“I’m good.” She smiled and tried to stand.
“No, you’re not.”
“Look, it’s just an old injury.” She shook it off. “I pushed a little too hard during our game. I’m on my way home after this. I’ll be just fine by tomorrow.”
I should have pushed to take her into the clinic on base and get some x-rays, but it wasn’t like I could order a full workup right now.
“Fine.” I helped her to her feet. “Let’s get you to your car.”
I kept a tight hold of her as we walked over to the car. “My ball.” She looked behind us when we reached the door.
“Stay here.” I went over to pick up the basketball and bring it back.
“Thanks.” She was already sitting behind the wheel.
“Promise me something.” I knelt down beside her.
“What?”
“If you don’t feel better in a few hours, you’ll go over to the clinic and get checked out.”
“I’ll be fine.” She insisted.
“Just for my peace of mind.” I didn’t back down.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine, I promise.”
I smiled at her. “Thanks.” I stood back up.
“I’ll see you next week.”
I stopped in mid-stride. “Next week?”
“Our next session,” she said. “I’ll text you the address.”
She pulled out of the parking space and turned onto the road.
I stood there watching her disappear, surprised that I wasn’t as annoyed as I should be. I was actually looking forward to seeing what she came up with.
Chapter 4
Rita
I opened the door of my apartment. My head fell backward as I let the stress and pain in my body run its course. I rolled my shoulders and closed my eyes while letting out a breath. I couldn’t help being pissed at myself that I had let a patient see me in pain, but it hadn’t felt as wrong as it should. Perhaps it was because he was a doctor. Maybe it had to do with the fact that his touch felt like satin against my skin. It didn’t matter. My job was to help others with their problems. Not pull them into mine.
I hung up my jacket and kicked off my tennis shoes. Today was a warmer day. That was the only reason I had gone for basketball, but then again, this was Colorado. One minute it might be sunny. The next you could look up and the whole world might be white all around you. It was one of my favorite things about living here. I liked the unpredictably. Too bad my mother had been different. She’d hated it here.
I shuffled through my small two-bedroom house until I made it to the shower. The warm water hitting my bones felt like heaven. I let it run over my skin and closed my eyes as each muscle relaxed. My mind went back to the last few minutes on the court with Stewart. I meant Major Harris. It was better not to get attached. The last thing I needed to be thinking about was the intensity of his eyes or the way he supported me as we walked to my car. The kindness of him making me promise to go to the clinic if I didn’t feel better. It was a promise I had no intention of keeping. They couldn’t do anything different for me than what had already been done.
With my shower finished, and some warm sweats on, I went right for the ice cream and the documentaries. I let my hand run over the folded flag sitting on my bookshelf as I walked over to the couch and grabbed the remote. I flipped through my streaming service until I found a good one and leaned back. Ice cream might not be the best idea for lunch, but I really didn’t care.
As much as I tried to focus on the television, my mind kept coming back to Stewart. I mean Major Harris. I couldn’t stop thinking about his eyes or his smile. That smile should be lethal. If I didn’t get a hold of these thoughts running through my head, I was definitely going to have to pass him off to Aspen. She’d make sure he was good to go before signing any paperwork, and she would do it the right way.
I relaxed a little more, and before long I was asleep. I didn’t wake up until I heard my phone ringing. The sound rattled me so bad I spilled the melted ice cream all over my floor.
“Shit.” I jumped up. Shaking the bit that landed on my pant leg. The phone continued ringing.
I walked over to the counter in my kitchen where I’d left it and picked it up without looking at the screen.
