Page 62 of Taking Her Medicine

“Are you saying you wanted to be Zoelle’s friend but you didn’t know how? So you just mean-girled her because it was easier than working through your issues?”

“Yeah. I was wrong. You, um, had a way of always figuring out what was bothering me.” She visibly squirmed. “After you figured it out, you reminded me of what I needed to get done. I’m not asking for that again from you, but it’s something I’ve missed.”

Leeann was referring to the times when I’d dragged her into the supply closet but instead of hooking up as we occasionally did, I punished her ass with my palm. I’d known she was submissive from the amount of time we spent together, but I wasn’t entirely sure if Leeann had a little side. I stared at her for a moment, not quite believing the words tumbling out of her mouth.

Leeann was finally telling me without saying out loud that she needed a daddy.

She needed somebody to get her on a better path, and begging me to find that somebody. I sighed. We used to spend a lot of time together, and the daddy in me couldn’t bear the thought of her needs not getting met. All of Leeann’s antics had been a desperate cry for someone—anyone—to notice her. Deep down if Zoelle realized what I saw in that moment, she would want Leeann to be taken care of as well. My sweet kitten wouldn’t want any little to go without a daddy no matter what.

“One of my best friends might be a good fit for you, but I’m going to need to see a huge one-hundred-eighty-degree turn from youbeforeI’d invest that sort of time. I’ve invited him to my lake house next month. If you can get some time off—andif you and Zoelle are on good terms—then I’ll see if I can arrange a meeting.”

“Oh, please, Aaron?” Leeann grabbed my hands and her voice rose an octave. “Please give me one chance? One chance to make up for my terrible behavior?”

The sparkle that had faded in her eyes so many years ago suddenly shone through and I caught a glimpse of the woman I used to be friends with. The happy-go-lucky nurse who had the sweetest disposition around everyone—patients and staff alike. It had been so long since she smiled, and a small one played at her lips.

“I give more chances than most people deserve.” I squeezed her hands once and she let go. “You’ve got one. Don’t blow it.”

“I’ll find a way to make it up to the two of you. I should have asked for help, but I’m just shitty at doing that. I take care of everybody else, and never myself.”

“Yeah. Unfortunately, I know exactly what that’s like.” I checked my watch. “I have to get back on shift. Talk to you later.”

“Thanks for listening.”

“No problem.”

“Hey, Aaron?”

“Yeah?” I paused in the doorway. “I really have to get back.”

“Do you think you might need another nurse at your practice soon?”

I wondered where she heard the information, and then remembered Gabriella and Becca—whom I’d already offered jobs—both worked at the clinic with her. They needed to put in their notice before moving over to my office, and I had some more details to work through before opening up the practice to patients.

“I’m working on a plan to expand the office. It’s easier to do it before I start accepting patients, which means at least one more full time position, maybe two. Why?”

“I’m not liked at the clinic—or anywhere else, if I’m being honest. I’ve lost focus on why I became a nurse. I’ve wanted to be in a dedicated office with one or two docs for a long time. I need a new challenge.”

“If I were to bring you into my office, Leeann, you’d have a six-month probationary period. I’ve seen some of your errors, and I won’t let you slide just because we’ve worked together previously.”

“So, you would actually consider hiring me?”

“We’d have to sit and discuss the parameters, but I’ll consider it.”

She nodded several times. “You won’t regret it.”

“I better not.” I waved and left the room without another word. She and I had enough history that I’d be willing to forgive her actions, but if and only if Zoelle did as well. That brought me to the other offer I’d promised to help her with. Caleb checked off lots of Leeann’s boxes. He was always the most straightlaced one in our small trio—Jaxon being the most mellow—and Caleb would be strict with Leeann while taking care of her in ways she’d probably never imagined she needed. Though Caleb had just gotten out of a serious relationship a few months ago, he’d offhandedly mentioned how we weren’t getting any younger, and that he was ready to settle down.

Caleb played things by the book from medicine to relationships to kinky BDSM. I had seen some of Leeann’s submissive side way back when I was still a resident. Her unbridled desires—no doubt pent up after all this time—would be quite the match for him. If Zoelle could forgive her terrible actions and the nasty comments in time… they had a chance to become good friends.

Maybe Leeann would find her tribe after all, and it would benefit all of us.

* * *

Zoelle

I had been drinking beer and eating wings at Aaron’s house. Thursday nights had sort of become our casual night—as in torn-up tee-shirts and stretchy pants.

The story he had been telling me about Leeann threw me for a loop. She had approached him at the hospital, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. “Leeann wants to be friends with me?” I finished the rest of my bottle. “Shehatesme.”

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