“Why do you call him the doctor?” I keep him talking.
Reese chuckles. “When he was ten, a teacher at school caught him with a girl. They were on the auditorium stage behind the curtain. Dev was sliding her underwear down her legs, and when the teacher asked what he thought he was doing, Dev replied, ‘Playing Operation” Reese cracks up. “He’s been the doctor ever since.”
“Fitting. The story and nickname.”
“That was just the first of many doctor stories.”
“Please spare me the recap. I’ve already seen Dev play doctor in more ways than one.”
“Oh yeah?” Reese turns around and begins the trek back to me. “You and Dev ever play doctor and nurse naked?”
“Dear. God. No.”
“Why not? Not into my brother?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then what’s it like? You had no problems playing nurse with me.”
I sigh, annoyed. “Are you ever going to let me live that down?”
“Never. But really? Why aren’t you into my brother?” he nags.
“I never said I wasn’t into him.”
“So you are into him?” he twists my words.
“Reese? What are you, twelve? Turning everything I say upside down?”
“Sometimes.” He laughs. “I need to entertain myself.”
“At my expense?”
“Yours and Dev’s.”
“You’re an ass.”
“To thine own self be true.”
“Please spare me. If you’re so bored, read a book. Use this time to educate yourself on a new subject. Manners, perhaps? Or maybe even common courtesy.”
“Nah, who needs those?”
“I guess not you when you have the world falling at your feet.”
“Yupppp.” Reese almost goes down, but I grab him just in time. “Damn.” He holds onto me as he tries to collect his bearings.
“What happened?” I guide him over to the bed.
“Just got a shooting pain in my leg all of a sudden. It’s gone now.”
I lay him down and grab him some water.
“Here. Maybe you should eat some more. Keep your strength up.”
“Yeah.” He nods with his eyes closed, the glass in one hand and the other over his heart.
“One-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand.” He counts quietly.
