Page 133 of Well Played

“You can return to the waiting room,” the nurse says after taking her vitals and listening to her complaints. “I’ll speak with the doctor, and someone will be with you soon.” We return to our seats without saying a word. There are more people here than before we left. I don’t know if that will prolong Summer’s wait time for treatment. I hope not.

Not because I don’t want to wait with her, but because I hear her whimpering every now and then. Every time she turns to look at me, it pains her, and I’m really trying not to take that personally.

After fifteen minutesof sittingin silence, I want to do something for her. I reach over and rub my hand over her knee.She looks at me funny, but I read the pain in her eyes. Or should I say eye. The right one is almost completely closed now.

Shit.My hand sits motionless on her leg like I’m incapable of moving it. The problem is, I don’t want to. With great effort, I force it away and rest it on my own knee so that I don’t do something stupid and touch her again.

Damn it. I wanted to comfort her. Instead, I made shit weird. Maybe it’s only weird on my part because I’ve been holding back, and now I know how soft and silky her skin is. Soft and silky? It’s a knee. A joint that attaches the top part of her leg to the bottom. That’s all. I’m acting like I have a strange fetish. Who ever heard of a fascination with knees?

“What was that?”

“What?” I hope my tanned skin is dark enough to hide the heat I feel burning through my face. Or that her eyesight isn’t as unaffected as she thinks. Embarrassed, I pretend I don’t know what she’s talking about.

“You’re not my fiancé,” she whispers.

“I know that.”

“There are no built-in benefits for pretending that you are.”

I clear my throat. “That’s not why I said it.”

“Why did you?”

“I don’t want you to be alone. Usually, it’s family only. Since your parents aren’t coming, you’re going to have to settle for me.”

She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath in through her nose, and blows it out through her pink pursed lips. Lips that I want to taste and kiss.

She keeps it low, but I hear her moan in pain. Instead of focusing on that, I focus on the perfect O she makes with her mouth and how rosy her lips are. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she’s wearing lipstick, but I know this is their natural color.

“How are you feeling?” I ask quietly, hoping to change the vibe between us.

“It hurts so much.” I hear it in her voice.

“I’m sorry.”

“Summer Sadler.” The triage nurse calls her name for a second time.

I watch Summer get to her feet. I carry her purse for her and follow close behind.

After placingan IV in Summer’s arm, we’re led back to a room in the radiation area for a CT scan. A large tube-like machine sits in the center with an attached table that slides in and out. A technician allows me to sit in a chair against the wall while they prep Summer.

I feel like I’m in grade school, expected to sit with my hands folded while they center Summer on the gurney-like table. The nurse adjusts her, moving her up and to the left on the narrow table.

“The table is going to slide into the machine. It will move back and forth as we take some pictures. First, without the contrast. It’s important that you don’t move as the machine rotates around you. It makes some weird noises, so don’t get nervous.”

“Okay.”

“We’ll pull the table out to start the contrast infusion. Again, it’s important that you stay perfectly still. Once the contrast starts moving through your veins, you’ll feel warmth travel through your body. Some people say they feel like they have to pee. No worries though, the sensation will only last a minute. Any questions?”

Summer shakes her head.

“Great. After that, we’ll put you back in the machine and take a few more pictures. I’ll be talking to you the whole time from behind the glass. So if anything comes up be sure to let me know.” The technician smiles.

“Okay.” Summer agrees. It would be nice if she’d agree with me so easily every now and then.

“Once we’re done, I’ll come disconnect you from the contrast and take you back out to the waiting area until the doctor reads the images.”

While Summer is having her scan done, I step out into the hall and send Kaitlyn a quick message. She’s been blowing my phone up all morning. I think she might call the cops and have an APB put out on me if I don’t respond.

---