Page 72 of Tide and Seek
“It’s not necessary, Doc,” he grated.
I shrugged.“What does it hurt to let me check a few things?”
Luke watched me, his expression surly.His knee bounced under the table, his fingers worrying at the seam of his jeans.Sweat beaded at his hairline despite the cool ocean breeze.“I’d have thought you’d have gone home by now,” he grumbled.
“From the party?”I frowned.
“No, from Malibu.”He sounded annoyed.“Why are you still here?”
Before I could answer C.J.returned with a little penlight and she set it on the table in front of me.I leaned toward Luke.“I just want to check your pulse and your pupils.Is that okay with you?”
He looked like he might bolt, but after a long beat, he shrugged.“Fine.Whatever.”
I clicked on the light and stood, moving to his side of the tall table.I lifted it, holding it near his eyes.His pupils were blown wide, barely reacting to the light.I kept my expression neutral, though inside concern twisted in my gut.
“See,” Luke muttered, licking his dry lips.“I’m perfectly fine.”
I didn’t respond to that.Instead, I said, “May I check your pulse?”
Luke shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his leg bouncing so fast now it rattled the table.“It’s not necessary.”
“I think it is,” I said, keeping my voice even.“Hold out your hand.”
Suspicion flickered in his eyes.“Why?”
“You know why,” I said patiently.“Because I’m a doctor, and I’d like to make sure you’re not about to keel over.”
He surprised me when he let out a shaky laugh, and then extended his hand.I pressed two fingers gently against his wrist.His pulse jumped beneath my fingertips — rapid and irregular.Not enough to call 911 yet, but not good either.
“Hmm,” I murmured, more to myself than to him.
“What?”he demanded, pulling his hand back quickly.
“Your body is definitely under stress,” I said simply.“You may not think it’s dangerous, but it can be.”
“Should we call an ambulance?”C.J.whispered.
I handed her back the flashlight.“I’m not sure.He’s not in immediate danger, but he needs rest.And if he takes a turn for the worse, he’ll need more help than I can give him here.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Sage, Phoenix, and Moonbeam standing a few feet away with their hands raised like they were about to conduct a séance.Sage’s eyes were closed in solemn concentration.Moonbeam clutched a chunk of amethyst the size of a lime, whispering under her breath.And Phoenix looked like he was leading a board meeting, his palms angled toward Luke as if he were presenting quarterly projections to the universe.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something I’d regret.
“This party blows.”Luke stood abruptly.“You should all mind your own business.I’m perfectly fine.”He stumbled toward the stairs that led down to the beach and staggered clumsily onto the sand.
“Luke, wait,” C.J.called after him, but he waved her off and kept heading toward his house.
“Let him go,” Royce said.“The best thing for him is to sleep it off.He’s not going to listen to Max.If we keep pushing, he might just get more agitated and violent.”
C.J.chewed her bottom lip, worry written across her face.“He seemed like he was cleaning up his act a few months ago, but now he’s worse than ever.”
“He’s definitely a bigger mess than I remember,” I agreed.
“Unfortunately, he’s not the only one who’s struggling.”Her gaze shifted to James who stood alone on the deck, staring after Luke.“Were you going to talk to James, Maxwell?”she asked quietly.
“C.J., I really don’t think—”
“Maxwell, please,” she whispered.“It’s bad enough that Luke is a mess, but I don’t think I can handle it if James goes down the drain as well.”Her eyes glistened with what I feared were tears.“Won’t you at least just try talking to him?”
