“The plane is already waiting,” Goldberg says as the nurses begin to unwrap the bandages on my head.“If there are no signs of infection, we should be able to head home.”
“Excellent.”I lie still, ignoring the pain resulting from the nurses’ ministrations.In the meantime, Nora grabs some clothes from the closet and disappears into the bathroom that adjoins our room.I hear the water running and realize she must’ve decided to use this time to take a shower.It’s probably her way of avoiding me for a bit, since she’s still upset over my threat.My pet is sensitive to violence being doled out to those she views as innocent—like that stupid boy Jake she kissed the night I took her.
I still want to rip out his insides for touching her… and someday I probably will.
“No sign of infection,” Goldberg tells me when the nurses are done removing the bandages.“You’re healing well.”
“Good.”I take slow, deep breaths to control the pain as the two nurses clean the sutures and rebind my ribs.I’ve been taking half of my prescribed dose of painkillers for the past two days, and I’m definitely feeling it.In another couple of days, I’ll go off the painkillers completely to avoid becoming dependent on them.
One addiction is plenty for anyone.
As the nurses are wrapping up, Nora comes out of the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed in a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved blouse.“All clear?”she asks, glancing at Goldberg.
“He’s good to go,” he replies, giving her a warm smile.I think he likes her—which is fine with me, given his homosexual orientation.“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”She lifts her arm to show a large Band-Aid over the area where the terrorists cut out her birth control implant by mistake.“I’ll be happy when the stitches are out, but it doesn’t bother me much.”
“Great, glad to hear it.”Turning toward me, Goldberg asks, “When should we plan to head out?”
“Have Lucas get the car ready in twenty minutes,” I tell him, carefully swinging my feet to the floor as the nurses exit the room.“I’ll get dressed, and we’ll go.”
“Will do,” Goldberg says, turning to leave the room.
“Wait, Dr.Goldberg, I’ll walk out with you,” Nora says quickly, and there’s something in her voice that catches my attention.“I need something from downstairs,” she explains.
Goldberg looks surprised.“Oh, sure.”
“What is it, my pet?”I stand up, ignoring my nakedness.Goldberg politely averts his eyes as I catch Nora’s arm, preventing her from walking out.“What do you need?”
She looks uncomfortable, her gaze shifting to the side.
“What is it, Nora?”I demand, my curiosity piqued.My grip on her arm tightens as I pull her closer.
She looks up at me.Her cheeks are tinged with color, and there is a defiant set to her jaw.“I need the morning-after pill, okay?I want to make sure I get it before we leave.”
“Oh.”My mind goes blank for a second.Somehow I hadn’t thought about the fact that with her implant gone, Nora can get pregnant.I’ve had her in my bed for almost two years, and during that entire time, she’s been protected by the implant.I’m so used to that, it hadn’t even occurred to me that we need to take precautions now.
But it had clearly occurred to Nora.
“You want the morning-after pill?”I repeat slowly, still trying to process the idea that Nora—my Nora—could be pregnant.
Pregnant with my child.
A child that she clearly doesn’t want.
“Yes.”Her dark eyes are huge in her face as she stares up at me.“It’s unlikely from just one time, of course, but I don’t want to risk it.”
She doesn’t want to risk being pregnant with my child.My chest feels oddly tight as I look at her, seeing the fear she’s trying so hard to conceal.She’s worried about my reaction to this, afraid I’ll prevent her from taking this pill.
Afraid I’ll force an unwanted child on her.
“I’ll be right outside,” Goldberg says, apparently sensing the rising tension in the room, and before I can say a word, he slips out the door, leaving us alone.
Nora lifts her chin, meeting my gaze head on.I can see the determination on her face as she says, “Julian, I know we never talked about this, but—”
“But you’re not ready,” I interrupt, the tightness in my chest intensifying.“You don’t want a baby right now.”
She nods, her eyes wide.“Right,” she says warily.“I’m not even done with school yet, and you’ve been injured—”
