Page 18 of Revive Me

My exhale is heavy with frustration. I have no idea how I ended up with a best friend who isthisunbothered by the idea of hurting my feelings. Although, if I’m honest with myself, it was refreshing to discover that Mikey’s dark humor matched mine. I was beyond tired of people tiptoeing around me, saying only positive things because they had no idea how to talk to me otherwise.

Mikey has no such problem.

“You’re an ass,” I mutter, yanking my wheelchair closer to me so I can transfer into it. Then I go into the kitchen and grab another beer.

“See? Was that so hard?”

I send him a glare as I return to the couch. “Enjoy your first and last beer, because you’re not getting any more of mine tonight.”

Mikey shrugs and settles deeper into the couch cushions, pulling the video game controller into his lap. “That’s okay. I have to work early anyway.” He clicks something on the game. “Oooh, I haven’t tried this level yet. Have you?”

Swallowing down my jealousy at Mikey having someplace to be tomorrow, I answer, “Not yet. I passed out right after I reached it last night.”

Oblivious to my feelings—or, hell, knowing Mikey, he might just be ignoring them—he throws the second controller over to me. “Perfect. Fifty bucks says I kick your ass at it, first try.”

After a moment’s hesitation, I let out a heavy sigh, attempting with one breath to exhale every negative thought, feeling, and memory from the day.

“You’re on.”

7

LILIANA

“Hey, Lily. Whatcha working on?”

I close my laptop, wincing when I straighten my back for the first time in an hour. Apparently, I’ve been glued to my screen for my entire lunch break.

“Just reading over some case studies for Mr. Allen’s concussion,” I answer my coworker’s question. “He’s been struggling with the up and down motions since his fall, so I wanted to look up some other exercise options for him.”

She shoots me a perplexed look as she reaches for a coffee cup. “Didn’t you discharge Mr. Allen a month ago?”

I sniff. “Yeah. What’s your point?”

She huffs a laugh and shakes her head. “I’ve never seen someone go so above and beyond for their patients.” Quirking an eyebrow, she tacks on, “I bet he didn’t even tell you that himself. You called him to see how he was doing, didn’t you?”

I give her a flat stare in response.

Another chuckle, another shake of her head. “You aresuchan overachiever,” she says as she hits the button on the Keurig machine.

“Whatever,” I say with a sniff. “I like it when my patients make—and keep—their progress. Sue me.”

“I’m pretty sure the only way a patient could sue you was if youdidn’tmake them feel better,” she muses to herself as she mixes cream into her cup. Frowning, she looks up at me before asking, “Have you ever had a patient you didn’t successfully rehab? I know you’ve only had your license for two years, but proportionally, you’ve definitely had the most patients under your care.”

Sighing, I trace the logo on my water bottle, thoughts of Roman flashing through my mind. “No, I haven’t,” I admit. “Not yet, at least. Fingers crossed.”

She hums thoughtfully, studying me for another moment. Then she glances down at my computer.

“Guess I can’t tease you for doing your homework, then,” she comments as she turns back to her coffee. “Since it’s clearly paying off.”

My gaze also drops to my computer, my thoughts turning to the research I know I’ll need to do for Roman’s case. Something tells me the by-the-book tactics aren’t going to be enough to help him.

“Let’s just hope it continuesto pay off,” I say with a sigh. “In the meantime, I think a cup of coffee might do me more good than the article I just read. Mind tossing another pod in there for me?”

By the time Roman’s appointment time rolls around, I’ve consumed two more coffees. I should’ve thought a little harder about taking on an extra patient at the endof my day—or at least bullied my boss a little for not giving me a heads-up about it before I said yes.

At 7 p.m., I walk into Roman’s exercise room. He’s early, and slightly less hungover, but he still looks just as unenthused as he did earlier this week.

I swallow the sigh that wants to escape.I need another cup of coffee.

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