Why am I reminding him?
His grin turns to a chuckle. Stunning, Lydia. This is going perfect. Absolutely nailing it.
Taking a deep breath, I try again. “How are you?”
“Better now.”
My brain is too tangled to attempt to figure out that remark. “You’re here early. We’re just getting started.”
“I changed my work schedule so I’ll be able to get Toby right after school from now on.” His eyes meet mine. “How are you?”
Losing my absolute shit, thanks for asking. “Okay.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him if he’s seeing anyone and who answered his phone when Toby runs up to us. “Lydia, look what I found! Whoops!”
An excruciating pain pierces my foot and shoots up my leg. Dropping to the floor, I’m barely aware of the words flowing out of my mouth.
“Ow! Fucking hell! Son of a whore that hurts like a bitch!” Tears leak from my eyes while I yank my shoe off. Rocking back and forth, I squeeze my foot like it might help somehow. “Shit, shit shit. Owwww.”
Toby’s voice is full of awe. “That was a lot of bad words.”
About twenty pairs of stunned eyes are on me. I don’t care. Show me one person who could have their foot smashed and still manage to censor themselves.
Simon kneels in front of me. “Let me see. It might be broken.” Gently, he takes my foot in his hand.
“I’m sorry!” Toby shouts, picking up the eight pound dumbbell.
Ava rushes over. “What happened?”
“Toby dropped that dumbbell on her foot,” Simon answers absently, while he inspects my toes.
“I didn’t mean to!” Toby exclaims, tearing up.
The pain isn’t getting much better, but I manage to reach over and pat Toby’s leg. “It’s okay. It was an accident.”
“Give it here before you drop it on your own foot,” Ava advises, and he hands it over. She calls over one of the older kids and sends them to the nurse’s office to get an icepack.
“Can you stand on it?” Simon asks. His arm wraps around my middle, and he hauls me to my feet.
As soon as I try, the pain shoots across the top of my toes and up my leg again. My foot is also starting to do a fantastic impression of a puffer fish.
“Okay, I’m taking you to the hospital. Where’s your stuff?”
“No, you don’t have to do that. I can call Sicily or—”
“I’m taking you.” His tone allows no argument, not that I would’ve. It really hurts.
“Can you grab my purse from the office?” I ask Ava as the student returns with the ice pack wrapped in a white towel.
Ava retrieves my purse, and Simon nods at Toby. “You carry her bag, buddy. So I can help her to the car.”
“Are we taking Lydia to a doctor?” he asks.
“Yep. They’ll fix her right up.”
Toby beams and hangs my purse on his shoulder. “Look, I’m a fancy lady.” Despite the throbbing in my foot, I can’t help but laugh when he sashays around.
“I can hop on one foot if you keep your arm around me. Oh!”
Simon cuts my suggestion short by picking me up. “I’ve got you. Come on, Toby. Stay right with us.”
All the way out to the car, Toby does his little fancy lady walk and giggles. He opens the car door for Simon to put me in the front seat, then clambers into the back.
Barely ten minutes after my anticipated reunion with Simon, we’re on our way to the hospital. It’s not the way I saw today going.
After nearly an hour wait in the emergency room, we’re taken back to an exam room. “Remember when I was here before?” Toby asks excitedly. “But there are no beans up my nose this time.”
“Here.” Simon hands him his phone and a set of earbuds. “You can play a game or watch cartoons.”
“Okay!” Toby grabs it and climbs up onto one of the chairs.
The top of my foot and part of my toes have turned a dark purplish blue by the time the doctor comes in. He’s quick and efficient. While Simon and Toby wait in the exam room, I’m taken for x-rays.
Ava waits with them when I’m wheeled back in. “Hey, you didn’t have to come.”
She holds up the shoe I left behind. “Thought you might want this. You never know what Coach Bro might do with it.”
“Ew. Thanks. Don’t think I’ll be wearing it for a while. I’m waiting for the x-ray results.”
Toby slides off of the chair like a wet noodle. “It’s taking forever. I’m hungry.”
Ava glances at me, then looks at Simon. “Why don’t I take him down to the cafeteria for a snack? It’ll probably take a bit if you need a cast.”
Simon hands her some money. “That’d be great. Thanks.” He points at Toby. “Be good.”
“I’m always good.”
Once they’ve left, I blurt out, “I’m sorry.”
Simon blinks at me. “For what?”