Page 15 of Protect Me
“It’s fine. Appreciated, even. You went above and beyond what you needed to do. I’m all right, whether or not you can believe that.”
The doubt in her gaze didn’t surprise me. Maybe Iwasn’tfine, but I was at least put-together enough to acknowledge that much.
Hopefully, it meant something.
“Your doctor’s office called me back.” She clutched her phone. “Mentioned that you have an appointment in the morning.”
“8:00.”
“I’m assuming you can’t drive?”
A bitter chuckle escaped me. “Not yet.”
She shuffled, unwinding from the tight ball. “I’ll take you. I don’t work until the afternoon. It wouldn’t be that big of a deal for me.”
I hesitated. It didn’t feel right to ask one more thing, but I couldn’t deny how much it would help. Despite sleeping for twelve hours, I already felt tired again. That’s what too many stupid decisions did for a man in his prime.
Made him an old man.
A growling tiger cub.
“Sure,” I said. “That would be great.”
A few minutes later, the sound of her settling back into the couch followed. I sat at the kitchen table, relishing the cool air conditioning as it blew on the back of my neck, and wondered.
Sometime around four, Katelyn dropped back into sleep.
“It’s improving, Vik.”
Those three words sent a flurry of relief all the way through my chest. For a moment, I hung my head.
“Thanks, doc.”
Doc Blaine sent me a firm look. “You were lucky. We avoided compartment syndrome and a major infection. No funny business, all right? Or you’ll be admitted and this agony will prolong.”
I saluted.
He scoffed. “Like you’ve ever listened to the advice of any professional.”
“Hey.”
He eyed me.
I held up my hands, defenseless. “Fine, I don’t have the best history, but this time I’m serious. I’m taking it easy. Don’t have any job to rush back to, and I’m fine for a few more months.”
Seeming relieved, he nodded. “Then you’re good to go. Stay on the antibiotics, check up in ten days. I want to see the incisions. The stitches on the inside will dissolve within two weeks, but we’ll remove these on the outside.”
With that, he left.
The door rattled slightly after closing behind him. With a few awkward attempts, I navigated the crutches to the door and steeled myself.
In the reception area, beautiful Katelyn waited for me. She used to look nervous at the best of times, had wide eyes she tended to hide behind unnecessary designer glasses, and held a quiet curiosity about the world that she rarely satisfied. I used to know almost everything about Katelyn. She preferred poultry over red meat, was a closet chess-lover thanks to my father, and could not adore my sister more.
The Katelyn out there?
Practically an utter stranger. A stranger who knew what groceries I would want to buy, my favorite fruit, and how to give me space to be grumpy. This Kate was more confident and poised than the one I had known growing up. The Katelyn of my high school days would never have stomached the sight of a nasty wound, nor my snappy attitude yesterday.
This Katelyn had a spine.
