“He does, quite well actually.” I settled myself into the warmth of the seat he’d just left.
Jodie sat back on the couch, crossing her stiletto black ankle boots on the coffee table. “If you’re feeling better, us girls are heading to Cottleslow beach for the weekend. There’s a nice little bar that always has a load of good-looking men and we will be getting you laid.” She threw a combative look at Karson.
The corner of his lip lifted up ever so slightly. Something blistering flashed through his eyes but it was gone so fast, I thought I might have made it up. “I think I’ll help Ethan in the kitchen and leave you girls to your plans.”
“Jodie, really.” BJ scowled. “He did help find her, you know.”
Jodie shrugged. “When they screw with you, you screw back a whole lot harder.”
Without a shadow of a doubt, she was going to make one hell of a lawyer.
Sarah laughed. “Way to go with the puns, Jodie.” She turned a sweet smile to me. “Or we could stay in the cabin, eat chocolate, drink wine, and watch movies. See how you feel, it would be lovely to have you.”
“Maybe, thank you, I’ll let you know.” It was a non-committal response. But Sarah didn’t seem to mind.
Moments later three steady knocks sounded at the door.
“That will probably be Tom,” I sighed, toying with my ring.
“I’ll get it.” Jodie jumped up and strutted to the door.
“Hello, I’m here to see Amy,” Tom said his voice was polite and professional.
“Amy.” Jodie yelled at the top of her lungs. “The ass that shagged your best friend is here to see you.”
Dismayed, I threw my head into my hands, peering through the slit in my fingers as she came back around the corner with a smirk plastered on her face. An angry looking Tom loomed behind like a dark shadow.
“Thanks for the reminder,” Tom muttered.
“You’re welcome,” she said light-heartedly, plonking herself on the couch with a satisfied grin. “How’s your cheek, Tom, has it recovered?”
He ignored her and cast his hazel eyes on me. “Amy, you still don’t look good.” He frowned, settling his bag on the floor. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
Karson and Ethan came back in and stood by the fireplace, like guards summoned to a post. Tom opened his bag, located the stethoscope and wrapped it around his neck.
“Could we have some privacy, please.” He shot a firm look at both men, who threw him steely gazes in return. I didn’t think they were going to move, but after a few seconds they did without fuss.
“I’ll just go with them then,” BJ said, standing up. He wasn’t exactly a fan of either man. It’d be an uncomfortable wait for him. The girls stayed sitting. Two were nurses and there was no doubt Jodie wouldn’t be going anywhere in case the chance should arise to screw this one a little harder too.
With a resigned look, Tom handed me the end of the stethoscope. I placed it up under my top, turned my eyes to the fireplace. He did what he needed to do, slipping straight into doctor mode and going through all the same steps as last night.
“Your blood pressure is still low, your heart rate too.” He reached across and touched my forehead with the palm of his hand. Which was unnecessary given he’d taken my temperature already. “If you get a temperature at any stage, or your chest starts to feel heavy, you need to come straight to hospital.”
When I didn’t answer, he said sharply, “Amy, are you listening?’’
“Yes, Tom, I heard you,” I snapped, “there’s nothing wrong with my hearing, as you know.” I couldn’t help that last shot.
His face flushed. He studied me for a long moment, as if debating what to say. Finally, he exhaled and stared at me with a tender look. He reached for my hand and held it, jiggling it up and down softly like he wanted to shake words loose.
“We’ll talk when you’re feeling better, I left something by the door for you.” He leaned down, collected his bag in his other hand, and whispered in my ear, “I love you.”
The words were a knife blade twisted in my heart. My lungs felt too heavy for my chest to contain them. My fingers tensed in his grip.
He stood up. Our hands held clasped between us, like a linchpin to the past tugging us back together. A history I could not erase. Those beautiful moments we shared flashed through my head. His soft touch, captivating kisses, the laughter we shared.
His look was soft, agony tore through his iris.
