Page 57 of Full Court Love
Although, I do notice some out-of-character plays. Not seeing open teammates, errant passes, and missed easy shots. I can’t help but blame myself. Luckily, the game isn’t close. It’s almost funny that on Lucy’s off day, she still has 22 points and 8 assists.
By the time the fourth quarter rolls around, the game is essentially over. I see her coach clear the bench, ready to pull the starters so they can rest for the remaining five minutes at the next dead ball. It’s a smart move. You don’t want unnecessary injuries.
But before they have the chance to sub out, Lucy snags a steal and dribbles the length of the court. She jumps up to put it in for an easy layup, but as her foot comes down, it finds the defender's foot. I feel like I’m watching it happen in slow motion as she rolls to the ground, clutching her left ankle.
My heart drops. I close my eyes.
This can’t be happening to her.
Not again.
The trainer rushes onto the floor with the head coach, both looking positively despondent. Lucy quickly sits up, attempting to brush it off. It looks like she’s willingeverything to be okay when everyone in the gym can plainly see that it isn’t.
She smiles through gritted teeth as they pull her to her feet. The first step she takes on her left foot, it almost gives out, but Lucy is nothing if not tough as nails.
She refuses to let the insistent trainer support her as she slowly walks to the bench, giving a thumbs-up to the crowd. The entire arena gives a collective sigh of relief and then cheers as she continues the slow slog to the end of the bench. Of course Lucy’s worried about reassuring everyone else even amidst her own intense physical and probably emotional pain.
Before I know what I’m doing, I find myself walking down the steps to the end of the bench where she’s now sitting with Callie, the trainer. I feel like my legs had a mind of their own as they took me to her. Crouching down, I lay my hand on her shoulder.
Lucy looks over, surprised. A hopeful look flashes across her face when she sees me, but it’s replaced by annoyance so fast, I wonder if I imagined it.
“What do you want, Jordan?”
What do I want? Excellent question. I have apparently lost control of my faculties because I couldn’t fight the intense urge to be certain she’s all right. Even if I’m the last person she wants to see right now.
“Are you okay?”
She smiles sarcastically. I see how clenched her jaw is right now, and I know she’s in real agony.
“I’m peachy. Back-to-back days of fun stuff. At least now the external matches the internal, so I’m fully in sync and the world is reaching total balance. I bet it’s a full moon or some BS like that.”
I choke on my unexpected laugh. I can’t help it. Even now, her sarcasm is unmatched. I know she’s also attempting to distract herself from thinking about her achingankle and the potential worst-case scenarios. “Glad to hear it.”
Callie has been chuckling listening to us bicker as she pokes and prods the already swollen foot. “Okay, Lucy. I think we got lucky. It’s sprained pretty badly, but I’m relatively certain nothing’s broken.”
Lucy’s nodding along earnestly as the game resumes behind her, and I see a tear trickle down her cheek. Thankfully, it’s accompanied by a relieved smile. I want to cry for her. She doesn’t deserve any of this. The hurt I caused, this god-awful injury–none of it is fair to her.
Callie continues, “But if we’re going to have you back in time for the conference tournament, you’re going to need to be insanely diligent. Icing, heating, stretching, and doing the exercises I give you. I’m putting you on crutches right now. No weight-bearing for at least two days to give the swelling a chance to subside.”
Lucy is locked in as she nods along, but Callie’s next statement throws her.
“You’ll need someone with you pretty much around the clock. You live with Britt, Kya, and AJ, right? They’ve all had injuries before, so they’re experienced at this type of thing.”
Lucy twists toward the court to clap as one of the freshmen makes a free throw, then turns back to us with a slow exhale. “Yes, they have, but…they’re all out of town for the next few days.”
Callie slaps her forehead. “Oh, duh. I forgot all those teams are on the road.”
I’m looking back and forth between the two of them like I’m watching a tennis match, the silent spectator attempting to follow the action.
“Who can come stay with you? You absolutely shouldn’t be alone.”
Once again, my body reacts before my mind can think anything through. It’s not a surprise that my knee-jerkreaction is wanting to take care of Lucy whether she wants me to or not.
“I’ll do it.”
Lucy turns slowly, the heat of her glare burning a hole through my soul. “You can’t be serious.”
At that moment, the final buzzer sounds. Everyone goes through the handshake line, and then every player from both teams comes to check on Lucy. I sit back, watching her in utter adoration as she reassures them she’s going to be fine come tournament time. I don’t deserve the pride I feel sitting there with her, but I can’t help it.