Page 66 of Sloane

I hadn’t expected that response.

“Well, I do.” I held out my hand and said, “I’m Ashley Youngman, your new physical therapist assistant.”

He eyed me suspiciously but shook my hand.

I wasn’t sure if he was hesitant because of my birthmark, or what.

“Have you even graduated college, Ashley?”

Ah, that’s the problem.

“Well, I received my degree four years ago.”

“You one of those Doogie Howser types and graduate early?”

That made me laugh. “No, I just look young for my age, I guess.”

“So why are you an assistant and not a therapist?”

“Um.” My laugh was nervous. “Because I don’t have enough credits for my doctorate yet.”

“But you’re working on it?”

“Slowly but surely.”

“How many classes are you taking right now?”

“This semester, two.”

“Two?”

I wasn’t going to be intimidated and rebuffed him with, “I work full-time, Dan.” Then, the pleaser in me took over and offered, “I’m taking three next semester.”

He looked at me skeptically.

“Well, you’re not wearing a ring, so I doubt you’re married. Do you have a boyfriend? Girlfriend? Kids?”

This curmudgeon was something else. Still, I knew by reading his file, underneath his gruff exterior was a good man, so I chose not to bristle at his line of questioning.

My automatic reply to the boyfriend question was always, “I’m single,” but this time, I paused. That wasn’t necessarily true anymore, yet could I technically call Sloane my boyfriend?

I decided for the sake of this conversation, I would.

“No kids. My boyfriend is a Marine stationed in the Middle East.”

“You’re dating a jarhead?”

“Yep. I’m only taking two classes and I’m dating a jarhead… I’ll totally understand if you want to ask for a new therapist assistant,” I said cheekily.

“Hmph,” he groused, but his face softened. “We’ll see how you do today.”

Chapter Twenty

Sloane

Thanksgiving dinner consisted of a turkey, mashed potato, and gravy MRE in a tent that we’d put up earlier that morning after having moved our position for the fifth time in two weeks.

“Hmm,” O’Brien, my second lieutenant murmured as he chewed thoughtfully. After swallowing, he continued, “Turkey rehydrates better than you’d think.”

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