Page 115 of Double Daddies
Joseph’s nostrils flare, and after a few minutes, the silence makes me think I might have to give him his way and call in a doctor. He’ll wait hours until one is free to deal with this, but hey, that’s his choice.
But I’ve barely turned around when I hear him shuffling to the table. I stayed turned away so I can allow my smile to show. “And, ah—on your stomach, please.”
“How’d it go?”
I grimace at Rayna as I come around the counter. “I don’t want to kink shame, but in some cases…”
“Say no more.”
“Listen, it’s been a minute, am I crazy to hope you’ve got time for a quick coffee?”
“Ido, but you don’t. Patient in 145 asked for you by name.”
I let out a long sigh. “Can someone else see them?”
She shakes her head. “Follow-up patient.”
“Okay. But later, we need to get a date on the books. I mean it.”
“Understood, m’lady.”
It’s a good walk to that part of the floor, and as I take each twist and turn past mayonnaise-colored walls, I search my memory to try and figure out which patient of mine might be coming back in. I come up empty, though that’s kinda the norm for me these days. I blame pregnancy brain.
I knock on the door, but before I can so much as put my hand on the knob, the door swings open from the inside. I jump back on instinct but find myself being grabbed and yanked into the room before I realize what’s happening. As soon as I do, I dig my heels into the linoleum floors, but just as I’m about to scream, I recognize him.
Not a patient, but my brother.
“Kingslay!” I scream.
He releases me, his grin huge. It doesn’t diminish even when I smack him in the chest as hard as I can.
“You idiot!” I yell at him. “You scared me!”
He gives me a once-over, then shakes his head. “You look fine to me. Besides, it’s a big brother’s prerogative.”
“You know what?—”
He ducks my next attempt to strike his chest, and with one hand catches and claims both of my wrists. I struggle against him, but only for a few minutes before I give up, glaring at him.
“Are you going to behave now, or do I have to call Ben?”
I go absolutely still. Speaking of people who I have to catch up on my life…
“Silence isn’t an answer,” he says, mimicking something our mother always used to like to say.
“Yes. I won’t hit you again… unless you deserve it.”
Kingslay laughs and releases me.
“Why did you come in as a patient? You could have called.”
“Nah, I figured this would be the fastest way to see you.” He walks over to the exam table and hops on, leaning against the wall.
We’re both in the medical field, so we both know the truth of what he’s saying. I walk over and hop onto the bench next to him. “How long are you in town for?”
“Just today. But I thought I’d swing by and see you. It’s been too long.”
It’s been six months since he decided to stay with the Wilderness Warriors. Though we’ve had a few phone calls in that time, I haven’t seen him since. “Are you enjoying it?”
