Authors: N. E. Henderson
“Nicholas, why don’t you release her? She doesn’t
look like she is enjoying it,” Dr. Thornton tells him as if reading my mind.
He’s a doctor, so he’s probably good at noticing someone in pain.
“Fuck, baby, I’m sorry,” he says as he lets go of
me and takes a step backward. Dr. Thornton raises his eyebrows at Nick. The
word “baby” definitely didn’t slip by him, and I wonder if Luke has told anyone
the two of us aren’t together anymore.
“I’m fine, Nick. Stop saying you’re sorry,
please.” I’ve about had enough of that.
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of your health?
Now Nicholas says you need x-rays. Care to tell me where and why?” He crosses
his arms over his chest like he already knows he isn’t going to like what I
tell him.
“The right side of my back to see if I have any
broken ribs.” I keep my answer short and don’t plan on going into any details.
Dr. Thornton cuts his eyes at Nick before looking back at me. Apparently, my
short answer isn’t good enough for him.
“What happened that makes you think you might have
broken ribs?” His voice is calm and not giving anything away. I take a deep
breath that hurts like hell and give him an honest answer.
“Rough sex gone bad?” I smile at him hoping
someone is going to laugh. They don’t.
“Shannon!” Nick shouts and looks at me in disbelief,
like he can’t believe those words came out of my mouth.
“Well, he asked,” I say pointblank, crossing my
own arms across my chest. Wow. That hurts. I wince in pain. Shit. Why the hell
did I do that? I quickly drop my arms to my side.
“Yes, I did,” Dr. Thornton remarks, finally
cracking a small smile. Nick rolls his eyes at me and I sigh.
“Remove your shirt, please,” he instructs, putting
on a pair of blue latex gloves. Nick helps me out of my shirt. Changing clothes
is going to be a bitch if my back doesn’t heal quickly.
Dr. Thornton comes to stand on my right side. He
gently touches the area of my back that is bruised. He presses his fingers into
my ribs feeling around. Even though he is only applying a small amount of
pressure, it still hurts.
“So when did you learn about Lucas’ indiscretions?”
he asks as he finishes touching my back.
“You knew?” I ask as my anger flairs.
“Darling, everyone knew. I’m just surprised it
took you so long to figure it out.” He turns away from me, removing his gloves
and tossing them in the trash. I wonder if he knows how long it went on, but
then, honestly, I don’t care. That part of my life is over. I can’t change it,
but I can move past it.
“Are you going to do the damn x-ray now?” Nick
asks, changing the subject; clearly, not liking the topic of my conversation with
the doctor. Dr. Thornton rolls his eyes this time.
“You don’t have any broken ribs, but I’ll send you
for an x-ray to see if any are fractured. You can put your shirt back on.” He
turns to walk out of the room and pauses as he puts his hand on the doorknob.
“Step outside with me, Nicholas,” he says, not looking at Nick. I’m finishing
pulling my shirt down when I look up at Nick then the doctor. Something tells
me this is about me. I’m not going to be discussed behind my back.
“If it’s about me, then I would appreciate you
saying whatever it is you have to say in front of me.” I’m glaring at the
doctor. He pushes the door back closed. He had only begun to open it when I
spoke. He turns facing me and then eyes Nick.
“She's a feisty one, isn’t she?” he says as he
crosses his arms over his chest and leans back against the door.
“Defiant is what I call her.” I shoot Nick a
deadly stare. “And she doesn’t like it when I say that,” he smirks.
“Fine,” Dr. Thornton says as he pushes off the
wall, placing his hands on his hips. “What the fuck, Nicholas?”
“Hey!” I yell as I jump off the exam table. I
shouldn’t have done that. The pounding from my feet hitting the ground sends a
sharp pain to my back. Nick stares at the doctor, but doesn’t say anything.
Neither of them acknowledges me as they continue to stare at each other.
“Since when do you go around injuring women? Since
when are you like your father?” At the mention of Nick’s dad, my eyes widen and
I tense. Neither of them notice. Nick’s face turns deadly. It’s a look I’ve
never seen. Quite frankly, it’s a little scary.
