7. Chapter 6
Scottie – Two Days Later
“Thank you so much for your help,” Mrs. Jenna, a tearful mother, chokes as she clutches her son's hand, and I give her a soft smile.
“You’re very welcome,” I reply as I stand and grab my notes, then add, “Dr. Klien will be with you momentarily to admit Parker.”
She nods, her light-blue eyes watering again, and I give Parker a small smile. He rolls his eyes at his mother's behavior but doesn’t remove her grip or knows he can’t with how hard she’s holding him. I swallow my chuckle as I leave the room, leaving the poor kid with his very overbearing mother.
Pretty sure I heard him ask at least ten times when his father was going to arrive. I’m guessing he’s hoping his dad will calm her down, but somehow, I don’t think it’ll work.
Parker fell off his skateboard and ended up landing on his arm funny.
His skin was scraped up where his bone had popped out of the joint.
I think it’s traumatized his mama more than him.
He was talking about finding a better skateboard and I honestly thought I was going to have to admit his mother for a stroke with how limp her body went.
Shaking my head, I take Parker's notes to the nurse's desk, ready for Dr. Klien, the orthopedic surgeon. I give, Tilly, the nurse on shift with me, a smile when I stop at the desk.
“How’s the mama doing?” she asks, and I wince as I admit, “Parker asked if he could get another skateboard.”
She eyes the room I just came out of, and she mutters, “Remind me to never let my son near a skateboard,” and I grin wide.
Tilly is a single mama, her husband left when her son was four. Even though she’s tried to convince her son to be a geek in high school, he’s gone the opposite way, he is popular and he’s a jock.
The boy loves his ice hockey, is currently captain, and has been accepted on a full scholarship to play college hockey.
Tilly is terrified because he does end up in the boards a lot.
I have seen it firsthand and I have been trying my hardest to steer my troublemaker of a nephew away from hockey or anything that could get him hurt.
He already sets my nerves on edge, especially after the other day…
Deep hazel eyes hit me, a knowing smile set on his kissable lips, and I blink as I try to chuckle, hoping it doesn’t sound tense, and I say, “Somehow, I don’t think Coop will risk an injury,” and she huffs but nods.
“I love my son, I do, but why couldn’t he have chosen to be a bookworm?” she grumbles, and I smile wide despite my current turmoil.
I don’t want the biker, I repeat, I do not want the biker!
Yeah, sure, whatever you say, the devil on my shoulder cackles, and heck, even the angel smirks.
Stupid subconscious!
“Admit it, you feel nothing but pride when you watch him skate around the rink with the crowd cheering his name,” I goad, and her lips twitch, making me chuckle lightly.
Did I mention that she hates her son's career choice? Yet, unlike my family, she’s standing by Coop, cheering him on in games. All while threatening to show all the girls that look at him with lust naked baby photos if he ends up breaking a bone.
“Did I hear that your sister left Sammie at the diner the other day?” Tilly asks as I sign my name at the bottom of the chart. I curl my lip at the reminder, the need to punch my sister high yet again.
If I knew she wouldn’t press charges, I would have attacked her by now.
My sister is… there is not even a word to describe the type of person she is. I never thought she would stoop any lower than she already has where her son is concerned than leaving him on my porch. I guess I was wrong, and she has literally shown that she just wanted whatever I had.
Getting a phone call on hour twenty-two from Dad asking if Sammie was at mine, or if he made his way to the hospital.
Apparently, Rachel had walked out of the diner while he went to the bathroom, my heart sank.
I got angry when I heard my sister scream in the background that he was right behind her when she left the diner, that he ran off despite the cameras showing her walking out.
Child abandonment. As a lawyer she should know it is a felony.
She was lying through her teeth, and while Mama believed her, refusing to see the footage.
I was clearly her walking out as soon as Sammie went to the bathroom after spending the whole time berating him and snapping at him for not sitting up straight or eating freaking salad.
She had the nerve to bring up boarding school, claiming that Kavan is barely home and she can’t raise a child alone.
Ha, raising a child alone- I have him more than she does, and he is her kid. She made sure to trap Kavan, knowing he wouldn’t dump me otherwise. To make things worse, he still wanted me, which just pissed her off even more, and don’t get me started on my sister-in-law.
