Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
So many doubts, not enough answers. For a man who has never cared for a woman like this before, I’m out of my depth.
Aiden’s voice filters up the stairs to me. It’s monotone and brisk. It’s a doctor’s voice. “This case…the patient was only sixteen years old. Pregnant thirty-two weeks, presented with some spotting and cramping. No prenatal care. Had been raped and was completely ostracized by her family. She’d been living in an abandoned hut and living off some scraps offered to her by some kind villagers. Severely underweight.”
Josie makes a sound of dismay that I hear as clear as if she were standing next to me. “Protocol here would be to do an ultrasound, counseling,” she says. “She’d be in the foster system, so direct contact with her case supervisor.”
“My protocol was a lot simpler,” Aiden says, and I can hear some emotion in his voice. “No ultrasound equipment. All I had to go by was the patient’s report of some sporadic fetal movement. I took her basic vitals and gave her our last bottle of prenatal vitamins in stock. I also gave her some of our meal rations. Sent her on her way.”
There’s nothing for a moment, and then Josie murmurs, “I don’t know how you did it. I would never be cut out for that.”
My stomach knots and I have no clue why.
It could be for a variety of reasons.
Possibly for the fact that Josie could indeed do that if she wanted, and yet she doesn’t feel she could.
Or maybe it’s because she and Aiden discuss really important things. Life and death. Humanity. Critical stuff that could impact people in a very good way. She’s a brilliant doctor and highly educated. I didn’t do all that great in high school and now chase a puck around the ice for a ridiculous amount of money and prestige.
My stomach cramps again, most likely in apprehension over a conclusion that seems to be hurtling at me faster than a high-speed train.
I’ve got nothing of true value to offer Josie outside a few good orgasms and lots of laughs. The real question then becomes, is that really enough for her to be fulfilled?
With resolution and knowing I can’t hide upstairs, I make my way down and step into the living room. Josie’s head immediately swivels and she looks at me with a sweet smile. “Hey, sleepyhead. Decided to finally get up?”
It’s a question that wouldn’t have bothered me just a few weeks ago, but now it comes off as condemning.
Maybe.
Fuck, I don’t know.
I smile back at her. “Didn’t sleep well last night, I guess.”
That’s the truth. Too much shit in my head.
“There’s a fresh pot of coffee I just made not long ago,” she says with a nod toward the kitchen.
“And some bagels I brought over,” Aiden adds with a smile before turning back to peer at some reports in his hand.
“Or,” Josie says with hope in her voice as she watches me cross into the kitchen. “We’re going to go grab some lunch over at Jason’s Deli in about an hour if you want to go with us.”
Lunch with Josie and Aiden while they discuss teenage pregnant rape victims? I’d rather have my chest hair plucked out one hair at a time.
“No, thanks,” I say lightly. “I’m going to go meet Marek for lunch.”
That actually wasn’t on the agenda, but I am going to call him soon to check in. He’s had a brutal week having Gracen and Lilly here. He chose to put them up in his house, and now he’s sequestered with a woman he used to love but is pissed as hell at, and a toddler he knows nothing about. I talked to him last night for a few minutes and he sounded rough. I definitely need to get him out and give him a chance to vent.
“Good for you,” Josie says brightly. “He needs his friends more than ever now.”
“Agreed,” I return solemnly.
“Warm milk,” Aiden says as his head pops up from whatever he was reading. He looks at me expectantly.
“Excuse me?” I ask as I pour a cup of coffee, half listening to him and half anticipating the rush of caffeine.
“Warm milk at night will help you sleep,” he says with a goofy grin that slightly irritates me for some reason. “That’s not expert medical advice you’re getting. Just personal experience.”
Yeah…totally irritates me. I’m worried about Josie and Marek and he wants to tell me to drink warm milk. Aiden was seriously okay in my book until three seconds ago, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out I’m getting ready to channel some misplaced aggression his way.
“Or, the more manly thing would be to down a couple of shots of bourbon,” I say blandly as I take a sip of my coffee and stare at him over the rim of the cup. He doesn’t seem to be offended, but Josie’s eyes narrow at me.