THE BRIDE WHO WALKED AWAY

Chapter 14: Play Along.

Melinda's POV

I wanted the ground to swallow me.

Or better yet, I wanted the camera operator to spontaneously lose his job.

The laughter from the crowd still rang in my ears as I sank deeper into my seat.

Toxic woman.

Gold digger.

Wonderful, just wonderful.

I had barely recovered from the humiliation when a loud cheer erupted from the opposite side of the stadium.

I looked up.

The fourth official was standing at the sideline, holding the electronic substitution board above his head.

My eyes immediately went to the numbers.

Then my heart skipped. Theodore Alexander.

He was coming onto the field.

The commentator seemed to forget all about me instantly.

“And there he is! The man the fans have been waiting for!”

The stadium erupted, I sat up straighter.

Theodore jogged onto the pitch, his expression completely focused as he took his position.

I couldn't help the tiny smile that tugged at my lips.

Come on, Theodore, show them.

Really Melinda? You used to hate him. My subconscious mocked.

The whistle blew, the game resumed.

And it didn't take long.

Theodore received the ball just outside the box, my fingers tightened around the edge of my seat.

He moved past one defender.

Then another.

“Come on…” I whispered.

He kicked, the ball flew straight into the net.

GOAL!

The stadium exploded.

I jumped to my feet before remembering where I was.

My hands immediately flew to my mouth.

I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to celebrate like the lunatic I apparently was.

But after what had just happened, I wasn't about to give those cameras another reason to put my face on that giant screen.

So I settled for a small clap.

At least, that's what I told myself.

Theodore turned toward the stands, his eyes scanning the crowd.

For one brief second, I wondered if he was looking for me.

Then he looked away, I rolled my eyes.

Of course not. Why would he?

It didn't take long before he scored again. Clark's face betrayed him, he looked pissed and frustrated.

The urge to snap that reaction on his face is so strong.

Soon it started snowing, I used my hands to shield my arms. Goosebumps was starting to appear on my skin.

That son of a gun didn't let me get a coat this morning.

I got distracted a bit, I checked my phone when a message popped in.

It was Anna.

“Girl, you're trending! You're there for Theodore?? You have a lot of gist to spill.”

This girl is dramatic please. I was about to reply her when the crowd erupted.

I looked up to see what happened.

Theodore was on the floor. I shot up instinctively.

I quickly rushed from the VIP, I set towards the field.

His coach stopped me, “The doctors are checking him.”

“I'm his personal doctor,on field and off field.” I said and brushed past him.

I showed the refree my ID card and he allowed me into the field.

That was when I saw him.

Clark.

He was also on the floor holding his ankle. Just few inches away from him is Theodore lying on the floor. His face was twisted in pain.

This injury is serious that the previous one, I couldn't move my feet, I debated on checking on Clark.

Then Clark opened his eyes and it landed on me. His gaze was kind of pleading and happy.

My gaze travelled to the bleachers, there was Winifred. Her face twisted with rage.

Finally, my feet moved, I brushed past Clark, it was like he couldn't believe I could actually ignore him.

I got to Theodore's side. The medics were there.

“Thought you'd go for your asswipe ex!” He snickered.

“You seem to find your strength anytime it involves me.” I reexamine his leg after the medics have.

He didn't speak. I and the medics agree to get him off the field.

I was about walking away when I felt someone's arm wrapped around my neck.

“For support.” Theodore's breathe fanned my neck.

“I doubt it, your other arm is not wrapped like this on his neck.” I pointed to the medic who's also supporting his movement.

“Play along Mel.” He dipped his head on my neck.

Play along? This guy is inviting trouble! Why would he make me trend for another two weeks?

No wonder he rejected getting on the stretcher.

We slowly made our way toward the sidelines.

By the time we got there, Theodore was breathing heavily, his face still twisted with pain.

I helped him settle into his seat, then crouched beside him to examine his leg again.

“Does it hurt here?” I pressed lightly around his knee.

He hissed.

I immediately pulled my hand away, I took the spray meant to ease the pain and sprayed it on his knee.

“Okay. Don't move it.”

“I wasn't planning to.”

I rolled my eyes, typical Theodore.

I stood up and pulled my arms closer to myself when a cold breeze swept across the stadium.

I shivered, Theodore noticed.

Without saying a word, he pulled off his cardigan and placed it over my shoulders.

I stared at him. “You'll get cold.”

“I'll survive.”

Before he could respond, an enormous cheer erupted from the stands.

I looked around in confusion.

Theodore's fans were screaming, whistling and chanting.

I couldn't tell if they were celebrating the win or something else entirely.

I looked at Theodore, he simply shrugged.

I pulled the cardigan closer around myself.

Across the field, Clark was staring at us. His face was dark with fury.

