Page 96 of Guilty For You

“Five years!” She cried as I hushed her, “Wait!” She turned me in my chair with big round eyes of excitement. “Is he Penny’s dad?”

I groaned, “Yes.”

“Oh my god!” She jeered and I once again tried to get her to shut up.

“What are you ladies screeching about over here?” Oliver asked as he laid a chart down at the desk behind us and sat down.

“Nothing.” I replied quickly glaring at Winnie, but she simply rolled her eyes and blew me in.

“Delilah’s baby daddy is in town and she’s soaking up all of the extracurricular activities she can, trying to turn back into a fun and happy twenty something year old.”

I closed my eyes and cringed as I felt Oliver’s eyes roam over the back of my head, “I didn’t realize you had any contact with Penelope’s father.”

“I didn’t.” I replied and then sighed, “It’s complicated.”

He tsked his teeth and I cringed again as I continued to face forward, trying to avoid the conversation completely. The few times he asked me out I was able to avoid any real reason why, but now that there was the conversation of Fox on the table, it was just awkward all around.

“Is he the one that broke your ribs?” He asked after a pause and the judgement and disdain was clear as day in his tone.

I whipped my head around to face him after looking around to see if anyone else heard the accusation he threw at me. “HIPAA.” I snapped, putting him back into his role as my doctor for my injury and not as my friend who was good heartedly gossiping about my personal life.

The only reason he knew about my ribs was because he treated me for them. Which meant he couldn’t just throw that information around without recourse.

His boyish face darkened, “Mandated reporter.” He clapped back.

“Whoa.” Winnie cautioned looking between us. “Let’s just take a sec-.”

“If he’s putting his hands on you, then he’s probably doing it to Penelope too. I have no choice but to report it to the authorities. Even if you’re too selfishly wrapped up in him to do it yourself.”

“Fuck off.” I snapped, feeling anger like never before as he crossed so many lines in one rude sentence. “He didn’t touch me; it was a customer at Cherry’s, and there were witnesses so don’t even try to press on it. And don’t ever speak my daughter’s name again if you’re going to throw around your pompous opinion at the same time.” I stood up from my chair and pointed my finger at him, reveling in the pale color his face had taken in response to my outburst. “How dare you accuse me of allowing a man to hurt not only me but my daughter. Out of fucking line doesn’t even begin to cover it.” I clenched my fists and turned away towards the break room. I needed to get the fuck away from him before I told him exactly what I thought of him.

Because then I’d probably get fired.

But when I rounded to leave the nurses station, Fox stood staring past me to the man that I used to enjoy working with, wearing a mask of pure unadulterated rage on his face. “Fox.” I whispered, as panic burned in my spine.

I didn’t know how much he heard, but it had to be enough to entice his anger. Especially given the warning he gave Oliver when he was here for stitches and the young doctor kept touching me.

“Do you make a habit of threatening to remove children from loving homes Doc?” Fox sneered. “And think real fucking hard on that answer before you give it.”

“Him?” Oliver glowered from behind me, and I recoiled from the wrath in Fox’s glare. “Seriously?”

“Dr. Franklin, that’s enough.” Winnie said firmly, standing up and pointing at him. “Delilah’s right, you’re out of line.”

He scoffed and stood up from his chair, “Unbelievable.” He was red in the face and picked up his charts with agitation, muttering under his breath as he walked away. The man had no clue how close he was to losing the shape of his face to Fox’s fists, and it showed in his arrogance.

I sighed and ran my hand over my forehead as I approached Fox. “I’m sorry.”

He had his hands clenched so tightly his knuckles were white and I was afraid they’d dislocate from the pressure on them. “Don’t apologize for him.” He snapped at me, and I recoiled, finally drawing his eyes away from the retreating back of my boss. He sighed and his shoulders deflated, “I’m sorry.”

Eyes from patients and coworkers alike watched us with fascination so I walked past him towards an empty room, “Come here.”

I paced the treatment room as Fox joined me and shut the door behind him. “I didn’t mean to snap at you.” He affirmed and I turned towards him.

“I know.” I sighed and sagged against the counter. “I’m sorry you heard his comment, he was out of line.”

He walked forward and put his hands on each side of my neck, cradling my head and holding my weight up as emotional fatigue weighed me down. “Yes, he was. But it wasn’t your fault.” He leaned forward and kissed my forehead, “I want to work on my reactions, because I can’t do that around you and Penny. I won’t.”

“I know, baby.” I ran my hands up his stomach and took his emotions into consideration. He was a dominant, alpha male, and had been every day of his life. A few days ago, he vowed to dial it down to protect Penny’s feelings and he was actively trying. But it wasn’t something he was going to have control of overnight; I knew that and I appreciated that he was trying. He held me for a while just like that, as we let our presence calm each other. “What are you doing here?”

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