a gentle snort, he caught my nape and pulled me back for a far more thorough kiss. “I’ll hold you to that. You still feeling a little off?”
“Shark week is imminent. That means chocolate.”
“Got it,” he said, then winked. “I’ll make sure I let the guys know they better come bearing gifts if they want to hang out this weekend.”
I grinned. “I’m not that bad.”
“Nope,” he said. “You’re perfect. Even when you want to be a monster.” He gave me a perfectly innocent smile, even if his pale blue eyes danced with mirthful teasing.
I smacked his shoulder, but I was still laughing as I got out of the SUV.
Inside, I had to wait fifteen minutes before they took me back. I texted him to let him know I’d been called, and he told me to take my time.
Doc Robbins didn’t make me wait long. She hustled in the room as soon as the nurse was done with my vitals. I’d already turned my temporary emancipation paperwork over at the front desk, so all these decisions would be mine. Not that Maddy had been to a doctor’s appointment with me since I got a driver’s permit.
Wearing a hot pink dress that looked stunning against her dark skin and a paler cream colored sweater over it, Doctor Robbins gave me a smile as she came in. “Well, it’s about time you came to see me. I keep getting reports from you seeing other doctors.”
“Sorry, I seem to be spending a lot of time at the E.R. lately, and then they have me seeing an orthopedic doctor for this.” I motioned to the cast on my arm.
“Hmm-hmm.” She studied me. “You doing okay? Doing follow-ups?”
“I am, and I’m seeing a psychologist, trying to get my head straight.”
“Good.” She settled in a chair. “Tell me what I can do for you today.”
I took a deep breath. “I need some advice,” I told her on the exhale. “About birth control.” Then I laid out what I wanted and why. We discussed all the options, from the IUD to the implant to shots. The side effects weren’t a fun list to go over, but she had pamphlets on each of the different contraceptive methods.
The great thing about Doctor Robbins, she talked about all of this like it was perfectly normal. The best time to change methods was around my period, and since shark week was about here, this was the best time.
“Okay, let’s get you in a gown, and I want to do a pelvic and go over your other injuries, then we’ll get you set up after we check the insurance coverage.” That was actually a valid concern for me. There was a real chance Maddy would kick me off her policy, considering how pissed she was at the moment, and since re-enrollment was this month, I wanted to get this done while I still had it.
No way I was asking Archie for the money to cover this.
It took about forty-five minutes total, including the blood work, the pelvic, and the quick check of my shoulder and hip. Both sets of bruises looked colorful, but they were doing better. I had a Band-Aid on my upper arm for the implant.
“Seven days,” she told me, having shocked the hell out of me that I could go ahead and do it today. “Seven days before it’s fully effective, so this is good. No more pills. Just remember, that implant isn’t going to prevent STDs, so if you have unprotected sex, make sure you know they’re clean.”
Yeah.
That was another fun set of conversations.
One big step at a time.
“Thanks, Doctor Robbins.” The best part of all this though was it might make the cramps more tolerable. They weren’t the worst thing ever, but I was already sore before we did the pelvic, and I was getting more uncomfortable as time passed.
Jake had only texted me once after I got back to the exam room. Outside, I found him taking a nap in his car. The wind had definitely turned brisk, and there were storm clouds rolling in. He had his seat back and his feet up, and there was the hum of music from inside. I stood there like a creeper for a minute and just smiled at him.
Then I fished out my phone and snapped a picture. He looked adorable, especially with the way his hair fell over one eye. He’d been letting it grow longer and longer. I liked it. Sooner or later, he’d cut it. The