Page 29 of Protect

“Excellent news,” Violette says professionally, still avoiding my eyes.

“We’re gonna add some ibuprofen into his schedule tonight as long as Doc approves it. I’ll go give him a call, but other than that he’s in your hands, honey,” she says to Violette as she pulls her gloves and yellow gown off, tossing them in the bio bin at my door.

This time, Violette looks right at me when she says, “Lucky me.”

“You all good for the night?” Bonnie asks me as she starts packing up her stuff at the nurse’s station. “You seem tired. Hollie still having a hard time sleeping?”

I click the last button on my computer screen, checking in on the two other patients in our care before she leaves for the night. It’s slow around here right now, which will make the night drag on even more than expected and I won’t have as much to keep my head busy and distracted from thinking about King.

“Hollie’s sleeping okay, it’s getting better, I just have a lot on my mind.”

I turn in my chair to face her, changing the subject.

“How was 306 today? How’s his pain?” I say, asking about King. I have a feeling he wouldn’t tell me how badly he was hurting if I asked him, but he might tell Bonnie.

Bonnie grins. “He blushed like a tomato when Kelly and I had to scrub the dirt off him and then help him into the hydro bath.”She giggles, mentioning the large tub we lower burn patients into to help with wound cooling.

“He was fine after I told him that in my years, I’ve seen it all.”

I can’t help myself; I smile. Bonnie never filters her words and the image of King trying to appear unbothered basically naked in front of her is rather amusing. I thank my stars I’m working nights. Bathing is usually done in the morning and afternoon for patients. Although I’ve felt King’s body against mine,seeingit in all its glory, would be something else entirely.

I am just about to speak when the call button goes off from none other than 306.

Bonnie looks down at the flashing green light on our desk.

“I’ll tell ya one thing, he’s sure a looker.”

I look at Bonnie, my mouth falls open and I smile.

“What? I’m old, I’m not dead, honey. Ta-ta, see you in the morning,” she says as she slings her purse over her shoulder with a wink.

I lean in and press the button to answer knowing full well it’s him. “Nurses’ desk, what can I help you with?”

“Vi? Uh—I was wondering if I could get some of that burn ointment, if you’re not too busy?” King asks. “I’m just, kinda on fire here.”

Empathy washes over me as I pull his chart up on the computer just to confirm the brand we’re using and if the doctor’s answered our request to offer him anti-inflammatory in conjunction with his pain meds. I know two days in, he’s probably still in a significant amount of pain. I note the brand and realize I’m going to have to actually apply it. Touching Rowan while he’s awake is something I knew was inevitable but I was dreading it nonetheless. At least last night when I changed his dressings, he mostly slept through it on a hefty dose of meds. Tonight, he seems rather awake. I take a deep breath and press the button.

“Be right there.”

I hear Violette talking to someone outside the door before she enters my room, so I straighten up. The moment I do the side of the bed grazes my thigh and I grunt.

“What happened?” Violette is in my room and at my bedside faster than I can even readjust myself.

“Nothin’,” I grunt again. I know my face is contorted, because, motherfucker, that hurt.

“Bill,” Violette calls into the hall. The burly nursing assistant I’ve seen every day since I’ve been in here comes into the room. “Can you help me prop him up? We’ll place that pillow under his knee to get the blanket away from his leg,” she delegates to him, full nurse mode and pointing to an extra pillow on a chair.

“Sure thing,” Bill says.

I nod to him as he lifts my leg up and gets it off the blanket. I couldn’t have done it without using my bad arm so in this moment I’m grateful for him. The burn pain subsides a bit asViolette presses a button on the side of the bed to raise me up a little.

“Thanks,” she says to Bill, then turns back to me, lifting my burned arm up to prop a pillow under it. I know this is probably awkward for her but she’s gentle and her eyes show her concern. It’s as if she doesn’t like me being uncomfortable. Her soft hands touch the underside of my upper arm and I involuntarily shiver, like a teenager all over again.

Her eyes meet mine when she feels my skin turn to goosebumps. This close, the hazel tone is light and her eyes are fucking hypnotizing.

“Better?” she asks in an almost whisper as she lets my arm go.

I look down and clear my throat. “Yeah, thanks,” I say awkwardly.

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