I turned back to him and a laugh escaped me. The normality of the question and the ridiculousness of this situation was suddenly incredibly funny. Another laugh, and then I completely burst. I couldn’t stop the laughter. The simplicity, and irony, of the question, had me almost in tears. I wiped my eyes and tried to settle my laughter, only to erupt again. My abdomen hurt from laughing.
I guess my laughter entertained him. He chuckled, and his face softened a little. More in amusement of me, I think, than from understanding the joke. When my laughter finally subsided, I took a huge sigh to relax.
He said, “I guess it was good?”
I unbuttoned my jacket. “Oh, goodness. That felt good.” As I shrugged out of it, I saw him glance quickly at my chest and then back at the game. When I spoke again, he turned his attention back to me. “It was challenging.”
He grinned, kicked up the footrest, crossed his ankles, and asked, “Oh? How so?”
“I had a pain in the ass patient. Can’t seem to keep himself from getting hurt.”
“But you like him.” It was a statement.
I shrugged. “No, not really. He’s not very attractive.”
He smiled because he already knew he was, in that beat up, hockey kind of way. “That’s probably not his greatest gift.” His eyes sparkled.
I flushed. My belly tightened with a zing. I shoved those feelings back down. “Hmm. Well, he doesn’t seem to be a very good hockey player, either.”
I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth. I had only meant to tease and forgot my place. His face darkened and he looked back at the screen.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”
He grunted, “How did you mean it?”
I wrung my fingers. “I talked to your team doctor today.”
“Mia tell you?”
“She did.”
“He blew up my phone today. Left a ton of voicemails.”
A flash of dread passed through me. “What did he say?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t listened to them.”
I stayed quiet. He turned his golden eyes to me, sadness and regret stared intently at me. “So, what did Doc have to say to you?”
“He started with a string of obscenities and then asked for your file.”
Brett nodded.
I continued, “He asked about your knee.”
“I imagine he did. My knee is fine.”
“Do you want me to look at it?” I blushed when he started to smile.
“I’m okay. It was only a sprain.”
I nodded. Not sure what to do with myself now, I started to stand.
He said, “Sit.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Please stay.” He said, with more vulnerability.