I've given everything I have to the Knights—"

"Everything?" He lifted a brow. "You sure about that?"

"Yes, I'm fucking sure, asshole—"

"Woah, woah, woah," a blonde woman said, looking between Henry and I as she stepped further into the room. Judging by the aqua scrubs and the clipboard in her hands, it didn't take a genius to figure out she was a nurse. "Is everything alright in here?"

The spike my adrenaline had taken settled quickly, leaving exhaustion and pain in its absence as I let my head fall back against the pillows. "Peachy," I mumbled.

Henry slipped seamlessly back into his professional shoes, not allowing the interruption to affect him. "We're all good," he replied, though the tic in his jaw was a telltale sign of his lie. "I was actually about to head out since I've got a flight to catch, so you have perfect timing." His eyes settled back on mine. "I'm glad you're okay, but you have some tough decisions ahead of you. Even if it hurts, I need you to think about what I said, and when you have, give me a call."

Except there was nothing for me to think about.

Other than landing a spot in the Knights lineup, Jo was one of the best things that had happened to me this year. Hell—in a long time. And while Henry had some sway when it came to my professional life, at least for the time being, he had absolutely no right to try and interfere with my personal life.

None whatsoever.

***

A broken leg and a concussion—that's what I had to deal with. Not as bad as I'd expected, but still not ideal. Especially since the break hadn't been clean and the nurse had informed me they'd had to surgically set the bone before it'd been cast.

But knowing what was wrong allowed me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The concussion symptoms would fade over the next couple of weeks, and with my cast set to come off in less than three months, it meant I would be able to rehab over the summer and, hopefully, be good as new at next season's training camp.

If I was still a Knight come that time.

Shaking the negativity from my head, I berated myself for allowing the thought to bloom in the first place. I'd done all I could this season. Had proven I could work hard and keep up with training. Had listened to the guidance I'd been given and learned from my mistakes. Had meshed well with the team and left my heart out on the ice each and every game.

Injured or not, I deserved my spot on the Knights, and could only hope that the team's management agreed.

Which was a bit tricky to do as I lay in a hospital bed, waiting for the okay to head home.

When the door creaked open, I slowly turned my head, expecting either the nurse or Isla and Cameron to return with a one-way ticket out of here.

Instead, Jo stood there, her features tight with worry as they met mine.

"Hey," she whispered, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip as she stepped into the room. "How are you feeling?"

"Right now, the pain is under control," I said. Reaching for her hand, I pulled her down so she sat on the edge of the bed. "But I'm not pumped for when the meds wear off."

She brushed the loose hair away from my face. "I wouldn't be either." The blanket had been pushed off my injured leg, and when her eyes trailed down my body, they zeroed in on the cast that stretched from my ankle to upper thigh. Shaking her head, she tried to keep a lock on her emotions. "When I saw the hit—" She hiccupped. "—it was like everything stopped. And when you didn't get up... god, Seb. I was terrified that something serious had happened."

"Hey, don't cry." I cupped her cheek, sweeping my thumb across her skin. "I'm alright, I promise. Just a little beat up."

Brown eyes shone with unshed tears and affection. "I know," she said softly, her expression tender as she slowly leaned forwards. "But you're still a champion to me."

A groan escaped me as her lips brushed softly against mine. Though eager, she kept the kiss slow, bringing her hands up to rest on my face as mine found her waist. But it didn't matter, because as I pulled her towards me, making the best of our awkward angle, warmth spread through my chest. My heart leapt with each leisurely stroke, and somehow, I found myself smiling in a horrible situation.

And it was in that moment I realized I was in love with her.

Though the euphoria didn't last long. Only a few precious seconds. Because as quickly as the whirlwind of nerves and excitement formed, it was squashed. Not only did my feelings decide to reveal themselves at the worst possible time—when my head wasn't on straight and my future in hockey was up in the air—they also prompted another more worrying thought.

If I was lucky enough to have my feelings reciprocated, would my injury draw Jo's focus away from her boutique?

Considering she was here with me right now, I had to guess yes, and that didn't sit well with me. Her career was similar to mine in that it required her to give it 100%. Every day was an uphill battle, and the only way to reach her goal was through sheer grit and determination. There was no time for distractions, especially not now.

Over the past couple of months, she'd done everything in her power to push her dreams forward as we spent time together. I'd watched her fall apart, freak out in excitement, and zero in her focus, knowing she was creating something she believed in wholeheartedly. And I couldn't risk her shifting her attention to me when it needed to be fixated on getting everything in line for her opening day.

I loved her enough to put her first, even if it meant pushing her away.

My body jerked at the stomach-churning realization and Jo scrambled off the bed with concern. "Did I hurt you?"

"No," I replied, my voice thick, "but I need..."

Unable to finish the sentence, I closed my eyes and gave my head a shake, hoping that was all it would take to make my incessant thoughts disappear. But they stayed put, causing dread to slowly sink into my bones, because I knew I was not only about to break my own heart, but hers as well.

"You need what?" She made a move towards the door. "Do you want me to get the nurse?"

"No." I shoved my fingers into my hair and pulled lightly. "I think... I think I need you to go."

"Wh-what?"

The hurt and confusion on her face was too much to bare, and worried she may see my true feelings etched across my face, I let my gaze fall to my lap. "Please, don't make me say it again."

"Just to be clear," she said, her voice breaking, "you want me to leave?"

"Yes," I replied, ignoring the half of my heart that was screaming at me to take it back. To take it all back. "Just please, go."

Not needing to be told again, Jo turned on her heel and was gone before I could blink.

Unable to stop myself from thinking I'd just made a colossal mistake, my head snapped up when the door swung open again, hoping it was Jo coming back to fight for me. To fight for us. But when I saw only Cameron and Isla in the doorway, staring at me, I couldn't help the disappointment that coiled in the pit of my stomach.

"What the hell happened in here?" Cameron asked, breaking the silence.

I closed my eyes, willing myself to wake up from this nightmare. "What needed to be done."