“I’m nothing like my father, Marc.” Nick bites
out; his voice is low and strained. No, Nick is definitely not like that evil
monster. A cold shiver runs down my spine as a horrible memory enters my brain.
I push it back out just as quickly as it enters.
“Stop, both of you,” I say, but I’m looking at Dr.
Thornton when I say it. “This was an accident, nothing more.” I note that I
sound like most battered women when defending their man, but in my case, I’m
defending a man who isn’t an abuser. I may have only known Nick a few weeks,
but I know he wouldn’t intentionally hurt me. Ever.
“A nurse will be in shortly to take you for an
x-ray,” Dr. Thornton says before exiting the room. He doesn’t acknowledge my
words, and to be honest, I don’t care what he believes. I only care what Nick
believes about himself. I turn and wrap my arms around Nick’s waist, placing my
head on his chest. His heart is beating at a rapid pace.
Before I can reassure him I’m fine, the door opens
behind me. I turn to see who it is, and the same nurse who took my vitals is
standing in the doorway waiting on us.
“Please follow me, Miss Taylor,” she says before
walking back out the door. We follow her. Nick is walking behind me. He doesn’t
hold my hand like he did before. Again, the walk is short and I’m ushered into
another small cold room. There is a tech standing beside the machine waiting
for me. Nick remains outside the room when I enter.
The tech is a young man, probably a few years
younger than me, with sandy-blond hair and small blue eyes. He gestures for me
to sit on a table and I do as he asks.
“Before we begin, I have to ask if you are
pregnant.” He looks up at me waiting for a response.
“No,” I answer, looking confused. Do I look
pregnant? Surely not.
“Sorry, ma’am. It’s a standard question. I have to
ask all females before they get an x-ray.”
“Okay.” I’m sure that is something most people
know, but this is my first x-ray. I went my entire childhood and teenager years
without any physical injuries. For someone who is as clumsy as me, that’s a
miracle.
He leaves the room to stand behind a closed-in
wall. From there, he speaks to me through an intercom system.
“Please be as still as you can,” he requests, and
before I know it, the entire process is over and I’m getting off the table
walking to the door.
When I exit, Nick is leaning back against the wall,
rubbing the back of his neck. He looks tense and stressed. I hope he gets over
this soon. It’s going to eventually start getting on my nerves. There are only
so many times I can tell him I’m fine and it was an accident.
Dr. Thornton is walking out of the same room I
came from. I had no idea he was even in there. I guess he was behind the same
wall the tech was in when he was taking my x-ray. He comes to stand in front of
me.
“You ribs are bruised, but there is nothing on the
x-ray to indicate a fracture. It’s possible you have a hairline fracture since
you are having a little difficulty breathing, but all is clear on the x-ray.
You are free to leave, but I would recommend resting for a few days. It will
help them heal quicker.” He looks over to Nick who is pushing off the wall.
“Thank you, Marc,” Nick tells him as he reaches
out to shake the doctor’s hand. He seems calmer, but his eyes tell me it’s only
for show. Dr. Thornton takes Nick’s hand and they shake briefly.
“Any time, but that doesn’t mean I want to see her
back here again.” His voice is strong, and I hear the underlining meaning
behind it, which causes me to roll my eyes.
“Let’s get you home.” Nick reaches for my hand,
lacing our fingers.
* * * * *
Finally, we get back to my house after Nick
insisted on stopping by the pharmacy first. Once Nick and I enter my house, Charmin
runs over and jumps on my leg. Niko looks up from the oversized plush chair,
but doesn’t bother to follow Charmin. He lowers his head back down and closes
his sweet eyes. Nick takes my elbow and gently pulls me down the hallway to my
bedroom. Doesn’t he know rest does not mean I have to stay in bed? Just before
entering my room, I pull my hand from his grip. He immediately stops and turns
giving me a “what the fuck” look.
“I’m not getting in bed,” I tell him. Yeah, this
is probably one of those defiant moments. Get used to it, buddy.
