Page 29 of Scorched King

Sasha

Two hours later I realized just how wrong I was. I didn’t like Jeanne at all. In fact, I hated her.

I’d thought the therapists at the rehab clinic were tough, but they had nothing on this woman. She was a straight up slave driver. In fact, I think her only redeeming quality was the magic she had in her hands now that we were done with all the exercises. My muscles were alternately screaming in protest from the overuse and mewling in appreciation over the soothing sensation as she rubbed them down.

“Who’s ready for another round of margaritas?” Meg asked, carrying a tray of freshly made drinks into my room.

“Me,” I groaned into the table. “I’m exhausted.”

“You did great though. Everything is healing up so well.” Jeanne said as she removed the electrodes from my back and finished up our session.

I glared at the medic. “Is that why it hurts so much?”

She smiled sympathetically. “Healing is a process, and I’m sure you understand by now that a certain amount of pain is to be expected. Not all pain is bad, and in your case, this kind is a very good sign.”

“Eww, pain. It’s time to make that go away. Hence, why I made more margaritas.” Meg stopped in front of me and held out one of the drinks to me. I sat up enough to accept it and take a healthy drink. My lips puckered against the strong tequila as I handed the drink back to her.

“Good God, Meg. How much alcohol did you put in those?” She’d gotten a lot more heavy handed since the first round.

She laughed. “Just the right amount. Here, you need one too.” She passed one to Jeanne who looked hesitant to take it.

“Am I going to be able to drive home if I drink this?”

“Eventually,” Meg cooed. “I ordered some food to go with the next round. When that gets here we’ll all be right as rain. And if you can’t drive home, there will be plenty of volunteers to give you a ride if you want it.” She wagged her eyebrows at us.

I ignored Meg’s double meaning and hoped that Jeanne did too. “Where’d you order food from?” I asked, slowly moving to a sitting position now that Jeanne had ended her torture session. “Are we getting Mexican?” As much as I probably needed to be more careful these days with my diet, and how much weight I’d gained, I had a serious weakness for guac and chips.

“I called down to the clubhouse and talked to Bear. He said he’d take care of it. I would imagine by now he knows exactly what you like.”

My eyebrows raised a moment before my eyes narrowed. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Meg laughed. “Oh don’t go getting into a twist. I’m not accusing you of anything. But we’re not blind and neither are you. Bear spent all his extra time with you at the hospital and from what I saw, he waits on you hand and foot. All I’m saying is that you’ve got that man wrapped is all and it’s pretty freaking adorable.”

I nearly choked on the next sip of my drink I was in the middle of swallowing when Meg dropped that bomb.

“First of all, that’s ridiculous. We were in the hospital together and rehab. It created a bond of—friendship.”

My friend smirked and even Jeanne, who I assumed didn’t even know anything about Bear, looked away and began gathering all of her supplies.

“Keep telling yourself that, honey and we’ll have to nickname you the queen of denial. From what I can tell you’ve got two men in this club wrapped up in you, which I’d say leaves you in quite the pickle.”

“I think I should go,” Jeanne interrupted. “Before this day gets any weirder.”

“Nonsense.” Meg whirled. “You have to excuse me. Tequila loosens my lips. Plus, I’m just teasing Sasha. Everyone here loves her, including me.”

Her words gave me a warm feeling in my chest, but it wasn’t enough to wipe away the worry now burrowed there from what she’d said before. Bear and I were friends. And JD and I were even less. I hardly had anyone wrapped up in me. Unless you counted the obvious guilt JD was dealing with over whathappened. That man insisted on carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and one day it was going to take him down if he wasn’t careful.

He used that responsibility to push me away every single day and honestly, I was feeling a little too tired to deal with all of that today.

“Yes, you must stay. We make the best margaritas and it would be criminal to pass up tacos from Pablo’s. He’s got the best food truck in all of Washington.”

“You say that like you know that’s what Bear will bring. He might surprise you with something from the grocery deli.”

I wrinkled up my nose. “That’s a disgusting thought. Why would you even put that out in the world.” I shook my head. “No way. Trust me, he’ll bring us Pablo’s. I got him hooked on the tacos while we were in the hospital and he was making prospects bring them to us every week for Taco Tuesday.”

Meg laughed again. “See! Hooked.”

I ignored her this time, refusing to rise to the bait and kept my focus on Jeanne for now. “So, you’ll stay?”

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