Page 17 of Trustfall

“Yes, ma’am.” He smirks, that cocky confidence back in full force. How is he still so sexy even when he’s bleeding out? I roll my eyes and help him up so he can keep hold of his arm.

“I’ll be as quick as I can,” I say as he opens his door.

He nods, his eyes connecting with mine. “I’ll be here.”

Goingunnoticed at work was easier than I thought. Actually, I’m offended that no one even remotely noticed me as I slipped into the Emergency Department and grabbed the supplies I need. I had gone home to change into scrubs to blend in, but it wouldn’t have mattered even if I had shown up in my underwear and a ripped T-shirt.

I pull into my driveway, grab the supplies from the passenger seat, and head over to Luke's, silently praying that Allie is still distracted. I don't feel like explaining why I'm doing a medical procedure I'm not qualified to do on our next-door neighbor. What she doesn't know can't hurt her.

His front door is closed, but I decide against knocking, not wanting him to get up from the couch. When I walk in, I see Luke slumped on the couch, still clutching his arm wrapped in my torn shirt. His eyes are fixed on the TV, but as soon as he hears me, he grabs the remote and turns it off.

“You might want to keep that on. You'll need the distraction. I managed to get the supplies for the sutures, but the anesthetics and pain meds are locked away. I didn't want to risk my entire career by breaking in.”

“Of course,” he says, standing up way too fast, wobbling slightly. “I’m glad you didn’t do that.”

“Whoa there, big guy." I grab his arm to steady him, but since he’s so much taller than me, his swaying makes me sway too. We both end up falling sideways onto the couch. “Why don't you just stay put on the couch and I'll set everything up at the kitchen table?” I suggest, wiggling out from under him.

“Okay.”

“Great.”

“Hey, you changed,” he calls as I set everything up at the table.

“Um…yeah.”

“I liked what you were wearing better before.” Then he adds, “But I guess this outfit is more legit. You know, for stitching me up.”

I can’t help the smile that creeps up my face. “Okay, we’re all set. If you want to sit here, you can still see the TV,” I point to the chair I have angled toward the living room. It’s all open concept, so he can watch TV from the chair in the kitchen.

“Nah. I’ll have all the distraction I need without it.”

Well, okay.

“Stand slowly this time,” I direct him as he goes to get off the couch. I hold onto his arm as he rises. “Good. Any dizziness?”

“Not from the blood loss,” he says, looking me up and down.

I do my best to ignore his blatant flirting and direct him to the makeshift emergency room bay I set up. He sits, holding out his injured arm as I wash my hands before snapping on surgical gloves.

“I’m going to start by cleaning the wound. It’s going to feel cold and might sting a bit.”

“Oka—fuck.”

He jumps the second I apply the antiseptic solution.

“I told you it might sting. You have like a hundred tattoos. This should be a breeze, right?” I try to hype him up, knowing that the worst is yet to come.

He eyes me up and down. “Yeah, but my tattoo artists aren’t quite as sadistic as you look right now.”

“Excuse me? I am the picture of compassionate bedside manner.” He jumps again. “You need to hold still. If you jump like that when I have a needle to your skin, it’s not going to end well.”

Finally, he is still, wincing slightly as I apply the rest of the antiseptic, making sure to clean the entire area.

“Okay. You’re going to feel some pulling.”

He nods.

It must hurt like hell, but Luke does his best to swallow down the pain as I tug on his skin with the forceps to get clean edges. As I hold the needle, I take a deep breath.You can do this, Emory. You’ve seen it hundreds of times. You’ve got this.My mini pep talk out of the way, I look up at Luke. “Ready?” I ask.

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