Page 39 of Mine to Share

“It’s better than hating life every time I move. Listen, I appreciate your concern, Doc, but I’m doing what I can to get by.”

Her shoulders slumped. “Just getting by doesn’t sound like a way to live.” What would she say if she knew the only thing that even got me out of bed anymore was the hope of seeing her? “I’m going to do some research. Surely, they have some new medical procedures that can help manage your joint pain better. Cortisone shots—”

She stopped at my wince and no-doubt pale face at the mention of a needle.

“What was that look?”

“Let’s talk about the damn murders,” I said, loud enough for Jameson to hear. “What are you looking at over there, Bend?”

“Oh no. I’m too invested in this,” he said, pointing the end of a pen between me and Rain, “to discuss what’s behind me. The case isn’t going anywhere, so what was that face for, Slade?” I shot him my best death glare. One that made most men piss their pants, knowing I could snuff out their life with a single blow. But not this fucker. He just smiled. “She mentioned a shot, and then you looked physically ill.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to lie and say it was the nasty fast food I just forced down, but then that would hurt Rain’s feelings, so I just sealed my lips shut, refusing to answer.

“You,” Rain said in surprise. “The great Slade Taylor, capturer of all bad guys and savior to women and children everywhere, is afraid of needles.”

“Am not.” I winced at the pout in my tone. I cleared my throat, ensuring I sounded like the badass I was. “I just don’t prefer them.”

“Right.” Rain drawled out the word, clearly not believing my lie.

Neither did I.

“Maybe Rain could hold your hand. Would that make it all better?” Jameson leaned a thigh against the side of Rain’s desk. “Or she could even do the injection. She is a doctor, after all. You trust her, don’t you, Slade?”

Fucker.

Dead motherfucker.

“Yes,” I said through gritted teeth. “Of course, I trust her.”

“I’d have to do some research, but it shouldn’t be a problem.” Her loud clap rang through the office as she leaped off the edge of the couch. “I’ll start looking into it tonight. I’m assuming you’ve also gone through physical therapy.” I nodded. “And keep up with the exercises they suggested.”

That, not so much. I was a smart man. I knew it would help, but I was also a stubborn motherfucker. I wasn’t sure what made me push back on all the stretches and band work they suggested to keep my ligaments and muscles loose but strong. Whatever it was, I’d tossed the step-by-step printout the moment I walked out of the door.

She sighed. “I’m taking that lack of response as a no. I’ll add that to the list of things to research, but I’ll need to know exactly what hurts and where.”

“You should probably give him a full physical,” Jameson added, shooting me a wink behind Rain’s back. “Don’t leave any area untouched.”

A tiny squeak escaped Rain. Before I could get a read on her face, she whirled around, long dark hair floating with the quick movement.

“Then, can I be next?” His face pulled in an exaggerated grimace as he massaged his bicep. “I was shot just a few weeks ago.”

“Really?” I asked, instantly concerned. I’d never been shot, but I was positive the pain was annoying as fuck if it was anything like what I lived with daily.

“For real?” Rain said, striding over to Jameson. “Where? What muscles did it penetrate?”

With Rain focused on prodding at his arm, she missed Jameson waggle his brows at her saying “penetrate.” I couldn’t hold back a huffed laugh. Good to know I wasn’t the only one who still thought like a fucking teenager at times.

“Not sure on what muscle, but it was a through and through. Maybe you can look tonight? It would make me feel better having a second opinion on some of the tightness and occasional pain spikes.”

“Yeah, we can do that.”

“Great, then it’s a date.”

“What?” she squeaked.

Jameson waited until she tilted her face up to his. “You assess the old guy’s ailments, though I have a feeling some of it can be resolved with Bengay—”

“Fuck you, motherfucker,” I grumbled while trying to smother my smirk.

---