Tending Tara (Alaska Blizzard #7) - Kat Mizera Page 0,1
much free time. She made time for hockey, though. It relaxed her and was good exercise, but it was also familiar. One of the only things that was familiar other than her brother.
She’d been so lost in thought she didn’t see the skater coming up on her right side, and when the other woman’s stick came up, she couldn’t turn away fast enough. The butt end caught her in the jaw, and she went down hard, pain shooting through her face.
“Tara!” She heard her brother’s voice but was too busy trying to catch her breath. She didn’t know what was broken or bleeding, but it felt like a bomb had exploded inside her mouth. She’d always thought she was pretty tough, but this wasn’t like anything she’d ever experienced.
“Tara, let me see. Tara!” Miikka was kneeling beside her, trying to pry her hand away from her face, but Tara couldn’t let go, as if she was keeping it from falling apart by hanging on.
“I think it’s dislocated.” Dani was the Blizzard’s assistant trainer, and she was on her knees beside Tara and Miikka.
“What do we do?” Miikka asked.
“Let me call the team dentist,” Dani said, resting a hand on Tara’s shoulder. “Breathe, Tara, okay? I don’t know for sure if it’s dislocated, but they’ll need to put it back in place if it is.”
Tara managed a tiny nod, tears forming from the pain.
“Let’s get you to the locker room,” Dani said softly.
The next few minutes were a blur as Miikka lifted Tara off the ice and carried her back to the locker room even though she wanted to tell him she could walk. The pain wasn’t as bad now, but her face was throbbing, and her mouth felt weird. She’d never imagined dislocating her jaw and felt so stupid for not paying attention. As children, they’d all been taught that distractions on the ice could cause injuries, and now it had happened.
She sank onto the bench and breathed in deeply through her nose. She’d already tried to open her mouth and it hurt like hell, so she wouldn’t be doing that again.
“Dr. Newman is on his way,” Dani said, coming in. “He’ll be here in ten minutes.”
“You okay, Tara?” Laurel sat beside her.
“Hurts,” she muttered.
“Dr. Newman is awesome, don’t worry.” Laurel patted her hand.
“I’m going to go get an ice pack,” Dani said. “It’ll help with pain and swelling until Dr. Newman gets here.” She moved out of the room, and Tara looked up, startled to see Donovan standing there with Miikka and Charli.
“I’m okay,” she whispered, though it sounded a little funny since it was difficult to move her mouth. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the wall. The pain had caused an adrenaline rush that was abating, and she was a little nauseated now. She was hot and sweaty, too, and wished she could have some water, but didn’t dare open her mouth enough to drink it.
Someone pressed an ice pack on the side of her face, and she winced a little from the jolt of pain, but the coldness felt good.
“Hurts like a bitch, huh?” Donovan’s voice was soft, and Tara felt his leg brush against hers as he sat beside her.
She opened her eyes and gave him a little nod.
“I dislocated mine when I was still in the juniors. Same way, too. Butt of a stick. I turned around and beat the shit out of the guy, though. He was screwing my girlfriend at the time and didn’t think I knew it. It was the perfect excuse to take him down. It hurt like a mother—getting in a fistfight with a dislocated jaw—so I don’t recommend it. You won’t be able to eat a double-decker sandwich for a while, but you’ll be okay. Doc’ll put it back in place, and in a few weeks, you won’t remember anything happened.”
She glanced over at him just as Dr. Newman came in.
Without thinking, she reached for Donovan’s hand, as if he might help her stay brave because she wasn’t looking forward to what was to come. She didn’t like dentists in general, and this probably wasn’t going to change her opinion.
To her surprise, Donovan’s warm fingers closed around hers, and he didn’t let go.
“Hello, Tara. I’m Dr. Newman. May I take a look?” Dr. Newman seemed nice, and since she had no choice anyway, she nodded.
He pulled away the ice pack and ran firm but gentle fingers along her jaw.