His jaw clenched as he watched Theodore's arm resting casually against the seat.

He suddenly turned away and stormed toward the locker room.

I frowned.

What was his problem?

The match continued without Theodore.

Thankfully, his injury didn't look as bad as it had initially seemed, but I still wasn't taking any chances.

A few minutes later, the final whistle blew.

The stadium erupted.

Theodore's teammates rushed onto the field, celebrating their victory.

They had won.

The trophy was brought onto the field shortly afterward, and the entire team gathered around it.

Theodore eventually joined them despite his injured leg.

The crowd grew louder when he stepped forward.

His teammates surrounded him, and together, they lifted the trophy into the air.

The roar that followed was deafening.

I couldn't help smiling.

For a moment, I forgot about the media. I forgot about Clark.

Theodore looked genuinely happy.

And strangely enough, seeing him like that made me smile too.

Soon, the players began leaving the field.

I followed Theodore and the medical team back toward the locker room.

I wanted to ask him about his injury, but he looked completely exhausted.

When we finally got back, I turned toward him.

“So, about what happened earlier—”

“Not now, Dr. Mel.” He interrupted.

I frowned. “What?”

“I'm tired.” His voice sounded unusually drained.

“I've had a long day, and I'm not in the right state of mind to discuss anything right now.”

I stared at him.

“You could at least tell me if your leg is—”

“Tomorrow.” He walked past me.

I sighed, of course.

Theodore Alexander and his mysterious moods.

He eventually made his way home, while I headed back to Anna's house.

She was at the door waiting for me grinning like a three year old.

The moment we got inside, she turned to me.

“So…” I already knew that tone.

I dropped my bag on the couch. “So what?”

She pointed at the cardigan around my shoulders.

“Oh, That.” I looked down.

“The cardigan.” She was still grinning.

“I'm cold.” I replied nonchalantly.

“Linda.”

“What?”

She folded her arms. “Spill the tea.”

I rolled my eyes. “There is no tea to spill.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“You went to the stadium as Theodore's personal doctor.”

“Yes.”

“You were shown on the big screen.”

I groaned.

“Unfortunately.”

“You celebrated when his team scored.” She continued with her teasing assault.

“I was excited.”

“And then…”

Her eyes dropped to the cardigan again.

“…you came home wearing his clothes.”

I sighed. “He gave it to me because I was cold.”

“He could have asked someone to bring you a coat.”

“Anna.”

“He could have given you a blanket.”

“Anna!”

She burst out laughing. “You like him.”

“I do not.”

“You're defensive.”

“Because you're annoying.” She laughed even harder.

I shook my head and walked toward my room.

“Nothing is happening between me and Theodore.”

“Okay,” she called after me.

That okay annoyed me more than anything else.

I entered my room and looked down at the cardigan again.

I don't know why I had brought it home.

I probably should have returned it.

But somehow, I hadn't.

I placed it carefully on the chair beside my bed.

I would return it tomorrow.

After a quick shower, I changed into something comfortable and collapsed on the bed.

The exhaustion from the day finally caught up with me.

Before long, I fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual.

My shift started early, and after everything that had happened at the stadium, I desperately needed some normalcy.

I spent the morning attending to patients, assisting with procedures and doing everything I could to keep my mind away from the previous day's chaos.

By the time my shift ended, I was exhausted.

I returned home in the afternoon and barely had the strength to eat.

I changed into something comfortable and lay down on my bed.

Just for a few minutes, that was what I told myself.

The next thing I knew, my phone was ringing.

I groaned and reached blindly for it.

Who was calling me at this hour?

I answered without checking the screen. “Hello?”

“You're sleeping.”

My eyes snapped open. That voice.

I sat up immediately.

“Theodore?”

“Who else would call you?” I glanced at the clock.

“Do you know what time it is?” I asked somehow annoyed and happy.

“Yes.”

“Then why are you calling me?”

There was a brief silence. “Get dressed.”

I frowned.

“Excuse me?”

“We're going to dinner.” He said casually.

I blinked. “We're going where?”

“Dinner.”

“I heard you the first time. I'm asking why.”

“The teams are celebrating tonight.”

I rubbed my eyes. “Congratulations?”

“Thank you.” His voice was low.

“Then why am I involved?”

“Because you're my personal doctor.”

I stared at the phone. “That makes absolutely no sense.”

“You'll understand when you get here.”

“Theodore—”

“Be ready in an hour, Dr. Mel.” He cut me off.

The call ended.

I stared at my phone in disbelief.

This man had a serious problem with ending calls whenever he felt like it.

I dropped the phone on the bed.

Dinner?

With Theodore?

I looked toward the chair beside my bed, his cardigan was still there.

I sighed.

Something told me returning that cardigan was going to be harder than I thought.

And somehow, I had a feeling tonight was going to be anything but normal.