Hard Drive by Tricia Andersen

Author:Tricia Andersen [Andersen, Tricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: MMA Fiction, Sports Fiction
Publisher: Hartwood Publishing
Published: 2016-11-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

Despite Tori’s pleas that he stay in the dorms so that she could take care of him, Max’s parents packed up a couple days’ worth of clothes and whisked him home to New Ulm. He was ordered to the couch to rest his knee, with an endless supply of ice packs. Tyson kept him busy with stories to read and games to play. His mother and sisters waited on him hand and foot. He spent Sunday afternoon watching football with his dad. Quinn drove to see him once, only staying twenty minutes. He called twice. Other than that and a spattering of texts, he never heard a word from his best friend.

He did miss Tori and Quinn, but there was nothing better than family.

First thing Monday morning, Max and his parents were sitting in the office of the orthopedic surgeon. The nurse stepped out with a chart in her hand. “Max Thomas?”

Max lifted himself from his seat as he grabbed the crutches. “Here.”

His parents stood to follow. Just as they did, the office door opened. Tori stood, breathless, in the doorway.

Max sent her a curious look. “What are you doing here? You didn’t call all weekend.”

Tori sashayed to his side and hugged him. “I just wanted to be here to see what the doctor says.”

Max kissed her softly. “I would have called you.”

“I know. But I want to hear it all myself.”

Max glanced over his shoulder to his parents. The scowls embedded in their features said that neither was pleased at Tori’s presence. Max shrugged. Tori loved him. They were already planning a future. His folks would just have to get used to her.

The four settled into the room the nurse ushered them to. Max hopped up on the table the best he could so that she could take his vitals. Once she left, the room fell quiet and tense. Tori buried her nose in her phone. Max’s parents sent each other annoyed looks. He sighed. This is going to be a long appointment.

The doctor, a short, stocky man with salt and pepper hair, shuffled in. “Mr. Thomas?”

“Yes,” Max acknowledged.

The doctor shook Max’s hand. “I’m Dr. Penbrook.” He glanced at the three other occupants as he settled onto the stool. “I looked at your chart. You do have a full ACL tear. With your athletic background, I’m recommending surgery. How did you injure this again?”

“I had a fight,” Max explained.

“You were in a fight?” Dr. Penbrook demanded, his voice alarmed.

“No, I had a fight. MMA. At the exhibition center Friday night.”

The doctor frowned at him. “Why would you do something like that?”

Max could sense the collective growl about to rip through the room from Tori and his parents. He smiled calmly. “Because I like it. Now, when are you thinking of having surgery?”

The doctor hurriedly glanced down at the chart. Max bit back a chuckle. Obviously, he wasn’t the only one who’d noticed the disgust from the others in the room. “I think we could get you in Thursday. Will that work?”

“Sure.

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