“Pretty bad. Gonna be laid up for a while. May even need to go see a doctor.” I grimace at that.
“Shit, you’re in for a world of trouble,” Trace says.
“Without a doubt.” I’m not looking at him though. Blakely has my eyes.
“Blakely, you okay?” I ask her. The medics are working on me, taking my blood pressure, my pulse rate, and someone is trying to blind me in the damn eye, but I move out of the way when the flashlight comes. There’s someone I need to see more than a damn blinding light.
“I’m fine. Are you okay?” She’s nervous, not coming as close to me as I want her to.
“Never better.” That is until either Jerry or Johnson goes to pull my boot off. The wince is amplified when they ask me to help them take off my jeans.
“I’ll step out,” Blake tells me. I don’t say a word, instead, my eyes hold hers hostage and let her know I’m okay with her staying the entire time they work on me. It’s when I’m down to my shirt and boxer briefs that her eyes leave mine. “Fuck,” I groan when I look down at my knee.
“Yep, you’re done for this rodeo, cowboy,” Trace says unnecessarily. It doesn’t really matter about the rodeo. The tears in Blake’s eyes are what worry me more than anything. Sure, I was more of a jackass than I ever should have been, but that shit is going to stop now. Even with our age gap, I’m going to make shit right, starting tonight.
“Everyone out but Blake,” I demand.
“About damn time.” Trace rubs his jaw, a smile forming on his face. “Come on, guys, not like a whole lot the doctors will do tonight. Let them figure shit out, and we’ll go from there.” Jerry and Johnson follow him out. Yep, I’ve got a lot of work to do when it comes to apologizing to Blakely.
Twelve
Blakely
I think that bull did way more than trample his knee. I think it might have got him in the head too. Knox’s hand lifts up. “You want me?” I point to myself.
“Blakely, darlin’, come here.” Yep, he definitely needs his head examined.
“I’m not sure I should be the one in here with you.” I look down at the boxers encasing his body, trying not to look at the apparent bulge he’s packing beneath them.
“Yep, you need to go to the hospital. There’s not much we can do here besides stabilize it to where you can’t move it too much,” one of the medics says. I look down at what he’s talking about. Knox takes that opportunity to wrap his hand around my wrist, pulling me closer to where he’s lying.
“Holy shit, Knox.” My other hand covers my mouth. The bruising is so bad already, and his knee has doubled in size.
“I’m not going to the hospital. There’s nothing they’ll do that I can’t do at home. At least not right now. Stabilize it, grab me some crutches, and I’ll be good as new.” My mouth is hanging open, in utter disbelief about how he’s taking this.
“Knox, you have to go. What if it gets worse? What if you fall in your camper tonight?” I ask him. He hasn’t let my hand go after he pulled me closer to him, and now our fingers are linked together. I’m not sure who needs to hold whom for strength right now.
“That’s where I’m hoping you’ll help me out, darlin’.” Something tells me I am not going to like this idea. Not at all.
“What are you scheming? I swear you’re as bad as the moms.” My eyes skate back up towards his face.
“Trace can’t help right now. He’s still got a few more events to work. I was hoping you’d stay with me tonight. I’ll watch your event tomorrow, and we’ll head back home afterwards. Trace can drive my truck and travel trailer. I’m ninety percent sure he hitched a ride here so he wouldn’t be the one driving. That boy likes to drink, and he’s smart enough not to drive while doing so.” Yep, I knew he was going to do something.
“What makes you think I want to help you?” I’m telling you he’s got more balls than brains.
“Because I know you, Blakely. You’re not going to let me suffer alone, are you?” Knox is really turning on the charm, but if he thinks I’m going to forgive him that easily, he has another think coming.
“Nope, but just because I’m neighborly doesn’t mean you’re forgiven.” At least he has the sense to look apologetic. That doesn’t stop him from turning on the charm even more.
“I’ll make it up to you.” We’ll just see about that, I think to myself.
“Oh, you definitely will. I’m going to go talk to Trace and figure things out. Think you can be by yourself and not get injured any more while I’m gone?” I smart off.