Page 36 of The Confidentiality Clause
“How did this happen?” he asks as he riffles through supplies. Sutton would smack him on the back of the head for how he’s moving everything out of its little categorized section.
“I was coming out of the water and fell. I must have cut my arm on a rock.”
He pulls out a few alcohol pads and rips one open. “You went swimming by yourself? What if something worse would have happened and you drowned?” His words tumble out like snow in an avalanche.
“Relax. I only went up to my knees. It’s not a big deal. I do it all the time.”
“That doesn’t make it any better. What if you would have hit your head?”
I stay quiet. He gently takes my arm in one hand and begins cleaning it with the other. I wince a time or two, but his touch is surprisingly soft. I watch him work, studying his furrowed brow and concerned gaze.
“You’re right that it doesn’t look deep enough for stitches. Though I’m tempted to call Sutton to double check.”
My head rears back. “And say what?Ariel got hurt—oh, and by the way, we’ve been staying together.”
He shrugs. “If that’s what it took to make sure you’re okay. I’m guessing the nearest hospital is an hour away.” His head tilts to the side as he places a butterfly bandage over the cut. “I’ve seen enough injuries like this from hockey to feel good enough to not call her though.”
Our eyes meet. I try to discern what’s behind his, but come up short.
“You’d sell yourself out over a cut?”
He huffs out a laugh. “If I was worried, yeah. I care about you, Duke. I’m not a monster.”
“Could have fooled me this morning,” I say before I can take it back.
His jaw clenches. He stands and goes to wash his hands in the sink, then bends down to get a washcloth from the stack in the cabinet. Once the cloth is damp, he hands it to me. I start towipe the streaks of blood away from the spots I can see. He leans against the counter and crosses his arms.
“I’m sorry,” I say while cleaning splotches off my thigh. “I shouldn’t have said that. It’s sweet of you to care about me.”
“I’m sorry too,” he says in a low voice. “I shouldn’t have said those things about the doctor guy. I hope it works out between you two.”
I look up at him. That indecipherable cloud of emotion is still hovering around him, but I choose to ignore it. We’re friends. I don’t want to mess that up by poking the bear even more.
“Thanks, that means a lot.”
He nods, then holds his hand out. “You’ve got some–let me help you.”
I hand him the cloth. He lowers himself to one knee in front of me, then softly brushes my cheek.
“I didn’t know I had blood on my face. I must have looked like a horror movie poster.”
He laughs softly. “I thought you’d been attacked by something. In the span of time it took you to explain, I’d already begun concocting a plan to go out there and kill whatever or whoever it was.”
A smile stretches my lips. “And I thought Sutton was the one with the overactive imagination.”
“A family trait, I guess,” he says with a smirk. “You’re all set, but it will probably take a shower to get all of this off.”
I scrunch my nose. “Considering I’m covered in dirt and leaves as well, I agree.”
He stands, then helps me stand. “I’ll leave you to it.”
I smile. “Thanks, Carolina.”
“I’d say anytime, but I’m hoping this never happens again.”
We laugh together.
“I can’t promise I won’t go out there by myself again, but I will stay away from the water.”
