Page 17 of Michael
“Listen,” he says, and his voice is sweet as honey. “If I’m going to treat your injury, I’m gonna have to touch your arm, ma’am.”
I startle and gasp in horror. “Don’t youma’amme! We’re the same age!”
He utters a quiet laugh, too delighted for my liking. “Uh… I hardly think so.” Casually, he dips a hand behind me, slips the comic book back into the drawer, and then closes it.
He all but called me an old crone!The beautiful illusion starts to fade, and I remember his rudeness last night, his absolute nastiness when he called me awitch—like it’s a bad thing!
How dare he? “Are you usually this rude toallyour patients, or am I just that special?” I snap.
He blinks, flinching in disbelief. It takes him a while to find his bearings again as he says, “Listen. I don’t know how to say this, but…”
“Dr. Mike?” a male nurse says. And thank the gods he walked in, because I’m feeling like smacking the doctor with my good hand.
“X-rays are up,” the nurse adds. “Oh, and, there’s a shoulder dislocation waiting for you in 5A.”
“Thanks, Joe.”Doctor Mikereplies. And as soon as the nurse leaves, heswings toward the laptop to his left. He clicks a few keys and a digital image appears and fills the screen.
“Is that my hand?” I ask like a fool.
He nods. “Mm-hmm…” He zooms in and studies it some more. “Looks like a sprained wrist, all right.” He shuts the laptop with the gravest expression. “I’m gonna give you a prescription. The nurse will walk you through the rest.”
And just like that, he turns and heads to the door.
“Hey! Don’t go!” I call with increasing apprehension.
Michael stops. When he looks back, the corner of his lips slightly twitches. “Yes, ma’am?”
Ma’am.My arm tingles at the way he says it—or maybe my injury is worse than I thought.
I look at him dead in the eye, as mirthless as I can. “Seriously?” I try to sound solemn, but it comes out teasing. “I need to know about your friend. From last night.”
He bristles in a flash. “What about him?” he says through gritted teeth, all traces of his earlier calm demeanor gone.
My mind is spinning, trying to figure out what I said wrong. “Well, you just took off with him and we were in the middle of a date…” I purse my lips as anxiety sets in. “I need to find him.”
Instant fury contorts his expression. “Fires of hell!” he growls, then storms out before I can stop him.
I start. What the hell just happened? “Wait! What did I say?” I utter, useless, as he’s long gone. “Where did he go?”
I need to find my true love, preferably,beforeRichard sinks his claws in me. Oh, gods. Despair grips me in a flash. Tears blur my vision. I need Michael’s help and somehow, I totally blew up my chance.
When a shadow crosses the doorway, I hope that it’s him. “Hello?” I sniff. I’m feeling bruised and beaten, inside and out.
The figure moves further inside the examination room, and right away, I know it’s not Michael.
“Good evening.” Tall and well-built, the guy has an interesting short beard and medium-length chestnut hair tied into a low coil. He’s wearing a white coat, so I’m guessing he’s not here to dress my wound. “I heard about what happened, miss….”
“Amanda,” I say. The sound hangs in the air like fog, my voice heavy with sorrow.
CHAPTER11
Amanda
“Hello, Miss Amanda,”the doctor says. “I heard about your experience in the lobby—the one that involved a fall?” He brings out a blue folder from behind him and holds it close to his heart.
“Oh, right.” I cringe, as the memory of Michael’s comment resurfaces: Who hasn’t heard of your tumble?I bet everyone in the hospital knows all about it. “I stumbled and fell and...”
“Yes, that’s right,” he interjects with an edge of desperation. “Please forgive me for not introducing myself earlier. I am the hospital director, Dr. Uri. We would like to offer you full coverage for any costs related to this... occurrence.” He coughs to clear his throat.
