The room feels hotter, like maybe I shouldn’t be the one in here for this. But at the same time, my stomach protests the thought of leaving her. I’d rather not think about her sex life, at least not outside of my own fantasies.
"No, I’m not. I’m positive."
Relief floods my senses, and I’m overwhelmed by it. I’ve dated, had hookups, but something about Sadie hits differently. We’re friends, of course, but there’s more to it—a mutual attraction that’s becoming harder to deny. Even when I actively try to stop thinking about her, I can’t.
Vera nods, swings around, and looks us over once again before pushing out of the room.
"So, the Flames?" I attempt to make small talk. Sadie twists the cotton hospital blanket with her good hand. "What’s it like?"
"It’s like any other job, I think." She peeks at me from under her lashes. "Just with people who make millions of dollars. Monte is great when he’s not forcing me to take time off. And the kids I work with are awesome."
Her face lights up as she speaks, and it steals my breath. I have a vague understanding of why she’s on leave, but it feels like a disservice to more than just Sadie. If she’s this happy talking about it, I can only imagine what she feels being there.
"You love it," I say—a statement, not a question.
She beams, the kind of smile that covers her entire face. "I really do. And look, I know it’s kind of pathetic because it’s my one-legged stool, but it’s what I was meant to do—where I’m supposed to be."
"I’m not sure I know what a one-legged stool has to do with it, but I agree. Why did you need to take a leave again?" I reach out, squeezing Sadie’s hand. "You don’t have to explain it all if you don’t want to. I’m just trying to figure out why he’d send you away."
She squeezes my hand back, intertwining our fingers. "It’s complicated. Maybe we could talk—"
"Hello, how’s our patient doing?" A nurse wearing black scrubs asks as she enters alongside the physician.
"I’ve been better, but it’s fine." Sadie holds her hand up, and the doctor's eyes grow comically big.
"Well, you definitely need stitches." The woman in the white coat with sandy brown hair begins rolling up her sleeves. "Gretchen, please get anesthetic to numb it, a suture kit, and a tetanus shot." She turns to Sadie, a sympathetic smile gracing her face. "We’re going to make sure it’s as pain-free as possible before I place a few stitches. You will need a shot just to be safe. Do you remember when your last one was?"
"No, I’m sorry I don’t. Is that okay? Is it safe to have another one?" Sadie’s grip on my hand tightens, and her chest rises and falls faster than it did before.
Doctor Toccio smiles, and Gretchen scoots a tray filled with supplies over to the bed. "Of course, it’s completely safe."
"Is that the needle? I can’t…" Sadie’s face goes pale, and beads of sweat dot her brow.
"Hey, Sade. Look at me. Talk to me." My heart aches for her. She clearly isn’t a fan of what’s happening here, not that anyone would be. But I can tell her anxiety has reached a boiling point, that she wants to refuse what has to happen.
"I just don’t like needles. How do people get tattoos? Or donate blood for fun? I could never—it makes no sense. I tried once, getting a tattoo. I only made it through ten minutes and I begged the guy to stop, and there was one time I donated blood… passed out before they finished my intake forms." Her rambling is adorable, and my chest flutters with the wings of what feels like a thousand butterflies.
Turning my head toward the doctor, I whisper, "Hey, Doc. How long will it take you to do everything?"
"Ten seconds for the shot to numb it, then maybe three minutes. Are you planning to time me?" Her eyes narrow.
"Nah, just going to try some unconventional methods for distracting her." I wink and give her a small thumbs-up before turning my attention back to my girl. "Sade, can I ask you something?"
She groans but nods anyway. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No. What does that have to do with needles?" She searches my face for an answer, and I can hear the medical staff working behind me.
"Nothing, but I watched an episode ofBrown’s Bodieswith my mom once, and they said that affection can mimic the same endorphins that you hear about moms using to lift cars and shit."
"The anesthetic is in. Should be numb in just a minute and then we’ll continue," Doctor Toccio declares. I guess my talking is working, as she didn’t even flinch.
"Max! What does that have to do with this situation?"
I turn slightly, glancing at the doctor. She gives me a nod and a wink, which makes me chuckle. I stand from the chair, inch onto the sliver of bed beside her, and run my index finger from her forehead down to her chin.
Leaning in until I’m only a centimeter away, I whisper, "Please don’t punch me in the nose for this."
Sadie tips her chin up, her eyes searching mine for answers. Instead of giving any, I press my lips to hers, firm compared to her pillow-soft. She’s stunned, struck so still I’m not sure she’s breathing. Inching backward, I scan her face for some sort of reaction until Sadie leans forward, wraps her non-injured hand around my neck, and kisses me.
