Las Vegas Sidewinders: Drake (Book 2) by Kat Mizera

contributing member of society again and I can’t do
that until I’ve come to terms with my face and body. I have faith that you will
make some kind of improvement. That has to be enough for me. If and when, in
five or ten years, you’ve made some new breakthrough, then we might do more,
but right now, you and your new procedure are what I want.”
    Mack held out her hand
and Erin shook it. “I’ll have my nurse give you the information for the lab
work, and I’ll talk to you Monday.”
    “Thank you.” Erin stood
and then reached out to hug her.
    “You’re
welcome.” Mack hugged her tightly.

Chapter 4
     
    Are you awake? The phone buzzed and
Erin smiled at Drake’s text late Monday night. It was actually already Tuesday
morning since it was after midnight, but an hour earlier in Las Vegas. They’d continued
texting and talking several times a day, and she liked him more and more. He
was smart, funny and easygoing; she couldn’t help but want to know him. It was
also fun watching him play hockey on TV; she had Kate and Tessa becoming fans
of the Sidewinders too. Seeing him play and having him text her after the game
was really fun for all of them.
    Can’t sleep. Where are
you?
    Just got back from the
arena. Lost again. Two in a row.
    But you scored…
    How do you know?
    Have you ever heard of
a TV?
    Smartass.
    You looked so intense
on the bench.
    We spent the whole game
chasing them—it sucked.
    Does your coach yell at
you?
    Tonight he did. But not
much.
    You were on the ice a
lot. Is it exhausting?
    Not really. I stay in
pretty good shape. How are you holding up?
    I’m terrified.
    I know, babe. I’ll be
by the phone all day tomorrow. My sister will call me as soon as you’re done.
    I wish you were here.
    You do?
    Yeah. Kate and Tessa
are great, but sometimes you need a big guy kind of hug. Am I being dorky?
    Nope. I’d love to wrap
my arms around you right now and promise everything is going to be okay. But no
matter what, my sister will take care of you.
    Still wishing you were
here…
    I could be. I can tell
Coach it’s a family emergency and come.
    No. I’ll need you more
after the surgery. Especially if it doesn’t work.
    You’re going to let me
see you? All of you?
    Yes. I just don’t know
when.
    You should sleep, babe.
Then it’ll be all over.
    I’ve been trying.
    Text me any time. I’m
here for you.
    Thank you.
    Good night, Erin.
     
    Erin came awake slowly.
    “Hi, sweetie.” The
nurse who had been with her before surgery was smiling down at her now. “You’re
awake. You have lots of people out there waiting to see you. How are you
feeling?”
    Erin frowned slightly.
“Okay, I think. Nothing hurts.”
    “No, ma’am.” The nurse
smiled even broader. “Dr. Riser doesn’t let her patients suffer. She orders up
just the right pain meds. She’ll be in to see you soon, okay?”
    “Thank you.” Erin
closed her eyes, slowly drifting in and out.
    “Erin, are you awake?”
Mack’s soft voice forced Erin to open her eyes again. “Hi there. Your nurse
said you were awake.”
    “Kind of.” Erin smiled
faintly.
    “We did well,” Mack
squeezed her hand. “I think you’re going to be really happy with your eye and
your hairline. Your nose is going to be even more perfect than before, and I
was able to leave the new skin on the side of your face. So far, I’m not seeing
the angry red marks I saw with the other rejections. It’s still early, but with
the others I was seeing signs of rejection even before I finished; yours went
without a hitch. I’m really excited, Erin.”
    “I’m too tired to be
excited,” Erin whispered.
    “You just rest. When
you’re fully awake we’ll call Drake, okay? He’s been pestering me every 15
minutes! And Kate said Liv has called over and over, so you might want to let
her hear your voice.”
    Erin was smiling as she
drifted back to sleep.
     
    Sitting up in bed later
that evening, Erin ate the chicken soup and soft roll that Tessa had brought
her.