Bringing my finger to my lip, I bite my cuticles, still not taking my eyes off that damn spot, until my phone chimes, alerting me to a text, forcing me to move.
By the time Luca gets back, I’m still weirded out but saying nothing. I know he’d never leave me alone again if I raised some worries for him, and that I can’t have.
Hurrying to turn the alarm off so he doesn’t ask me why it was on, I open the door for him, eyes scanning behind him. “Did you see Roxy when you drove up?”
Takeout in hand, he kisses my cheek before passing me. “I didn’t,” he calls out over his shoulder.
Stepping out to the driveway, “Roxy! Roxy!” I scream her name, waiting to hear her bark, but nothing. “Rox!” comes out more worried.
“I’m sure she’s off hunting,” Luca calls from inside. “Come and eat.”
“Yeah,” I mutter to myself before entering the house and locking the door behind me.
We’re alerted that someone is at the front gate as we sit on the sofa. Roxy still hasn’t returned, and night has fallen.
“Dr. Maggie is here.”
“Okay.” I sit up straighter, nerves going haywire.
“It’ll be okay.” Luca pats my leg before standing and walking to the front door to wait for them.
Light's beam across the living room as my stomach falls to the floor. Breathing in deeply, I decided I should meet them with Luca as well.
She’s older, but nothing I expected. Short, round, and with a head full of white hair. It’s all piled up on top of her head, and I know if it were down, it would be down her back, beautiful gray.
“Hi,” I meekly greet her.
Dr. Maggie reaches her hand out. “Nice to meet you.” Her voice isn’t anything you’d expect from someone who looks like her. It’s strong, deep, and you can tell she takes no shit. I give her a smile.
I watch as she turns to Luca. “Rowan and I will get to know each other first, then I’ll perform the exam.”
We both watch her as she steps outside. “Richard, bring everything in and,” she pauses, “where do you want the table set up?” She doesn’t look at Luca, but at me.
“Umm, the other spare room would work.”
“Luca, show Richard where that is so he can set up while Rowan and I talk.”
Richard is huge. My eyes widen as he walks in. I thought Thomas was a big man, but was I fucking mistaken. What Dr. Maggie lacks in size, Richard makes up for it in his.
She sees me staring at him, giving me a smile. “Never leave home without him.”
“I’ll be back,” Luca tells me before leading Richard to the unoccupied guest room.
“Would you like something to drink, Dr. Maggie?” I ask, feeling uncomfortable.
“No, Dear. I’m okay. Let's head to the guest room as well.”
I nod my head, and she follows me down the hall. On our way in, the men are making their way out, but Luca stops.
“Luca, I’ll call you if she needs you.”
I inwardly sigh, knowing it’ll just be her and me in there. I don’t want Luca to hear everything I need to say or what she finds. I don’t want to taint him with my scars. So, I give him atight smile, while he looks at Dr. Maggie as if he wants to shake her by her tiny frame.
Once we enter the room, she shuts the door, leaving Luca waiting outside.
The room feels like my guestroom. Greeted by the light olive-green bedding with floral pictures and golden accents around the room screams my guest room, but now there is a portable exam table that also has stirrups attached. The doctor's bag and another that looks like it could be a small suitcase sit next to the exam table…gurney? I don’t know and don’t care. The whole thing is making me want to itch, feeling like I have hives breaking out over my whole body.
“Can we sit and talk for a little? I’d like to get to know you. Luca told me a few things, but I’d like to hear it all from you, if that’s okay?” Dr. Maggie points to the sitting area that offers two oversized chairs.
