Page 71 of Diamond in the Rough

Zoe slowly moved her finger to the left, then up high, then down low. “Good…”

“Is that really a medical test?”

“Yes, now concentrate.”

Jake huffed and kept his finger pressed to Zoe’s. She stopped drawing imaginary pictures in the air and jotted down some more notes on her clipboard.

“I thought after two weeks, I’d be feeling better…”

“I know it doesn’t feel like it, but pain’s actually a good thing.”

Jake bowed his head and spoke to his ribs. “You hear that? Good job…”

Zoe laughed lightly. “It means you’re healing.”

“I wish I’d heal a bit faster.”

“I got a call from a concerned party last night…”

Jake looked up expectantly. “Yeah?”

“Very concerned over your welfare.”

The news was both welcome and unwelcome. Jake’s eyes watered, and he quickly swiped at them with his free hand. He’d put a mental block on Maddox. Thinking about him hurt too much when he was in his sorry state.

“Where the fuck has he been?”

Zoe shushed him, then craned her neck to see up the ward. “From what I gathered, solitary confinement.”

“I needed him. I still do. I want to talk to him.”

“Maybe once you’re out of here…”

Jake turned back to the dreary window. The same boring view he’d been forced to endure for days. Zoe leaned over, trying to get Jake’s eye contact, but he looked over the top of her head to see the grey sky.

“I assured him you’re getting better and being the perfect patient.”

“Only because I can barely move, otherwise I’d be up and out of here. Did he say anything about…”

“About?”

Jake swallowed the lump in his throat. “Carl…”

“He didn’t mention him. Plenty about Billy though, a very descriptive fantasy of what he’s gonna do to him when he gets out.”

“When he gets out,” Jake whispered.

“Can you get out of bed for a minute?”

“More pointless tests?”

“They’re not pointless.”

Jake swung his legs off the bed and dropped down. The weight of his body weakened his legs, and the slight movement jerked his irritated shoulder. His arm hung from a sling around his neck, and he twitched his fingers to make sure they were still functioning.

Zoe encouraged him to stand in front of her, his back to her front. “I’m gonna pull your shoulder back—”

“What?”

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