Page 24 of Lost
Dr. Royal continues to walk, and I hurry after because I don’t want to be left behind.
“That sounds like an interesting story,” Dr. Royal says under his breath.
“Yeah, I’m going to have to agree with that,” Remy grunts. “He seems like a douchebag. Is he really your scent match?”
“Unfortunately,” I sigh. “He was working when I came in with my very pregnant, contracting client. He thought I was her significant other and not her midwife.”
“Dr. Stewart was dropped on his head as a child. I’m almost sure of it,” Dr. Royal says. “I’m not one to get in the middle of things, but I say reject him and move on. I don’t think he could take care of a plant, much less an omega. I don’t even know you and I think you could do better.”
“Don’t hit on Hollis’ twin sister, man,” Remy groans. “She might stab you with your own scalpel.”
“This is why I never keep sharp implements around her at the hospital,” Dr. Royal chuckles.
My head is spinning at their banter, and I’m not entirely sure if Dr. Royal is hitting on me or not. My life is babies and moms, which means that I’ve never dated and any willing sexual experience I have had was through a heat clinic.
Purely transactional.
Pushing away their words to examine later, I take a deep breath and follow them into a private room. It’s set away from other clients, and Remy puts Hollis down carefully.
“Are her guard dogs going to stand outside the door again?” Dr. Royal asks.
My lips twitch at his statement unkindly since they’re not currently my favorite people.
“I’d feel better if they did,” Remy admits, sitting beside Hollis. “She hasn’t woken up at all, Adrain. Should I be worried?”
“Not at all,” he says. “She’s healing, which means her body is shutting down to do that. Unfortunately, I have to set these bones, which will wake her up.”
Wincing, I stare at her broken bones, remembering how much it used to hurt.
“Let me go get everything I need to set them,” Dr. Royal murmurs. “She’s still got blood all over her.”
“I can help get it off if you bring me a sponge and water,” I say immediately. I feel so fucking useless standing here.
“You got it,” he says, his shrewd eyes moving toward me. “Her men get a little funny about me doing things like that.”
“Don’t be a dick, Adrain," Remy says, pushing some hair off Hollis’ face.
“I’ll let Dr. Stewart hold that title, thank you very much. I’ll make sure to let Caleb and Lars in as well,” Dr. Royal says, walking out.
“Why can’t someone like that be my scent match,” I say unthinkingly.
Remy chuckles, shaking his head. “I think you have your hands full with what you have. Dr. Stewart is either being purposefully obtuse to fuck with you or an idiot. You know how biology is, Nova. It’s not something you can hide from.”
Wrinkling my nose, I nod. I’m already going to have to figure out something for my next heat. Since I haven’t been sleeping much, my heat has simply pushed itself out to compensate. However, now that I’ve scent matched with at least one of my matches, I’m going to need them.
The scent of chemicals fill my nose, and I think about how I won’t be smelling anything right for days after this. Thank goodness for small mercies.
“I know what you’re going to say, but I really am sorry this happened to Hollis,” I say, coming around to sit beside her.
I can see bruising around her throat where she was strangled, and I wonder who they’re from.
“Are you going to run again?” Remy asks, ignoring my words as he looks up at me.
“What?” I ask, not understanding why he’s asking me that. “You make it seem like I was running away out of cowardice. Ican assure you that’s not what that was. Over the years, they’ve sent bondsmen after me, and tried to get people to befriend me with the intent to kidnap me. I had no one I could trust.”
“I worded that wrong,” he mutters. “I tend to stick my foot in my mouth. I meant: are you planning to stick around in Minneapolis?”
“I still have clients here. I’d like to be able to deliver their babies and then go from there. I’m kind of holding on by a thread, Remy. There’s just a lot happening,” I say.