“Yes, you are. You heard Marc. He said you needed
rest, and I’m going to make sure you get it.” He waves his arm through my room,
gesturing for me to go in. This is not where I play the compliant “good girl”
and do what I’m told.
“Rest doesn’t mean I have to get in bed,” I say,
putting my hands on my hips.
“Yes, it does. Now, go get in bed,” he orders. I
cut my eyes at him. If he thinks barking orders at me is going to get me to do
what he wants, then he is sorely mistaken.
“No. Stop being an ass, Nick,” I holler.
“Fine,” he sighs. “Let me at least wrap your ribs.
It will help. Trust me,” he tells me and I arch my eyebrow. “I’ve had broken
ribs before,” he shrugs like it should have been obvious.
“Oh,” I respond and he finishes pulling me into my
bedroom.
“Sit on the bed and take off your shirt.” I follow
his orders, but not before rolling my eyes behind his back.
“I don’t have anything to wrap them with,” I tell Nick
as I take a seat at the end of my messy bed. I hate that I left my house
without making the bed first.
“Why do you think we stopped at the pharmacy?” he
questions, holding up the bag.
“To fill my prescription of pain medication, which
by the way, was a waste of money. I’m not taking them.”
“That too, and what do you mean you’re not taking
your medicine? You’re hurt. You’re in pain.” He’s giving a “are you really
arguing with me about this?” look.
“A little pain is nothing I can’t handle. I don’t
hurt enough to justify medication.” I pull my t-shirt over my head. I have to
bite down on my bottom lip so I don’t show him just how much that movement
really did hurt. I gently lay the shirt down on the bed beside me.
“Arms up,” he gestures as he removes the ACE
bandage from its wrapper. “The point of the pain medication is so you
aren’t in any pain. You’re taking the pills, end of discussion, woman.” I comply
and raise both arms above my head a little too fast as I glare at him. The movement
causes shooting pain and I want to curse. Nick is really starting to get on my
nerves.
“You’re right, end of discussion. But I’m not
taking the pain pills, so let it go.” He cuts his eyes up to mine as he wraps
the bandage around my body several times before securing it.
Wow, that’s tight.
“Why do you have to argue with every fucking thing
I say?” he huffs out.
“Why do you think everything is going to be your
way?” I retort, ignoring his question. I pull my t-shirt back on and over my
wrapped ribs. Actually, the bandage does kind of help. I should probably be thanking
him at this point.
“Just get your ass in bed, Shannon,” he says
through clenched teeth, while staring down at me. I stand up in front of him,
causing him to have to back up a few steps.
“No. Now, don’t you have a job to go to or
something?” I ask as I’m walking out of the bedroom.
“For the love of God,” he sighs. “You are the most
stubborn woman I have ever met,” he continues, falling in behind me out the
door. I turn on my heels, causing him to abruptly stop before he collides with
me.
“No, Nicholas Lockhart. I’m not stubborn. I’m just
not going to follow your orders because you think you’re right, or you think
you know what’s best,” I say, pointing my index finger into his chest.
Damn, he’s irritating the hell out of me right
now.
“Don’t poke me in the chest like that again. I
don’t like it,” he gripes.
“Yeah, well, I don’t like being ordered around,” I
holler back at him.
“Fine, I’m going to work. I have a 6 o’clock
meeting tonight, so I won’t be home until late,” he says as he walks past me in
the hall.
“Why don’t you just stay at your house tonight? I
think we could use a night apart,” I spit out, and instantly regret my words.
He halts, but doesn’t turn around to face me. After a second, he continues out
of the hall and I hear the front door slam.
Why did I have to be such a bitch? I didn’t mean
that. Way to go, Shannon. He’s only been trying to help you all morning.
“Arghh,” I scream out loud, frustrated with myself.
I walk out of the hall and into my living room. The dogs are both on the
oversized chair staring at me.
“Stop looking at me like that,” I tell them and
head into the kitchen. I don’t need his dogs making me feel worse. I walk over
to the cabinet, pulling out a glass and fill it with water. I take a sip of the
refreshing cool liquid. It feels great going down my throat.