Page 11 of Fractured Hope
He studied me as a heavy silence filled the room.
Sighing, he stared at me. “I’ve seen this type of injury before, Mr. Erikson. I think I need to talk to you alone.” He turned to look at Atticus, his gaze changing from serious to angry. “Do you have anything to say to that, sir?”
Atticus was taken aback by the doctor’s sudden shift in demeanor. “What? I can step out, it’s no problem,” he said, flicking his gaze between me and the doctor.
“No, wait!” I exclaimed quickly, not liking this turn of events. “It wasn’t him, I swear. I just met him today.”
The doctor studied me closely. I implored him to believe me, since this time it was the truth.
“It’s true, he only arrived in my town yesterday, and I startled him this morning, causing the accident,” Atticus added, looking confused. He turned to me. “What do you mean, it wasn’t me? What wasn’t me?”
I ignored Atticus’s questions. My heart raced as I sat on tenterhooks waiting for the doctor’s verdict.
“I’ll believe you, this time. But I need you to be honest with me. Are there any other injuries from before today’s accident that I need to look at?”
Letting out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, I flinched as my ribs twinged. The doctor caught my wince.Damn it.
Sighing, I nodded. “Yes, my ribs were injured, too, but they’re just bruised,” I added quickly, hoping I wouldn’t have to be examined.
I wasn’t so lucky. The doctor stood and came over to me. Since I was still in the wheelchair, he leaned down in front of me. “Let me take a look, then. Can you lift your shirt, please?”
I did as instructed, flinching when cold hands prodded around all the bruises, which were stark against my pale skin.
Atticus let out a shocked gasp, and I knew what he was seeing, the conclusions he was likely drawing.Hell.
The doctor finished his examination and went back to his desk. I quickly lowered my shirt. I couldn’t look at Atticus. I didn’t want to see pity on his face or the questions he would want answered.
“I think you’re right. Your ribs don’t seem to be broken. Although, that is some significant bruising, and that swelling is a little concerning.” He paused until he caught my eye. “It also looks more recent than a week ago.” Raising a dark brow, he gave me a pointed look, waiting for me to confirm his suspicions.
“It was about four days ago.” Looking down at my lap, I felt ripped open and completely exposed.
“Okay.” He drummed his fingers on his desk. “I recommend ice for today or until that swelling is gone, then heat for the next few days. As for your wrist, I recommend putting it in a cast. The two fractures in your wrist are from two different points of impact, so I feel a cast is the best chance of preventing further injury and having them heal properly this time,” he concluded pointedly.
I shot a quick glance at Atticus to see if he realized what the doctor had hinted at. He had a solemn look on his face that didn’t give anything away. Neither of us said anything else, and the doctor finally sighed. “I’ll have a nurse come in to cast your wrist and help fit you with a walking boot, then go through the care procedures with you. Do you have any questions?”
I just shook my head. “All right, you wait here, and I’ll send the nurse soon.” And with that, he left the room.
I could feel Atticus studying me, his gaze burning into my cheek. I was too embarrassed to look at him.
“Are you okay?” I could practically hear the sympathy in his voice.
“I’m fine,” I mumbled,reallynot wanting to talk about any of this.
He must’ve picked up on my reticence because he changed tactics.
“I guess we’ll need to get you some crutches or should you have a wheelchair? Maybe I should’ve asked the doctor.” He was looking over his shoulder, like he was trying to find the doctor who was long gone. “Maybe we could rent one and see. Where are you staying? Is it even wheelchair accessible. . .?” He was on his way to talking fast like he had when he’d first helped me. It was so endearing to hear him spiral, like I was prone to do, but it also probably meant he was starting to freak out.
I mustered my courage and laid my good hand on his toned bicep to get him to look at me. “Who was telling me earlier that we’ll work it out and not to stress? Right, that was you,” I said, chuckling when he smiled at me. “It’ll be okay.” I tried my best to reassure him. He simply put his hand over mine on his bicep, and my fingers tingled when he made contact. My eyes just about bugged out of my head as he took my hand and brushed his lips over the back of it. A pleasant shiver raced up and down my arm as my cheeks heated. He was so sweet, even after what he’d just seen. How could he be real?
6
ATTICUS
HoldingBodhi’s hand in mine, I mulled over everything that had just happened. I’d seen the shift in Bodhi as the doctor went over his wrist injuries and the way he’d just about shut down.
Then, there were the bruises on his ribs.
I’d seen marks like those before. I knew a fist had made them.