You could hear Yasmin in the background agreeing with boarding school, claiming he was too noisy when he came over for dinner. Dad ended up snapping at her to shut up or get out of his house.
I don’t really remember much after that. I kind of went into panic mode, and Sammie became my sole focus. Dad has finally taken off his rose-tinted glasses, and can now see my sister for who she really is.
“She did, then claimed he ran off when Dad confronted her, demanding to know where his grandson was when she walked into his home alone,” I say, and she snorts.
“Yeah right, sure, he ran off,” Tilly says sarcastically, and I hum.
Everyone knows Sammie is a good kid, that he’d never run off, and everyone also knows my sister doesn’t want him. She just wanted my boyfriend, so I wasn’t happy.
Pathetic really.
“Dad’s apparently cut her off,” I say, and she raises a disbelief brow, and I nod. “Yeah, I know,” I say, “That is how I looked when he told me, and honestly I don’t think it will last.”
“I’ve spent years taking care of myself, years watching him and Mama believe everything my sister said. I can’t let him in, I just can’t.”
“You will be able to at some point, it’ll just take time,” she replies and I scrunch my nose up making her chuckle, “It’s the truth and you know it,” before she says, “It seems to me he noticed that Rachel hated that she had a sister. Heck her husband is probably cheating on her too.”
Shaking my head, I open my mouth to say maybe, but instead I mutter, “Speak of the dick, and he shall show,” as I notice the man himself walking into the ER like he owns the place and Tilly growls, “He doesn’t even work, so what’s with the suit?”
My lips twitch, but I hold the smile off, so my brother-in-law doesn’t get the wrong idea, though she does have a point.
As soon as his brown eyes lock with mine, he makes his way over, not looking anywhere else, causing Tilly to snort.
“Sapphire,” he says as he stops near the desk, putting his hands in his suit pockets, and I raise a brow.
“I’ve told you not to call me my middle name, Kavan, it pisses your wife off,” I say as I open the next chart and quickly look over the notes, wincing.
Ouch, nail in the hand…
“It’s what I’ve always called you, so I’m not stopping now,” he says firmly, and I side-eye Tilly when I hear her growl.
He only used that name because he didn’t like the fact that he was dating a girl with a boy name. I should have opened my eyes and seen what a douche he was then.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him with a sigh as I close the chart.
He clears his throat and admits, “I’ve been offered a job on the fourth floor.”
Oh great…
I raise a brow and mention, “I thought you only taught psychology.”
He gives me a slight smile and murmurs, “Now I’m going to be seeing patients, I’ll get to see you more.” He side-eyes Tilly who growls again because the idiot seems to be forgetting he cheated on me with my sister then married her, before saying, “Sapphire, I uh, thought maybe we could–”
I shake my head and cut him off before he can make a fool of himself with his sister-in-law, and I ask, “How’s Sammie?”
He swallows and rocks on his heels and admits, “Upset, wouldn’t speak to your sister or me.”
“You mean his mother,” I say, not allowing him to try and dismiss the fact his son is my sister’s child.
“You should have been his mama,” he says, and Tilly mutters, “The fucking nerve of him,” and again I have to bite back a smile.
“Well, I’m not, I’m his aunt,” I say before mentioning, “I’m off again this weekend, so I’ll pick him up from school and take him to school on Monday before my shift here,” no longer fighting having him.
Kavan nods as his brown eyes look over my features but I ignore him and turn to Tilly who is still glaring his way.
Before I can explain I may need her help with the next patient because his notes state he’s a hypochondriac, I hear, “Kavan?” and I quickly spin towards the doors to see my father.
I have to admit, I’m not happy with the panic that overtakes me, especially when he’s never been there for me.
“Marshall,” Kavan replies coldly, but I ignore the idiot and put the chart on the counter and rush over to my father, Tilly’s, “Yeah, you’ll forgive him,” just hitting my ears.
“What are you doing here?” Dad asks Kavan as he walks over towards the desk but stops when I get to him and begin checking him over as my pulse skyrockets.
First Sammie disappears and shows up at the MC. I know he was hoping to set me up with Bradley, a man I have only said a handful of words to, bearing in mind – and now my father showing up in the ER.
