Page 15 of Fever: Love In Scrubs
“Trust me, I want to be anywhere but here. How are you?”
“The many hats I wear tend to keep me busy.”
“Doctor. Son…”
“Brother. Uncle. Father.”
“Oh. You have a kid?”
“She’s not a kid anymore. More like twelve going on twenty-five. She gives me a run for my money. I guess that’s me getting my karma back from when I was her age.”
She smirked. “So you were a rowdy kid?”
“More like curious.”
“I work with kids back home. Specifically teen boys and girls. Curious behavior is code for getting into things you aren’t supposed to.”
I chuckled. “Sometimes. You can’t tell me you were an angel growing up.”
“I um… I didn’t have many friends. Kids were kind of forbidden to hang out with me. I mean, you wouldn’t want the girl from the hoarder house in your home.”
“I would have. My parents raised me to be understanding, open minded, and to never judge a book by its cover. I mean, you were a kid. Your living situation was beyond your control. I wouldn’t have faulted you for that. We could have been the best of friends.”
She gave a soft smile. “Thank you.”
Grabbing a stool, I sat next to her bedside.
“How’s your pain right now? On a scale of one to ten?”
“A seven. I’m too damn old to be falling my big ass down stairs.”
I chuckled. “It happens to the best of us. I’ve taken a tumble or two in my day. I promise you, you’re gonna be okay. St. Ambrose is one of the best hospitals around here. We’ll get you taken care of.”
“With interns like that? I don’t know if I can agree.”
“I apologize for that. It’s all hands on deck right now.”
“Yet you’re in here chatting it up with me.”
I grinned. “To be fair, I came to see what the ruckus was all about. You were quite loud out there. Once I saw you, I just wanted to check in. That day kinda stuck with me for a while.”
“Well, thank you for checking on me. I guess I’m gonna be out of commission for a little bit. So much for getting my house together.”
“If you need help, I could recommend someone.”
She eyed me curiously, her gaze traveling my frame. “Is that someone you?”
“Actually, my sister owns an interior design, home staging, and professional organizing company. It could be me if you want.”
She smirked. “I wouldn’t subject you to that kind of labor.”
I chuckled. “I don’t mind. It would give me a reason to get to know you a little better.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Are—Are you flirting with me?”
“Not if you’re offended.”
“I’m… not. Just surprised.”
