Page 43 of A Play for Love

“Okay. Bye, Aunt Charlotte. Bye, Uncle Conner.”

“I’ll see you soon, babe.” Nathan leaned over and kissed my lips.

“Sofia Finnegan, soon to be Sofia Kind. Have a seat, please, so I can check out that knee,” Conner said.

“Now?” I arched my brow.

“Yes.” He pulled out a chair at the table. “Sit.”

I sat in the chair, and Conner removed my brace.

“How’s it feeling?” he asked as he examined it.

“It feels pretty good.”

“The swelling is way down. Do me a favor and walk on it.”

I stood up and walked across the kitchen.

“Any pain?”

“Nope.” I shook my head. “You know the injection already kicked in.”

“Would you love me even more than you already do if I told you to ditch the brace?” The corners of his mouth curved upward.

“Are you playing with me, Conner?” I narrowed my eye. “You said two weeks. It’s only been one.”

“I said two weeks to teach you a lesson. Ditch the brace. But no more pointe shoes until after you have surgery.” He pointed at me. “No matter how good your knee feels.”

“I promise.” I smiled as I walked over and hugged him.

After Charlotte and I drank our tea, I went home. Nathan turned around and stared at me when I stepped through the sliding door.

“Conner said to ditch the brace.” I smiled as I held the brace up.

“That’s great, babe.” He walked over and wrapped his arms around me. “Now, I won’t worry so much while I’m gone.”

“You’ll be gone for two nights, Nathan.”

“Two nights too long as far as I’m concerned. It’s not too late to change your mind and come with me.” His lips softly brushed against mine. “Especially now that you don’t have to wear the brace anymore.”

“It’s still a lot of walking, and I’m just not ready to go back there yet. But I’m sure Ella would love to go with you.” I smirked. “She can probably give the lecture to the medical students for you.”

“No shit. She probably could.” He chuckled.

“Is she in bed?” I asked.

“Yeah, but she’s still up. She’s working on that Human Design thing. I told her it was lights out when you got home.”

“I’ll go up and kiss her good night now. Did you give Nicholas his medicine?”

“Yes, and he took it like a champ.”

“Really?” I narrowed my eye. “He didn’t spit any of it out?”

“Nope.”

“He always spits it out for me,” I said.

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