Page 64 of Claimed by my Bestie's Dad

“I think I’m going to do that.” By the time I get a doctor’s appointment, get the test done, and get the results, at least a week will have passed by then. Maybe I’ll feel more confident about approaching him.

“Doing okay?” Zoe asks after I’ve been lost in my thoughts for a few moments.

“Just trying to figure out what this means. I have to…find out how far along I am.”

Zoe smiles, and I catch the first glimmer of excitement. “And this means I’m going to be an aunt.”

I smile back at her. I’m not sure I’m ready to look at this pregnancy as a blessing yet, but I love Zoe’s enthusiasm. We all promised each other long ago that if and when we had kids, we would raise them with all the rest of us being that kid’s aunt. And right now, I need all the support I can get.

“Thanks for coming over, Zoe. You’re the most supportive person I know.”

“Are you trying to kick me out? No, I’m staying for dinner. And I’m going to make something delicious now that you’re missing half the ingredients in your pantry.”

I smile at Zoe’s enthusiasm. She is just the friend I need.

31

ETHAN

I can’t stand lookingatJanineevery time I’m on shift. I’ve been trying to avoid her because I know that if I’m forced to confront her, it won’t be good. But avoiding someone I need to collaborate with is not an easy task.

“Dr. Taylor,” I hear her voice behind me.

I continue striding into the room of a patient who has been experiencing slow improvements since a serious car accident that caused him to lose feeling in his legs. He’s slowly started to experience tingling in his legs, and I even saw his leg wiggle a little yesterday during the daily movement tests.

I step into the room, knowing she won’t dare interrupt me when I’m dealing with a patient.

I snap on my gloves and smile at the patient, a man who is in his late twenties.

“How are you feeling today?”

He shrugs, but I can tell that he’s dealing with some depression. It’s hard not to when someone is used to living an exciting life and is stuck in one of these hospital rooms day after day. I’ve also noticed that he’s only had one visitor.

“We’re going to take a look at you, but first, tell me about that breakfast you ordered. Was it not up to par?”

It’s nearly ten in the morning, but the breakfast on the patient’s plate is almost untouched. Maybe a few bites of eggs were taken. That’s it.

“It’s fine.”

“If you don’t like it, I can send it back to the kitchen and have something else made. Be honest if you don’t like it. This is the perfect time for you to be demanding. You can have whatever you want.”

The patient smirks a little. “What I really want is a cinnamon roll, one of those Cinnabon ones that’s warm and has the squishy center. Those things are good.”

The hospital definitely doesn’t serve anything like that, but I want to make it happen for this patient. “I’ll get that for you right away.”

“Wait, really?”

“Yeah, I’m the doctor. If they don’t listen toyou, theyhaveto listen to me.”

I review the patient’s chart for a moment before asking him to move different parts of his body one at a time. I once again see a distinct twitch in his leg when I ask him to move it.

He gets excited. “Does this mean I might get feeling back in them? More than just the tingling? Do you think I’ll be able to walk again?”

“I think anything is possible if you’re open to it. You have to go through with physical therapy, though. Notes say you didn’t participate in yesterday’s session.”

His face goes dark again. “There’s no point. I can’t feel anything. It’s like asking a fish to climb a tree.”

“You might be surprised what a fish can do when it practices enough. I’ll get you your cinnamon bun, but I need youto do physical therapy every time she comes to your room. Got it?”

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