Page 65 of Nova

''I'll go with her,'' London calls out.

I rub Sadie's back. ''You should go with London. I'll come to check on you in a bit.''

Sadie nods, then she and London follow Josie. I watch them retreat across the room until they disappear down the hallway.

My attention is back on Doctor Teagan as she turns toward Piper. ''How are you doing, Piper?''

''I'm okay. Just tired.''

''That's understandable. Are you hurt?''

''No. I'm not hurt.''

I cut in, ''Why don't you go on and lay down too. You need some rest, sweetie.''

I look across from me and catch Payton's eye. We give each other a look, and she nods.

''Why don't I make you and Sydney some hot cocoa, and we can put a movie on in my room until you fall asleep?''

Both Piper and Sydney agree as they head off to the kitchen with Payton. Josie and Payton have proven to be lifesavers tonight. Once the room is empty, Doctor Teagan looks at me. Her tone is soft when she speaks. ''I'm going to clean the cut on your lip.''

She gives me a crooked smile as she daps an antiseptic wipe across my cut. ''I could feel your gaze drilling a hole into the side of my head the whole time I was tending to your friend.''

''Was I that obvious?''

Doctor Teagan's lip twitches. ''A little.''

I sigh.

''I get it. You're curious about Nova and me. Right?''

''Maybe a little, '' I mumble.

Doctor Teagan stops what she's doing. ''What Nova and I had in the past was casual. He wasn't my boyfriend, and I had no preconceived notions where he was concerned. I'm married to my job. I don't have time, nor do I want a serious relationship. Nova is a great guy and a good friend. Now that he has you, I have no intention to interfere. From now on, my only involvement with Nova will be what I'm doing now. If the club calls on me, I will be here. But that's where things end. You have my word.''

Don't ask me why, but I believe her.

''Thanks for saying that, Doctor Teagan.''

She smiles. ''You don't have to call me Doctor Teagan. Teagan will do just fine.''

I nod, and the subject of her and Cain drops.

Once my cut lip has been cleaned and Teagan asks me some of the same questions, she asks Sadie, she turns her attention to my arm.

''Is your arm bothering you? You've been cradling it close to you since I got here.''

She's right. My wrist is throbbing. It started hurting earlier, but I wanted her to take care of Sadie first. ''Yeah. My wrist hurts and feels like it's on fire. It wasn't too bad before, but I think that was the adrenalin numbing the pain. It's probably just a sprain.''

''Could be, but I'd like to take a look anyway.'' I hold my arm out in front of me. When Teagan takes my wrist in her hands, I notice the swelling. ''Girl, that's not a sprain. Your wrist is broken.''

''Really?''

''Oh, yeah. I can't fix that here. You'll have to come down to the hospital for an x-ray and a cast.''

''What's going on?'' A deep voice echoes through the clubhouse as Cain comes into the room.

Teagan speaks first. ''Promise has a broken wrist. I'll need to treat that at the hospital.''

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