Page 8 of Dirty Doctor
“Let me at least come pick you up and pay for a hotel. Something. Let me help you, sweetie.”
I chew on my lip. “Sounds good. You don’t have to pay for it, but if I could get a ride to one of the motels on the edge of town, I’d really appreciate it.”
“Sure thing. I’ll be there in an hour.”
I hang up and check my bank account. It’s dangerously low—that’s what I get for being unemployed. I’ll have to put the motel on a credit card, and hope our landlord will reimburse us for the expenses eventually. Sighing, I lean back on the bed. Stupid leak. Stupid Cabo. Stupid hospital. And then, just for fun:stupid Luke.Just as I’m about to take Bella up on her offer to stay with Will, there’s a knock on the door.
“Ms. Williams?” Doctor Jones walks into the room, grinning. “Ready to leave?”
CHAPTERSEVEN
LANGLEY
Ten minutes later,I’m sitting in a wheelchair—hospital protocol—waiting for my mom to pick me up. The sun is shining, and I close my eyes and soak it up. It feels nice to be outside after three days in the hospital. I’m wearing my interview clothes, and I hug my purse to myself tightly, enjoying the warm, early summer morning.
“Langley?”
I groan, recognizing the voice. “Luke.”
When I open my eyes, his lips are tilted up ever so slightly. “Waiting for Bella?” he asks, hands in his pockets. Today, he’s wearing dark jeans and a blue sweater that clings to his muscles. I try my best not to ogle.
Get. It. Together, Langley.
“I wish,” I say, leaning forward and running my hands through my hair. I don’t miss the way Luke’s eyes track the movement of my hand. “Apparently, our upstairs neighbors flooded their kitchen, so we have to move out for a few days. Mom is coming to get me, and I’m just going to the motel on the edge of town. The one next to the highway.”
Luke frowns as he looks in the direction I’m pointing to. “Roadside Inn?” he asks incredulously.
I nod. “Yep. It’s either that or staying with Bella and her boyfriend, Will.”
Luke makes a face. “The sleazy sales guy?”
I groan. “He makes a killing selling CBD oil, Luke. Don’t be so judgmental.” My eyes snap to his. “Wait, how do you know what he does for a living?”
Luke shrugs. “I saw it on Facebook or something.”
My eyes widen. “Do you even have Facebook?” This is all brand-new information to me.
His lips twitch. “Yes. You’d know that if you hadn’t blocked me several years ago.”
Shit.
“By the way, CBD oil is a total scam. There’s no medical evidence that it actually works—”
“I’ll just go sleep on the street, then,” I retort, feeling my eyes begin to sting with tears. He always does this—always manages to make me feel like all my life choices are a joke. “Just… leave me alone. I don’t need you here to judge yet another aspect of my fucking life.” My voice breaks on the last word, and I look away, trying to compose myself.
Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry…
“You’re staying with me.” He holds out a hand. “Come on.”
I twist around to look at him, swiping underneath my eyes to hide the evidence of tears.
“You?” I screech, my mouth agape with incredulity. I stare at his hand. “Are you joking?”
Over my dead body.
He cocks his head. “It’s either Roadside Inn, which, by the way, brings guys in for stab wounds on the regular, or Will’s place. And I sure as fuck don’t trust that guy, either.”
“I’ll take my chances with the motel,” I mumble, propping my elbow on the armrest and leaning my face against my hand.
