Chapter 5 #3
“Is this because of what happened?” he asks.
“Don’t you have patients to treat?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“You were my last and I suspect we are about to drive to the same place,” he says. “In case you forgot I live next to you.”
“Next to me?” I ask, snapping my head to him.
“Yes,” he says, chuckling. “I assumed that’s why you came here.”
“It was originally to see Allison Trager,” I say. “I’ve known for a while that the piercings cause… issues… so I’ve always seen female doctors. I feel like I’m less likely to get judged.”
“Ah. Allison is my ex-wife,” he says. “Trust me when I say you are better off with me than her.”
“I don’t know if doctors should talk about other doctors like that,” I laugh.
“Well, right now I’m your neighbor and Allison is a… my statement still stands,” he smirks. “Would it make you feel better if I told you I was expecting it?”
“No,” I frown at him.
“Come to the appointment, Luna,” he says. “Eight in the morning so don’t think for a second I won’t come knock on your door before I leave for the office.”
“Are you going to be a menace for a neighbor?” I ask.
“I’m not the one who sings loudly in the shower at two in the morning,” he says with that same smile on his face.
“I’m going to drive myself off a bridge now,” I deadpan.
“Then Harper is free to say whatever she wants at your funeral,” he points out.
“Lord… Fine. I’ll come to the fucking appointment,” I sigh.
“See you around, neighbor,” he says with a wink before getting into his car. I promptly put my window up and unmute the phone.
“He lives directly next to me,” I say. “He said he heard me singing in the shower at two in the morning.”
“Are you going to the appointment?” she asks.
“Yes,” I sigh. “He threatened to knock on my door and wake me up the morning of the appointment.”
“He totally sounds into you.”
“The other doctor was his ex-wife. He said that I was better off with him than her. It doesn’t sound like they are on good terms.”
“Hot and definitely single,” she says. “I just looked him up. He’s 38.”
“Ah. Old enough to be my dad,” I say.
“We don’t condone teenage pregnancy, Luna,” she laughs.
“Fuck, he’s so hot. He’s also really fucking nice and funny,” I say.
“And he’s already been inside you,” Harper adds.
“I can’t fucking believe I did that. It wasn’t just a simple orgasm. It was like…back arched and covered my mouth because I was moaning kind of orgasm.”
“Was it with the internal feeling your uterus with his fingers thing?”
“Yeah. He never let up so neither did I,” I say.
“So… he definitely just diddled you. Every other doctor you’ve had has stopped immediately.”
“I feel like that should upset me,” I remark.
“Would you let him diddle you outside of that office?”
“I’m pretty sure I would have his children if he asked, Harper.”
“Then who cares. So, Dr. Diddle is a little handsy. He’s taking you seriously and getting you answers,” she says. “But again, he’s definitely into you know he probably wants to be in. Again.”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “I’m going home. Love you.”
Two weeks later
I spent all last week in bed with debilitating pain when my period snuck up on me. I was not able to work for most of that, but fortunately, I was able to catch up over the weekend.
I am sitting on my couch drinking coffee when there is a knock at my door. For a second, I am confused, but then I remembered what Dominic said that he was going to do. I get up and open my door to find a smiling giant.
“Good morning,” he says.
“I didn’t think you were actually serious,” I say.
“Very serious,” he laughs.
“You’re about to wait for me to leave, aren’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he grins.
“Want coffee? I have to get dressed,” I say as I give up and step to the side to let him in.
“Sure,” he says as he comes into my apartment. “You said you’re a computer engineer?”
“Uh. Yeah,” I say. “I have a master's degree in computer engineering.”
“Wow. You’re young,” he says.
“I graduated at sixteen,” I say as I pour coffee into a cup. “Cream or sugar?”
“I’m okay,” he says. I turn and hand him the cup. “Thank you.”
“No problem. Give me a second,” I say, and he nods.
I’m trying not to be weird. He’s not being odd, so I shouldn’t be either. I get dressed and step into sandals before leaving my room. I find Dominic standing in front of my bookcase looking at the titles of smut books.
“If you want me to show up, you should probably stop reading those titles,” I say, and he laughs.
“I know some of these,” he remarks as he turns and takes a sip of his coffee.
“I’m curious now,” I say, raising an eyebrow.
“By some, I mean most,” he smirks. “I read a lot when I’m on call at the hospital.”
“You mean to tell me…”
“Are you surprised that a doctor reads dark romance, or that a man reads dark romance?” he asks.
“Uh. Both,” I say.
