Page 81 of Charmed, I'm Sure
“Just because your dad is a doctor doesn’t mean you are, cowboy.”
“You’re right,” I said with a chuckle. “But my doctorate in emergency medicine and job at West Baptist does.”
“Wait…what?”
I opened the bag and started pulling things out. “Okay, lemme see.”
“Woah, hold up. You’re adoctor?!”
“Mags, baby, you can ask me all the questions you want towhileI look at your hand. Now, let me see it.”
Magnolia hesitantly placed her hand in mine, and I cautiously dabbed away the water and blood as it began pooling again. “It doesn’t look too bad,” I explained as I gently rotated her knuckles in the light. “Good news is that you don’t need stitches.”
“Is there bad news?” she asked.
“I’ll have to wrap it.”
She groaned, her head falling back in exasperation. “But I need my hand.”
“I know, I’m sorry. You’ll still be able to bend them, but the more you do, the more the cuts will reopen.”
“Great,” she groaned. “Anything else?”
“The antiseptic burns like a bitch.”
21
Alas, there’s no knob
Magnolia
“Fuckinghell!”Ispatthrough clenched teeth as Taylor poured what felt like molten lava over my knuckles.
“I’m sorry, baby. Almost done.”
“Mother above, thathurts.”
I bounced on my toes, exhaling a shaky breath when he finally stopped and dabbed at my hand with a blue towel he’d pulled from his bag.
“You doing alright, sunshine?” he asked, his tone laced with amusement.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Maybe a little.”
“You’re the reason I’m injured, and you’re laughing at me?”
“Whoa, now.Youwere holding the knife, Mags, not me.”
“Youstartledme!”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My irritation flared, and I fought the urge to slap him—or at least aim for his shins.
“I know. I’m sorry,” he said, a note of sincerity softening his voice. Then his lips twitched at the corners, betraying his amusement.
“I can’t believe you’re enjoying my pain,” I huffed.
“No, baby.” His hands were gentle as he smoothed ointment over my knuckles and wrapped them in what looked like a fancy Band-Aid. “What I’m enjoying is taking care of you. And maybe”—his voice dipped, sending a shiver through me—“the fact that I get to touch you while my family and their friends are just on the other side of that door.”
