“I…”
“Matthew?”
My head snaps up at the sound of my name, and I find Jessica standing in the doorway of one of the rooms. Her gaze is narrowed slightly as she glances from me to Eva and back, an unamused expression on her face.
“Hey, Trouble.” The corner of my mouth tips upward, the motion making me wince slightly as the pain shoots through my chin and mouth where the guy punched me.
Shit, he got me good.
Before I can blink, Jessica’s in front of me.
“You’re hurt.” Her soft hands tilt my head back as she inspects my face. “What happened?”
“Had to break up a fight, and I got popped in the process. It’s fine.”
Her narrowed gaze meets mine. “You’re bleeding; it’s not fine. C’mon, let me look at it.”
“I was just about to do that,” Eva interjects, pouting. “You can’t just come and steal my patient.”
Jessica’s face flushes, but she shoots the woman a glare. “I’m not stealing your patient. I think there are more than enough patients for everybody around here. Go and check on the guy who’s with Officer Rivera.
“Of course, it always has to be how you want it.” Eva stomps her foot, but she turns around and goes to Nico, whose brows are practically touching his forehead, although I’m not sure if he’s surprised or wants to laugh.
Jessica’s hand touches mine. “C’mon, let’s…”
“Check our friend Kenny here first, ’kay?”
Jessica opens her mouth to protest but decides against it. She waves us over to one of the beds, and I help Kenny onto it, watching Jessica as she works.
It’s clear that she’s in her element. She examines him efficiently, noting information on the chart as she checks his pulse and blood pressure, before focusing on cleaning and bandaging his wound. She’s almost done when a doctor comes in. They talk quietly before the doctor shines a light in Kenny’s eyes and has him follow it from one side to the other.
“It doesn’t appear to be a concussion,” the doctor tells her, his gaze darting to me. “We’ll do a blood alcohol test so you have it for your report.”
“Thank you.” I nod and lean against the doorjamb, running my hand over my face. My jaw is still pulsing from where I was hit; the pain making my head ache.
“Get his blood drawn and then you can prepare the discharge papers.”
“No…” Kenny mumbles drunkenly. “Don’t wanna.”
In the end, I have to hold Kenny so Jessica can get the needle into his arm.
The whole process takes way longer than necessary, and I’m all sweaty from fighting with him when Nico peeks inside. “All done?”
“Yeah, we can g?—”
Jessica grabs my hand. “Not so fast. I still want to checkyouout.”
I open my mouth to tell her I’m fine, but Nico is faster. He grabs Kenny from my grip. “You should let her check you out just in case. We’ll wait for you in the car.”
“Fine,” I relent on a sigh, letting Jessica guide me to the bed where Kenny had just been sitting. I lean against it and watch her as she gathers her supplies.
My gaze skims over her frame, taking in the way the scrubs hug her body. The thin material of her pants stretches over the curve of her ass.
“Why do you always end up with bruises?” Jessica asks as she turns around, and I snap my gaze up. Her eyes narrow in suspicion. “Were you just staring at my ass?”
The corner of my mouth quirks upward. “Maybe?”
Her lips part, but she quickly closes them, shaking her head, a soft flush coloring her cheeks.
