To fuck her. And to love her.
Chapter12
Peyton
I was dragging with exhaustion the first part of my workday, but it was difficult to mind because talking with Korbin all night had been a moment I never wanted to end. We were kids again, carefree and happy, and for some time I’d almost been able to forget that he broke my heart and walked away.
Almost.
I still had every intention of trying things out with Jake. I really liked the guy, and I couldn’t bring myself to completely open up to Korbin. If he wanted to hang around and help my mother, fine. I wouldn’t be the one to stop him. But I certainly wasn’t going to spill my guts out to him, either. I would tolerate him as a friend, no more and no less. I deserved better than what he had done to me. I needed to see Jake again, and soon.
Just after lunch, my new patient came in for a session. “Amanda?” I called, stepping out into the waiting room. A young woman rose to her feet with a small wave, and I recognized her at once. Korbin’s blond friend from the restaurant.
“You’re Peyton, right?” she asked, standing to shake my hand. “Thanks for seeing me today.”
“No worries,” I said, feeling slightly awkward already. “Follow me back and we’ll take a look.”
I escorted Amanda back to a patient room and she took a seat on the edge of the exam bed, her eyes following me around the room as I sat down at the computer to login. On the outside Amanda looked fine, so all I could wonder as I typed her information into the computer was why she was really here.
“So,” I said, turning on the stool to look at Amanda. I had to be polite, professional, even if this woman wasn’t my favorite being in the world. “What seems to be the problem?”
“My leg has been hurting really bad,” Amanda said, glancing down at herself as if to make a point.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “Do you remember doing something to it that might be causing the pain?”
“No.” She shook her head, eyes still on my face like she was trying to read a story in my features.
“Do you mind if I take a look?” I asked, and Amanda shrugged.
“Sure.”
Feeling strange about this encounter, I gently poked and prodded Amanda’s knee. Not once did she flinch in discomfort or pain, and the entire time I examined her, Amanda’s eyes stayed on my face; glued there, like she’d never seen anything so fascinating.
“I’m sorry, Amanda, I can’t seem to locate the pain,” I told her, scooting back my stool a little bit. “Has it stopped hurting?”
“It must have,” she said, and instead of smiling like normal her expression was blank suddenly; a blank stare so strange that a shiver crawled up my spine. I took a deep breath and met her eyes, wishing I hadn’t brought her back.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” I said slowly. “But unless you’re really injured, there’s not much we can do here for you. I can, however, give you a referral?”
For a moment Amanda was silent, and I wasn’t even sure she had heard me. Then, after a painstakingly long and awkward moment, she smiled. She smiled as if nothing at all had just happened.
“Thanks anyway,” she said, and her tone was strange. Dreamy. “I just figured I’d have it checked out.”
“Okay,” I said softly. “Amanda, can I—?”
“Hey,” she said suddenly, cutting me off. I’m not even sure she was with it enough to realize what was happening. “How’s Korbin?”
“Korbin?” I repeated, and a tremor of fear clutched at my heart. “Korbin is—fine, I guess. Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” said Amanda with a shrug, and this time when she spoke again her gaze was vacant, eyes clouding over just as they had been moments ago.
“Amanda,” I said kindly, leaning forward to try and grab her attention. “Are you okay? Can I call someone for you?”
Another long silence greeted the room, but I held my breath, hoping she would speak again—snap back to reality, maybe.
“No,” she said finally, and still her eyes were gazing at the wall behind my head, distant. “I don’t need help. But I—I should go.” She stood to leave then, swaying where she stood, and I got to my feet to hold out a hand in case she fell over.
“Are you sure?” I asked. I wasn’t Amanda’s biggest fan, of course, but I wasn’t an asshole either. There was obviously something wrong with the girl. “Do you have family here?”
