“Good news,” Doc said as he clicked the light off and pressed his two fingers to my neck, “you don’t have a concussion.”
“We never thought she did,” Mav piped up and walked over to the refrigerator. “Drink?”
“Would love one, thanks,” Doc said as he kept clocking my pulse with the watch on his wrist.
“Brielle?”
“Oh, so you care about that now?”
“Water, it is,” Mav said.
“Like I said, a bit elevated. But, given the tense situation—”
“You mean, the fact that they snatched me right from in front of my home?” I asked flatly.
Doc slowly turned his head over his shoulder. “You guys really getting into it this time?”
Mav snickered and handed Doc his drink. “You have no idea.”
And when he handed me the glass of ice water, I could have sworn I saw something akin to guilt flash behind his eyes.
“Thanks,” I said, quickly taking the drink from him.
“It’s the least I can do.” I side-eyed him as he sat down, but Doc stayed on course. He checked me, head to toe, for any sign of something he had to fix. He checked over my wrists and ankles one last time before slathering this comforting salve over my irritated skin. Then, he wrapped it all up in gauze that felt as if it had been crafted by the clouds above our heads. With every sip of water that I took, the pounding in my head subsided. Water had never tasted so divine, and by the time I had drained my glass, Mav was up on his feet getting me another one.
“Here. Drink all you want,” he said as he slid another drink toward me.
“Don’t mind if I do,” I said breathlessly, reaching for the cold plastic cup.
“You should get her some food, while you’re at it,” Doc said as he stood from his seat.
“What would be best at a time like this?” Mav asked.
“Anything that is nutrient dense. A salad with some chicken. Or steak. Some vegetable soup. Something like that.”
Mav smiled from ear to ear as he reached into the back of the fridge. “Veggie soup coming right up.”
I didn’t like how nonchalantly they were talking about me and my circumstance. Did Doc really know what the hell was going on? Well, of course he did. I had blurted that shit out, and not once did the older man flinch. Did he just not care? Was this a normal thing for these guys?
God, what kind of trouble was I really in?
“All right,” Doc said as he stood to his feet and jammed his hand back down into his bag, “I’m going to leave this with you. It’s a ten-day supply of Tylenol with codeine. Take one in the morning and one in the evening, at least ten hours apart. And after five days, if you’re still uncomfortable enough that regular Tylenol doesn’t do the trick, have the guys call me again. I’ll bring some more around.”
His words terrified me. “I’m—I’m going to be here for more than five days?”
Doc looked cautiously over at Mav. “I’ll send you my bill.”
Mav chuckled, placing something in the microwave. “You know you’re always paid before you get back home. Thanks again, Doc.”
“Anytime.”
“Wait,” I said, reaching out and snatching his forearm.
“Nice reflexes. That’s a good sign,” Doc said as he stared down at our connection.
“Don’t I need a hospital or something?” I asked.
Please take the hint. Please take the hint. Please take the hint.
