Chapter 69 A soft knock at the door has me drying my cheeks with my hands as Sly shelters me against his chest. Just because I'm okay letting him see me cry doesn't mean I want anyone else to. Especially not Bryan, who would probably make a crack about me melting. It turns out it's my nurse, with a very dubious-looking breakfast tray. "I had them add an extra bagel for you, Sly," Lena tells him as she sets the tray down next to my bed. "Just a heads-up that they'll be coming at eleven to take you for imaging, Sloane. If everything comes back normal, Dr. Bhargava has signed orders for you to move to a regular room tonight for observation. If nothing goes wrong there, they'll spring you bright and early Monday morning." I don't know whether it's what she said or how she said it, but it triggers something in my brain. "Did you say eleven o'clock?" I ask. "Yes-the test is in about an hour." Lena looks puzzled. "Is there a problem with that?" "So it's ten o'clock now?" I turn wide eyes on Sly. "Just about, yeah." He looks as confused as Lena, like he can't quite figure out where I'm going with this. Which makes no sense at all. "It's ten o'clock on Sunday?" I reiterate, just to make sure I don't have my days wrong. I did sleep through two of them, after all. Lena nods. Holy shit. I scramble off Sly's lap. "What the hell are you still doing here?" I see the moment he realizes what I'm saying and throws both hands in the air in defense. "I told Coach two days ago I wasn't going to make the game." "What do you mean you're not making the game?" I demand incredulously. "What about winning this game so you can make it to the Super Bowl? What about owing Austin a ring? What about your dream of bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Texas? This game is what you've been working toward all season!" Sly shrugs. The man actually shrugs, even as the corners of his mouth turn up in the beginnings of a grin. "Turns out none of that means anything without you." "Oh, no!" I tell him, slapping his hand back when he reaches for me. "You don't get to pull that Prince Charming shit on me." The grin grows bigger. "So you think I'm charming?" "What I think is that you need to get your ass on a plane right now. What time is the game?" "I think I'm going to let you two figure this out," Lena says, but neither Sly nor I are paying any attention to her as she slinks out of the room. We're too busy squaring off. "You nearly died two days ago," he growls, arms folded over his chest. "There's no way in hell I'm leaving you right now." "Yeah, well, I didn't die. And there's no way in hell I'm letting you stay," I toss back. "You'll get slaughtered in the press for this." "Do you think I give a shit what the press says about me missing one game?" he demands. "No, but I do give a shit about being here if something else happens to you-" "One important game! And nothing's going to happen to me. You heard Lena. I'm fine." "Actually, what she said is that you appear fine and that your doctor wants to run some tests to confirm it. That's not the same thing." It's my turn to shrug. "It's close enough." "I'm not going, Sloane. I couldn't make it if I wanted to, and I don't." "Oh, you're fucking going," I snarl. "Even if I have to break out of this place and drag your ass to the airport myself. Don't make me call Marco." "It's too late," he tells me. "The team is already in San Diego. I'd have to find a nonstop flight that leaves in the next hour to even have a chance of making it to the game, and that's not going to happen. I wouldn't even make it to the airport in time, let alone through airport security." "Who said anything about the TSA?" I shoot right back. "What's the point of having a pop star girlfriend if you can't catch a ride on her private plane every once in a while?" "I-" He breaks off and just kind of stares at me, like I've totally flummoxed him. Which is completely adorable, though I'm not about to tell him that. "If my whole team is here-plus Roberta, who Jace would never ship-my guess is they flew the plane in from Chicago. Which means it's probably sitting in a hangar at the Austin airport right now." I hold out a hand. "Give me your phone. I want to text Marco and Jace and see how long it'll take to get it gassed up and ready to go." "I'm not giving you my phone." "Fine." I start for the door, trailing my IV behind me. "Jaime's still out there, right? I'll get him to text-" "This is ridiculous," Sly protests, even as he pulls his phone out of his pocket and hands it to me. "My gear isn't even here." I give him an oh please look. "So go get it. I can assure you the plane's not leaving without you." "Listen to me, Sloane." "I'm listening," I tell him as I text Marco. "No, you're not." He puts his hand over mine, making sure to block the phone screen as he does. "The game doesn't matter to me. You matter to me." "And you matter to me, Sly. And that means you playing that game matters to me. So stop arguing and get going. I promise by the time you're back, I'll be hale and hearty and waiting for you in bed." His phone dings, and I glance down at the text from my head of security. "Marco says the plane and pilot can be ready by eleven. Now give me a kiss and get your ass to the airport so I can watch you kick the Lightning up and down that damn field. Remember I missed the season opener, so I didn't get it the first time around." Sly looks like he wants to argue, but in the end, he blows out a long breath. "Okay, fine." I narrow my eyes suspiciously. "Okay you're going? Or..." "Okay, I'm going," he agrees. Then pulls me in for a long, lingering kiss. I lift a brow. "Oh really?" "Yeah." He gives me the most lovesick and resigned sort of look. "No sense arguing with the queen." "Nice to know we finally agree." Title: A Tangle of Love (English-dubbed) In "A Tangle of Love," a captivating romance unfolds within a unique observation show where participants navigate intricate relationships, love triangles, and power dynamics. Set against the backdrop of modern-day complexities, this ongoing series delves into themes of reincarnation, revenge, and personal transformation. Follow the journey of diverse characters as they grapple with misunderstandings and emotional conflicts while vying for love and success. As the drama unfolds, one couple emerges from the chaos, showcasing a remarkable glow-up that defies expectations. What sets "A Tangle of Love" apart is its blend of billionaire lifestyles, contemporary romance dynamics, and the allure of second chances. Dive into this enthralling narrative available to read online at CrushReel for a compelling exploration of love's complexities in a world where power and passion collide.