Faking It With The Hockey Star

Justin’s POV

The first thing I noticed was the ache in my head. It was dull at first, resting somewhere behind my eyes, but it sharpened the moment I tried to move.

Where the hell was I?

I slowly forced my eyes open. Bright white light hit me immediately, making me squint as I tried to make sense of the ceiling above me. For a few seconds, everything was a blur. Then the scattered pieces started rushing back: the rink, the game, the roar of the crowd, the sound of skates carving into ice, that damn headache, and the sudden, overwhelming dizziness. I remembered trying to steady myself. Then... nothing.

I swallowed, my throat dry as sand. I tried moving my hand, only to realize something warm and soft was wrapped around my fingers.

I turned my head slowly and found Harper. She was curled up in the chair beside my bed, her head tilted awkwardly to one side. Her hair was messy, her face looked exhausted, and her hand was still holding mine.

I stared at her for a few seconds, my chest tightening with overwhelming affection. "Harper?" My voice was barely a rasp. She didn’t move. I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Baby?"

Her eyes fluttered open. For a second, she looked completely lost. Then her gaze landed on me, and her entire face transformed. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Justin?"

I managed a weak smile. "Hey."

She stared at me, paralyzed, before shooting straight out of the chair. "Nurse!"

I flinched. "Jesus."

She slammed the call button so hard I thought she was going to break it. "He’s awake!" Her voice cracked with raw emotion. "He’s awake!"

She spun back toward me, tears already streaming down her face. She reached for my face with both hands, her warm palms cupping my cheeks as if she needed physical proof that I was actually there. "You’re awake."

"Yeah," I blinked softly.

Her lips trembled. "You’re actually awake."

"Last time I checked."

A tiny, wet laugh escaped her through her tears, and then she started crying even harder.

I frowned, my chest aching for her. "Why are you crying?"

She stared at me like I had just asked the stupidest question in the world. "Because you scared the life out of me."

I tried to lift my arm to wipe her tears, but it felt like it weighed a hundred pounds. "I’m sorry."

"Don’t," she shook her head quickly, wiping her cheeks. "Don’t say sorry."

The door flew open, and a nurse hurried into the room, followed closely by a medical assistant. "He’s awake?"

"Yes!" Harper said instantly, relief washing over her face.

The nurse smiled warmly. "Okay, let’s take a look at him."

I watched numbly as they checked the monitors, my blood pressure, my pulse, and the IV line running into my arm. I hated how weak I felt. Playing a full three periods of hockey had taken less effort than it took to lift my head right now.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"The hospital," the nurse replied gently.

"Yeah, I figured that part out."

She chuckled. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a truck."

Harper sniffed, her voice thick with emotion. "That’s because you basically collapsed in the middle of a hockey game."

I looked at her. "I did?"

Her expression fell slightly. "You don’t remember?"

I tried to piece it together. The crowd, the glaring arena lights, Mason, Coach, and then that sudden wave of nausea. "I remember feeling weird," I swallowed. "Then everything went black."

Harper nodded, her voice dropping to a quiet whisper. "Yeah. You passed out."

I glanced down at myself. "How long?"

"Not very long," the nurse answered smoothly. "You’ve been under observation since then."

I looked back at Harper. She looked like she hadn’t slept or left this room in days. "You stayed?"

She gave me a incredulous look. "Obviously."

I smiled faintly. "You didn’t have to."

"Don’t start."

"I was just saying."

"You scared me, Justin."

"I know."

"You scared everyone."

"I’m beginning to notice a pattern," I murmured.

A soft laugh escaped her despite herself. The nurse checked one last reading on the monitor before giving me an reassuring nod. "Your doctor will be here shortly. For now, just rest and don’t try to get out of bed."

"Okay," I agreed.

Once the nurse left, the heavy quiet settled back over the room. I turned my head further, and that was when I noticed him.

Dad was sitting near the window, looking worn down and older than I had ever seen him. I stared at him for a quiet moment, and he stared back. Neither of us said a word. I didn’t have the energy for that conversation right now. Maybe not ever.

I pulled my gaze away, refocusing entirely on Harper. "Where are Grandma and Grandpa?"

"They were here," her voice softened into comfort. "They went home to rest for a little while, but they’re coming right back."

"Okay."

"And your dad has been here too," she added quietly.

I glanced toward the window again. He was still watching me with silent remorse, but I looked away. "Okay."

Harper squeezed my fingers. I looked up at her tired, beautiful face. "You cried a lot."

She rolled her eyes, a tear escaping down her cheek anyway. "You were unconscious."

"Still."

"You really don’t know when to stop talking, do you?"

I smiled, feeling my heart warm. "There she is."

She laughed softly, wiping her eyes. For the first time since opening my eyes, the suffocating tension inside my chest finally loosened. I was still exhausted, my head was still pounding, and I had no idea what the future held. But Harper was right here holding my hand, my grandparents were on their way back, and Mason was probably out there somewhere crafting a terrible joke about me passing out on the ice.

Despite everything, I was still here.

I squeezed Harper’s hand gently. "Come here."

She leaned closer over the bed. I pressed a weak, lingering kiss against her forehead, breathing in her familiar scent. "I missed you."

She closed her eyes, resting her forehead against mine. "You were unconscious for three days."

"Exactly."

She laughed through another tear, her warm breath brushing against my skin. "You’re impossible."

"Yeah," I whispered, letting my eyelids flutter shut as a profound sense of safety washed over me. "But I’m your impossible."

And for the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t afraid to fall asleep.

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