Page 5 of A Prescription to My Heart

“Hit me.”

“What’s a skeleton’s least favorite room?”

I tap my chin, playing along. “Hmm… I don’t know.”

“Thelivingroom!”

I burst out laughing, ruffling her hair. “You’re on fire today.”

She beams, pleased with herself. Then her eyes flick to Soren, who’s watching us with that impassive, assessing look of his.

“You don’t laugh much, do you?” Olivia asks him.

I bite back a grin.

Soren, to his credit, doesn’t miss a beat. “No.”

Olivia giggles. “You should. It’s fun.”

I glance at him, curious to see how he’ll respond.

He just nods once. “Noted.”

I shake my head and move to check Olivia’s IV. “Alright, Doc, here’s the rundown. No fever, vitals are stable, pain’s managed, and she’s tolerating fluids.”

He listens, nodding occasionally, his focus absolute. When I finish, he flips the chart closed.

“Good,” he says. “I’ll be back to check on her later.”

Then, without another word, he turns and walks out.

I stare after him. “Seriously?”

Olivia giggles again. “He’s weird.”

“You have no idea.”

I find Soren at the nurses’ station ten minutes later, scrolling through Epic like it’s personally offended him.

I fold my arms. “You ever saythank you?”

He doesn’t look up from the computer. “For what?”

I scoff. “Oh, I don’t know. For running around, checking vitals, giving you updates so you can do your job without lifting a finger?”

He finally looks at me, those dark, unreadable eyes locking onto mine. “Isn’t that your job?”

My mouth falls open.

Angela, overhearing, picks up her Celsius and scurries away. Traitor.

I lean in slightly. “Okay, I get it. You’re averyimportant,verybusy man. But maybe—just maybe—you could try treating the people who help you like actual human beings.”

Silence stretches between us.

Then, slowly, Soren’s gaze returns to the computer. “Duly noted.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Wow.”

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