Page 36 of The Wish List
“Perhaps we could go inside,” Dr. Hayes said quietly. “Have a cup of tea. Call Asher after I check you over and reassure him?”
I planned on reassuring him, all right. That he’d gone too far and was overreacting. But I wasn’t going to take it out on the nice doctor in front of me.
“Yes, come in and have a cup of tea,” I offered.
“That would be lovely,” he replied.
“Not once I’m through,” I muttered under my breath.
* * *
We entered the apartment, and AJ shrugged off his coat and headed to his room. I put down the bags and plugged in the kettle, looking at my phone. I had five missed calls from Asher and many more texts, each growing more frantic. I tamped down my frustration and typed a fast reply to them all.
I am fine. I will call you later.
I turned to the doctor, who was watching me with a calm expression.
“I’m afraid Mr. Hart has wasted your time.”
He shook his head. “If it calms his fears, then my time is not wasted.”
“I’m fine. It is a huge misunderstanding.”
“You wince when you move. Asher said that you hit your head?”
“I hit my shoulder, and yes, my head fell back. But the headache is from the neck and shoulder stiffness. Not because of something else.”
“May I look?”
I had a feeling this was not going to stop unless I agreed. I tugged off the sweatshirt I was wearing, leaving on the tank top underneath it. The doctor tsked as he saw the bruises and indicated for me to sit down. With a sigh, I did so, and he checked out my shoulder and arm, examining my head. He checked my eyes, had me do some reflex tests, and nodded. “You are badly bruised, but I agree, your head is fine.”
The kettle whistled, and I stood, pouring the hot water over the tea bags in the pot. I carried the pot to the small table and poured us each a cup of the steaming, fragrant liquid.
“Asher overreacted. I’m sorry to have troubled you.”
He wrote something on a pad of paper and handed it to me with a smile. “No trouble. Get this prescription filled and rub this cream into your neck and shoulder. It will help ease the ache. I am glad you didn’t do more damage.”
“Who knew sledding could be so dangerous?” I asked, trying to be light.
“You would be shocked at the number of serious injuries from sledding. Broken bones, head injuries, hidden sharp objects under the snow that cause stitches.” He shook his head. “Asher was being cautious. I don’t fault him for that.” He took a sip of his tea. “I will let him know you are fine.”
Before I could respond, I heard heavy, rushed footsteps coming down the hall. My door opened fast, so fast it almost slammed into the wall. Asher rushed in, meeting my eyes across the room. He visibly relaxed when he saw me standing. I stared at him, shocked.
“What are you doing here?”
He crossed the room, his eyes wild, tiredness etched beneath them. “You’re okay?” His gaze swung to the doctor. “Is she okay?”
“Sheis fine,” I said firmly.
Dr. Hayes stood. “She is bruised and sore, but otherwise fine.” He turned to me. “You have my card should you feel unwell. Fill the prescription. It will help ease the aches.” He leaned close. “Don’t be too hard on him.”
He shook Asher’s hand and left. We stared at each other.
“You didn’t call. You didn’t answer my calls. Or my texts. I was so worried, I—”
I lifted my hand, cutting him off. “You overreacted. I told you I didn’t hit my head directly. I hit my shoulder.”
“You had a headache.”
