“You know I would never intentionally hurt you, right?” he asks, but doesn’t look at me. He is looking straight ahead, out the front door, although, I doubt he is really looking at anything in particular.
“Yes, Nick. I know you would never hurt me on purpose,” I tell him as I lightly squeeze his hand. He brings my hand up to his lips and kisses it tenderly before releasing it. Sitting up, he rests his elbows on his knees and places his head in the palms of his hands. He’s taking all of this pretty bad.
“Stop beating yourself up over this,” I tell him. My breathing isn’t getting any easier, but I push through the pain. I don’t want him to think it’s worse than it is. I know I’m the one in pain and he is the one that caused it, but he’s being way too hard on himself. It really was simply an accident.
“I can’t,” he says as he lifts his head from his hands. Before I can tell him he’s is being ridiculous, my name is called. Nick stands up first, grabbing my hand back to pull me up out of my seat. We both follow the lady through a set of double doors.
“I have to make a phone call,” Nick tells me as I’m about to enter a small room where all my vitals will be taken. I nod my head, letting him know I heard him. He walks away from the door and down the hall.
“Please take a seat, Miss Taylor,” an older blonde nurse instructs me. Her hair is pulled back into a tight bun, and she is already holding a thermometer in her hand. I take it from her and place it in my mouth. I hate it when nurses try to hold it in people's mouths for them. It makes me feel like a kid, and I don’t like it. After a few seconds, it beeps and I hand it back to her.
“Please tell me what brought you in this morning?” She looks up from the small computer she is standing at. I haven’t thought this out yet. What do I tell her? I know this is going to look bad. Abuse is probably going to be her immediate thought, even though it’s far from the truth.
“I need to have my ribs checked out,” I say as I look up at the woman standing in front of me.
“What is wrong with them?” she asks, typing something out onto the computer. I assume she’s typing everything I’m telling her into an electronic patient record.
“They are bruised and I’d like to make sure they aren’t broken.” She continues to type, not addressing what I have said. She turns facing me with a tight smile as Nick is walking back into the doorway. She eyes him, but doesn’t look like she thinks anything negative. I'm not sure why I assume people will immediately think abuse. Maybe I am wrong.
“Please follow me. I’m going to put you into an exam room to wait for the doctor.” I immediately stand and follow her out.
Nick grabs my hand again and walks beside me following the nurse. The room isn’t far. Nick releases my hand as I enter the room, and I take a seat on the examination table. He comes to stand beside me, wrapping his arms around my waist and leaning his forehead against the side of me. I welcome his warm arms around me. I think this room is colder than the waiting room.
“I should have listened to my sister and this would not have happened. I’m so sorry, Shannon.” I turn my face and upper body so I am facing him. I place my hands on his shoulders. My face is barely a few inches from his. We are eye-to-eye.
“Do you remember anything from last night?” I ask him as I stare into his intense blue eyes.
“Not a lot. Not hurting you,” he says as he closes his eyes.
“Well, I do. And what I remember the most, is the way you made me feel. God, Nick it was…it was great. I’ve never felt more wanted in my life.” I bring my lips closer to meet his, placing the softest kiss on his lips. He barely kisses me back before he pulls away.
“Then, I hurt you. Don’t sit there and tell me you don’t remember that. Where was I when you were in pain?” he asks. His eyebrows are knitted together. His eyes are full of stress.
“Stop, damn it,” I say back to him.
“No. I can’t believe I−”
“Shannon?” Nick is interrupted and we both turn to look at the door. Nick tightens his grip on my waist. What the hell is he doing here? This, I do not need.
“Is there another doctor on call this morning?” I ask through clenched teeth. Luke ignores my question as he enters the room.
“What happened? Are you okay? I saw your name on the board just now.” He’s looking at me with concern. This is the doctor in him coming out.
“Do not get any closer to her,” Nick orders through clenched teeth, once again tightening his hold on my waist. Luke pauses only for a moment to look at him. I take a quick breath, which causes a sharp pain. I bite my bottom lip to stifle the cry that wants out of my mouth. Nick’s hold is a little too tight, so not only do my ribs hurt, but so does my waist. Nick doesn’t register my pain.