“Luna, you have a master's degree. Education doesn’t mean anything when it comes to reading for entertainment,” he says. “Some people watch their porn, while some read it. We just so happen to be the ones who like to read it.”
“Okay,” I laugh. “Which is your favorite?”
“I’m particularly fond of the doctor-patient ones,” he says with a smirk, taking another sip of his coffee.
“I… don’t know what to say to that,” I say slowly.
“Ready?” he asks, changing the subject.
“Fine,” I sigh. I take our cups to the kitchen and rinse them out before taking my hair down to fix my bun.
“Do you have someone to help you tomorrow?” he asks.
“No,” I say. “Harper is coming for the day but she can’t stay. She’s trying to get everything wrapped up so she can move here.”
“Why do I feel like she doesn’t know that you need somebody to be with you?”
“Because she doesn’t. That’s the beauty of you being my doctor. You’re not allowed to tell her,” I smile.
“You know the beauty of her being the one to pick you up?” he asks.
“What’s that?”
“You have to sign a paper, permitting me to talk to her about your aftercare. You will still be on medication from the surgery, so she has to sign you out,” he says, returning my smile.
“I’ll just get my boss to come get me,” I shrug. “He’ll jump at the chance to be around me.”
“I’m just going to pretend you didn’t say that,” he frowns at me. “I’ll come check on you, so Harper doesn’t have to worry. I’m not on call for the rest of the month anyhow.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” I say.
“Technically, you do,” he says. “Everyone reacts differently to the surgery. If you are in pain, it’s going to be easier if you have help.”
“I spent all last week in bed hardly able to move. I’ll be fine,” I say as I grab my bag.
“Let’s go, Princess,” he says with a smirk as he opens my front door.
“You did not just make that comment,” I frown.
“I originally meant that being a smart ass because you’re painfully independent but now that you mentioned it is pretty ironic,” he laughs. “Come on, Luna.”
I shake my head and we walk out to our cars. He winks at me again before getting into his car. I drive through town and stop to get more coffee before pulling up to the office.
I lay my head back and think if I could get away with just driving back home. Right as I have that thought, there’s a knock at my door before it opens. “You are a persistent little shit,” I say without opening my eyes.
“Never been called little before. That’s new,” he laughs.
“You’re going to do it again, aren’t you?” I ask as I grab my bag and get out.
“I am,” he says simply.
“Wonderful,” I sigh.
We walk inside and he goes straight to the back but I go to the front desk. “Checking in?” she asks
“Yes, ma’am,” I say.
“And you are seeing Dr. Rivers,” she remarks.
“Are there other options?” I ask. Dominic looks up from a computer in the back and I can’t help but smile at him when he frowns.
“Not anymore,” she says. “Dr. Rivers is good at what he does though. You’ll enjoy him.” She says this as I’m taking a sip of my coffee and I damn near choke to death on the liquid when I accidentally suck it in.
“Apparently so,” I cough. “I’ll go sit now.
” She smiles and nods before I find a seat.
I get my phone out of my bag and resume reading my book.
This one is a sweeter type of book, at least compared to everything else I read.
I don’t even read trigger warnings at this point since nothing really bothers me.
If I do end up accidentally triggering myself then it’s definitely my fault for not paying attention.
The same nurse appears in the doorway and smiles at me. “Ready?” she asks.
“Mhmm,” I say as I put my phone away and stand to follow her.
We go through the same process of getting my vitals, but this time she draws blood. I assume it is a routine thing for surgery.
My dad was beside himself when I told him about the biopsy and the procedure, but I assured him that the doctor was not concerned, and he was more concerned about the pain than anything else.
Harper called to tell him the same thing because he was beside himself.
I hardly ever talk to my sister, but I called to tell her that.
Her remark was simply that she was glad that I was doing what her and Mom did not.
“Alright, just undress from the waist down and Dr. Rivers will be in shortly,” she says, kindly.
“Thanks,” I sigh. When she walks out of the room, I get undressed and sit on the table. Once I’m covered up, I text Harper.
Me: Here we go again
Harper: Did he show up this morning?
Me: Yes. Apparently, he reads dark romance. He was looking at the books on my shelf. Also, he said he would check on me since you have to go back when you take me home.
Harper: You two may as well go on a date.
Me: Hush. Men like him want a woman who… well aren’t me.
Harper: I’m willing to bet that he is going to show up tomorrow night to check on you even though I’m there. Also, I’m definitely telling him you said that.
There's a light knock at the door before Dominic comes into the room. “Good morning,” he says with a kind smile.
“Don’t you dare call me Ms. Brooks,” I say.