“I got offered a job on the fourth floor, and I accepted it,” Kavan admits, and I grab Dad’s wrist and begin to count his pulse.
“At the same hospital that my daughter works at? The one you cheated on with her own sister for a year?” Dad questions with suspicion, and Kavan clears his throat at his father-in-law calling him out, but is saved when Dad asks, “Scottie, what on earth are you doing?”
“I’m checking your pulse,” I murmur with a frown.
It’s normal…
“Why?” Dad asks with humor and I scoff, “Why? Oh, I don’t know, maybe because you’ve shown up in my ER,” as I grab my stethoscope but before I can put it on, Dad takes it and chuckles, “I came to see if you had time to have a coffee with your old man,” and I look at him with wide eyes.
“A coffee?” I ask with awe, and Dad grins and with amusement lacing his tone, he confirms, “Yes, a coffee.”
“But-but you’ve never had a coffee with me before,” I say, awe still in my tone, and Dad grins wider.
“I know,” he says, and I confirm, “So you’re not hurt or dying?”
Dad laughs this time and confirms, “I am healthy. I just wanted a coffee with my daughter.”
“Dr. Aimes, it’s your break time, Dr. Change is back,” I hear Tilly say, and my bottom lip wobbles slightly.
“I could do coffee,” I choke, and Dad's expression softens, seeing what this means to me. It means a hell of a lot, but his face soon hardens when Kavan asks, “You two okay with company?”
Dad opens his mouth to most likely tell him hell no, but before he can, we hear, “Marshall?” and I look to see Dr. Thomas walking into the ER with Axel, but the person walking in behind them has me sucking in a breath and Dad side-eyes me.
“Bradley,” I whisper to him, and his grin broadens.
“Doc,” Dad says as he shakes hands with Dr. Thomas, “Thank you so much for what you did with Sammie the other day.”
“Of course,” Dr. Thomas replies before he looks at me and smiles, “How are you doing, sweetheart?”
“Good, I uh, I mean, better,” I stutter, my eyes going to Bradley only to find his hazel ones already on me setting my body on fire. I’m locked in, I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to.
“Hi,” he says with a grin, and I whisper, “Hi…”
“You two know each other?” I hear Kavan demand, his tone dangerously low, but I don’t look away from Bradley.
I feel like I’ve known the man my whole life, and damn, that is a scary thought…
“Thunder is a Rebel's brother,” Dr. Thomas says. “Dr. Powers, you may only just be starting here, but you will respect the brothers that walk into these walls. The club donates millions to the hospitals in the state and get that scowl off your face.”
“I thought you said your name was Bradley?” I mention as I tilt my head, and the man smirks as he replies, “For you it is,” and the men around us chuckle. Heck, even Dad grins widely.
“Oh,” I murmur, and Dad jumps in, “Brothers, I was just about to take my daughter for a coffee. Would you all like to join us?” and I look at Dad with wide eyes.
Did he, I mean, is my dad trying to set me up with a brother?
“We’d love to, I think Thunder's pre-op can wait until Dr. Aimes here is off her break and can do it for him.” Dr. Thomas says with glee, and my heart races as I look back at Bradley sharply, my eyes taking him in to see any visible injury.
“You need to have surgery?” I choke, the fear I felt for my dad tripling for a man I don’t even know.
“I’ll explain over coffee,” he says softly as he steps forward, and I tilt my head up just as Kavan snaps, “Sapphire!” causing Bradley to tense, but he doesn’t break eye contact with me, waiting for my answer.
Why do I have a feeling my whole life is about to change, and this man is going to be the reason why?
Despite having that thought, instead of denying him as I should, I instead say, “Okay,” and his eyes twinkle. He holds his arm up for me to walk ahead and despite my legs shaking, I walk towards the doors that lead to the cafeteria, and the men follow.
I hear Kavan snap, “Marshall, are you seriously going to allow her to have a drink with a biker?” but I ignore him as I look up at Bradley to find his attention still on me as he walks beside me.
His arm brushes against mine, and thousands of electric shocks rush through me, and I know I’m so screwed.
How did this go from my dad showing up for a coffee date with me for the first time ever to me being in this man's orbit?