Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
“I bet it is. Thank you for coming with me today. I know taking time off in the middle of the day isn’t easy.” I’m out of my chair in a minute. The white doctor’s coat is hanging in my office, same with my stethoscope and badge. I’m not a doctor in the room today. I’m Shae’s man. And while last time, I’d have been right here with her, too, she didn’t ask, and I didn’t offer. A regret I feel daily. I should have made it clear I’d be there, wherever and whenever. We were also pretty new then. Still, I knew the minute our eyes locked she’d be mine.
“No place I’d rather be than where I am right now. I took the rest of the day off, too. Figured we’d spend the day together.” My hands cup her cheeks, our foreheads meet, and when she closes her eyes, the sweetest sigh escapes her lips.
“Luke.” A knock on the door has us both looking over our shoulders. I give her a quick nod, press a kiss to her forehead, and back away from her as she says, “Come in.” I’m back in my seat, the door opens, and Gallo steps inside, closing the door behind him.
“Hey, Shae. Luke,” Gallo says, shaking Shae’s hand before nodding my way. We’d already had our usual morning meeting before we went our separate ways. I gave him the heads-up I’d be in the room with Shae. I told him my regret about not being there for her last time. Gallo then said he knew the results well before walking into Shae’s appointment, and he’d have suggested without fucking up patient confidentiality for me to be there or to call one of the girls.
“Hi, Doctor Gallo.” I sit quietly, even though I want to get this show on the road and get the hell out of the office. The minute she gets the all-clear, we’re booking it back to my place. The one downfall is we drove separately. Shae had to stop at the studio today, drop off a new schedule with the classes they’re doing next week, slowly integrating herself with instructing three days a week herself.
“Alright, let’s go through everything and get you all out of here.” He gets down to business, an area of my field that I’m fast learning to become. Instead of being with my patients for longer than the allotted time on the schedule, I’m learning to keep them on track, along with myself, and get everything done while making everyone happy. Including myself. No longer am I staying late, coming in early, or taking my work home.
“Right, well, my pain is minimal. Maybe a level two, and that’s only when I stay in one position too long. Desk work is not fun.” Shae goes right into it the nitty gritty. A smirk tips my lips. Gallo looks from me to her when I let out a low chuckle.
“That’s good to hear. What about bleeding?” Gallo looks down at his tablet. “Last time, you mentioned it’d subsided a lot.”
“It’s gone, thankfully.” Shae swings her feet back and forth as nervousness hits her system.
“The surgery did its job. Alright, let me grab a nurse. I’ll look at the incisions, and then you should be good to go until next year.” Gallo drops his tablet to the counter, opens the door, and walks out.
“Are you okay, baby girl?” I keep my voice low, wondering what’s making her move around so much.
“I’m ready to be home,” she explains, her eyes glazing with desire. “I also don’t need a nurse in here for me to lift up my shirt and pull my pants down a smidge. Plus, you’re here. What’s the point?” Her four incisions are small; they look clean, no redness, and they aren’t tender, yet I get it. Gallo has to see for himself, and standard protocol states a female has to be in the room when there’s a male doctor seeing her.
“You’re almost done. Did you eat breakfast?” I try to change the subject.
“Um, Luke, maybe we should make you an appointment next. I ate with you this morning. The mountain of pancakes, eggs, and sausage towered my plate.” You’d think that meal isn’t holding her over with how disgruntled she’s acting.
“My memory is sharp as a tack.” I point at my head. “The food must have worn off, though.”
“I can go back to my place after this,” she says, teasing me, further proving her point with hooking her thumb over her shoulder to point it at the door.
“Where you go, I go.” I lick my lips, watching as her body reacts to my own.
“Is that so? Does that mean I lead, and you follow.” Shae wiggles her eyebrows.
“Hell yeah.” My woman has no idea the effect she has on me. At least not yet. She will soon enough. While I haven’t told her exactly how I feel, it’s there. She’s the forever kind of love. The woman you settle down with, have a few children, watch them grow into adults. Then if you’re lucky you’ll see you kids have children of their own, all while growing old with Shae setting next to me.