Page 135 of Burn Bag

“Ah, my favorite patient! Mr. Kavanaugh, I’m assuming no cats got you today.”

The nurse. God, it was the same nurse who was always here when one of us ended up in the hospital.

“I was beginning to think you didn’t like me anymore,” she teased. “It’s been way too long since I last saw you.”

“Kristy, can you please tell the doctor I do not beat my wife,” Bradley bit out. The anger in his voice was palpable. The poor man was probably on the verge of beating the shit out of the doctor. Nowwould really be a good time for me to open my eyes and make my presence known.

I did just that, but no one was paying attention to me. No, they were currently in a standoff with a police officer, who was also in the room.

“At least there are no aliens this time,” I muttered.

Kristy turned to me, smiling widely. “Ah, there’s my favorite patient. What did I tell you about showing up at my hospital?”

I licked my dry lips, trying to think back. “Um…not to show up until the afternoon?”

“Exactly,” she grinned, like I had just passed a test. “Well, it’s good to see you’re still testing your boundaries. And you brought a crowd with you this time.”

“I did?”

“Your parents,” she said, her eyes widening in a comical smile. “Lucky you.”

When she stepped aside, Bradley was there, snatching my hand in his and glaring at Kristy, probably for taking too long.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I smashed my head.”

“You did. I’m sorry I didn’t catch you.”

The sincerity in his voice would have made me laugh if my head didn’t hurt so damn much.

“I’m sorry I ruined my first meeting with your in-laws. I bet you were really looking forward to that.”

“I was, and having them rush into the room with me buck naked was more fun than you could ever imagine.”

I smiled, only to wince as the pain kicked up in my head.

“Hey, no smiling,” he chastised. “You’re in the hospital. This is a no-fun zone.”

“Sorry. I’ll keep that in mind for our next visit. I think it’s your turn.”

He shook his head firmly. “Nope. I’m calling a truce on this competition. The stakes are getting a little too high for my liking.”

“They weren’t high enough when the cat attacked your balls?”

He waved it off like it was nothing. “Those were minor scratches.”

“Then I didn’t really have to get rid of all the kittens,” I said playfully.

His face turned serious and he bent over, kissing my hand. “Daphne, I promise you right now, if you ever bring another animal into my home, I will run away and hide from you. I mean, probably not for long because I love you and would miss the fuck out of you after five minutes. But for those very long five minutes, you would regret ever letting that animal in the house.”

“And then?”

He rolled his eyes. “And then we’d have another animal. Just…try not to make it anything too fucking scary. The snake was taking it too far.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Good.”

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