Page 50 of Exposing Adonis

When I looked into the room, I practically winced.

“I can get up!” My brother tried to shove himself out of his wheelchair as Dr. Laurent hovered over him. Theyglaredat each other.

Dr. Laurent was shaking with rage, her thick, tight curls seemed to vibrate with her anger. “You were shotdaysago. Not months.Days!Do you know how long it takes to—”

“There was a clean exit, right through muscle. I’m fine.” He retorted, his grip on the wheelchair’s arms tightening, as his leg started to shake beneath him.

I was terrified when Chloe’s eyes swept to the door, and landed on me. She still hated me. But when she snapped her fingers and motioned for me to come inside, I couldn’t help but obey because I still respected her as a doctor.

“Nurse Bonifacio?” I braced myself for her scorn. “In your medical opinion, do you think this patient should be walking around?”

“I … uh …” I couldn’t find any words.

“Don’t bring her into this!” He pointed an angry finger at her, and he fell back into his wheelchair. “That’s a dirty fucking trick! How’d you like it if I broughtyoursister into this.”

Dr. Laurent’s jaw shut, her jaw ticking with tension as she tried to kill my brother with her eyes.

I scratched my head. The subtext in their conversation ran deeper than I could comprehend. What had my brother been keeping from me all this time?

“Oh, I thought maybe you’d listen toher,since you clearly won’t listen tome.”Dr. Laurent looked down at the name badge they had given her, which proclaimed her name. “I’m only a fuckingdoctor!”

“Language!” Geordie said, chuckling from the side of the room. He scratched his nose to hide his smile, his blue watch dangling from his wrist.

Dr. Laurent turned to Geordie. Unlike me, he didn’t recoil from her gaze. He just laughed at it. A loud, boisterous guffaw that echoed off the bare walls.

“Fuck you!” Dr. Laurent said, before she took in a deep breath, stood tall, and pivoted on her heel and walked out.

“Damn it.” My brother said under his breath. “Chloe! Come back …”

He put one foot on the ground, and tried to stand, but then collapsed back into the seat with a growl of pain. His face red with anger, and probably embarrassment.

“For what it’s worth,” I added, knowing I’d piss him off. “I think she’s right …” My brother’s eyes narrowed as I continued to speak. “In mymedicalopinion.”

“I should have eaten you in the womb.”

“But you didn’t, and here we are.” I didn’t want to find this funny. But I did. “So you’ve got a crush on the pretty doctor?”

“She likes him too,” Geordie said with a smile. “I’ve seen her throw a tantrum. I remember when we went on a ski trip without her, and how she terrorized the entire school, and all the house masters. But I’ve never seen her lose it likethat.” He pushed off the wall he was leaning on, and walked towards the door. On his way, he patted Leo on the shoulder. “You be good to her.”

“You’re all fucking assholes. All of you!” My brother said, his hand clenched into a fist.

He reached his hand out to the remote that was on his bed. He turned on the TV that was mounted in the corner of the room. As always, he turned to the news.

Callisandra Davenport was at a news desk, for once. She had a maroon blazer, but still had no makeup on. Her uneven tan, hard-earned from being in the sun, was not flattered by the studio lights.

“Viral video of the CEO Alexander Baas flying a helicopter to rescue his childhood friend, Dr. Chloe Laurent, recently taken hostage by the KPLA has led to a call for greater humanitarian aid to the region,” she said, staring into the camera with a bland expression. “And Baas Medical is taking the reins of this endeavor. Celebrity concerts to raise funds are already in the works. Headliners include Grammy Award winner, Sophie Tudor and folk-singing heart throb, Jomari Silang.”

The news cut to something about stocks, which my brother stared at with more focus than normal.

He wanted me to leave him the hell alone. It made me want to poke at him.

I hated watching the news, especially this dry, stocks and numbers kind of news. Give me social sciences, and people. Not … a little line graph about bulls and bears.

I summoned my better nature, and simply asked him, “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” He answered, not looking at me.

I let out a sigh. “Well, call us if you need us. And don’t get out of that chair.”

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