Page 33 of See You Soon
Chapter14
ari
Rider, D?
As inRider, Daniel?
I look up from my chart to see his beautiful body on the bed, his hands on his phone, typing aggressively. At first, he's hard to recognize. His face is covered in camouflage paint. A skull mask on his face. Shades of black, green, and brown all over, disguising his features. A mini panic attack unfolds in my chest. I quickly look back at my chart, then look down the busy hallway that's full of nurses and doctors walking around, in a panic motion trying to think ofanotherco-worker that would take over Danny for me. A mixture of feelings hit me hard. There's no one I know besides Lori that could take over.
I'm excited to see him but scared at the same time. I bite my lip trying to decide what to do. All I want to do is run away. I start to rock on one of the heels of my foot, fidgeting. I don't think I've fully recovered from Danny's rejection during the hurricane. I just can't take any more embarrassment.
Still looking down the hallway with the supplies and chart in my hand, is when his deep, enticing voice rings in my ears interrupting my panic attack.
"Ari? Is that you?" Danny's voice is full of shock.
Shit.
I turn towards him, putting on an act, as if I didn't just find out he's my new patient.
I look at him and he stares back at me, his eyebrows narrow and his eyes are full of curiosity, burning through me. As if he can't believe he's seeing me through the glass doors. Those beautiful blue eyes look like they're glowing against his face paint.
I half smile, letting out a deep breath.
"Ummm... hi..." I chirp. I try so hard to defy human anatomy and refrain from blushing.
I walk into the room slowly, after sliding the glass doors open. Danny has his shirt off, smudges of dirt, and soot from smoke, all over his body, and his muscular abs on display. His skin has been kissed deeply by the sun and he looks more tan the last time I saw him. He looks tired and beaten. I feel a sting of worry in my chest and I really want to know what just happened to him.
But then I remember, I don't want to be that girl anymore. The girl that wears her heart on her sleeve. The girl that always cares more than the other person. I'm always sweet to undeserving people. I swallow the question that I so desperately want to ask.
What happened to you? How are you feeling? Can I do anything?Can I kiss you?
"So you're a nurse for the military? Youwork here?" He asks as I walk over to his back assessing the wound. His question comes off rude and full of anger. He sits up, taking off his skull mask but I don't answer right away. I have to focus on my job. I get closer to him bringing a stool over to the bed. I sit on it as I begin to prepare to clean his wound out.
It’s right above his eerie Grim Reaper tattoo.
"Yes," I whisper my voice rigid.
His dark blonde hair’s a bit longer and messy. I bite my lip, hard.Why did he have to be so attractive?
His wound looks like a deep gash tearing through his back and all I see is ripped skin covered in an open deep crimson pool. It looks like something sliced him open from an explosion. It must have been caused by a grenade. I've seen wounds like this before, a lot in just a short amount of time working here. He has to be in so much pain. Soldiers I've treated in the past like this, usually tremble and beg me for numbing pain medication.
"Did they already give you some medication for the pain?" I ask, professionally.
"No. I don't want it nor need it." He says, his tone bothersome.
"Well you might want it now for when I stitch you up, I have something to numb the area."
"Ari,"
The way he says my name… makes those damn butterflies in my heart and stomach storm around. I hate that this man, whom I barely know, makes me feel this way.
"It's unnecessary, skip thedamnnumbing injections and just stitch me up fast and good so I can get back out there. My team needs me." He says sternly, slightly raising his voice at me.
Well,excuse me.Is he really ordering me around right now?
"Mr. Rider, don't argue with me. I will do my best to be fast and precise but if you're not cleared to go back out, you won't be going back to your team. You will not be discharged from this hospital, pending the results of your other tests. Now, I'm going to start with the injections."
Danny stiffens at my threatening choice of words. He grows quiet and his tense shoulders relax. We both sit in awkward silence. I don't want to talk to him. Plus, I just don't know what to say. And I think the feeling's mutual.
