Nice Guys Don't Win (The Boys #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,61
the curtain and Zoey’s eyes dance from me to her dad behind me.
“Hi,” she says awkwardly to him.
“Hey.”
“Have they said anything about the imaging?” I ask, trying to break the awkwardness.
“Not yet.” She rolls her eyes.
“And the pain?”
“Manageable. I love these drugs.”
Coach shakes his head and sits in the empty chair I was in earlier. “What happened, baby girl?” He reaches for her hand but drops his like he’s afraid she might reject his touch.
“I’m not sure. I woke up covered in sweat and hurting so bad.” She clutches her abdomen reflexively. “First, I tried the hot water bottle, but I wasn’t getting any relief. I thought a bath might help so I crawled into the bathroom, but then the cold tile felt so good that I just laid there. That’s when Cole found me.”
“You could’ve called me,” he tells her. “I would’ve come.”
She shrugs. “I wasn’t even going to go to the hospital but this one was worried.” She points in my direction.
“You were in obvious pain.”
“I could take it.”
“You shouldn’t have to take pain like that. Especially when something could be wrong.”
“Maybe you’re just dramatic,” she counters with a tiny smile.
Coach chuckles. “Well, I’m glad Cole insisted on getting you to the hospital since you’ve always been too stubborn for your own good.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she chants. “Overprotective males. What are you going to do?” She shrugs her shoulders.
We have to wait an hour before her results come in. The doctor breezes in with his clipboard, introducing himself to her dad before he goes over the results.
“In the ultrasound we found an ovarian cyst and based on your symptoms we’re assuming you had another and it burst.”
“You’re assuming?” I interrupt. “You’re the doctor. Shouldn’t you know?”
The man sighs like this is a question he gets a lot. “Once it bursts there’s little evidence left behind, but I’m fairly certain that’s what happened based on the fact there’s another.”
“Will the other one burst and hurt just as bad?” Zoey looks terrified by the very thought.
“There’s always the possibility yes, but lots of times the body reabsorbs them, and you don’t even notice.”
“What’s to be done?” Coach Reynolds asks. “Does she need to stay overnight?”
“I’ll give you a script for a pain medicine to take over the next few days and you’ll be good to go.”
“That’s it?” I scoff in disbelief.
The doctor’s eyes slide to me. “Yes.” Looking back at Zoey, he says, “I suggest making an appointment with your OBGYN and if this problem persists discuss treatment with them. This type of thing doesn’t really merit a trip to the emergency room.”
He steps out of the curtained off room before I can deck him in the face.
“What an asshole,” I growl, hands clenched at my sides. “Who says that? You were in pain, Zoey. I bet that dude couldn’t handle a fucking cyst bursting.” I swing the curtain open to go after the rude ass doctor, but Coach jumps up and grabs my arm, stopping me.
“He’s not worth it. Let it go.”
“I won’t let him talk down to her like she’s ridiculous for being here. I’m the one who insisted she come, and she needed to.”
“She is sitting right here.” We both turn to find Zoey pointing at herself. “I’m not going to let some dick head make me feel bad about myself. I bet he cries over a papercut.”
I laugh. “Damn straight.”
“Do you want to come home with me?” Coach asks. “Allison and I can look after you.”
Zoey’s eyes widen and she shakes her head. “No, Dad. Thank you, but no. I’d rather go home to my own bed. Besides, Cole will watch out for me.”
I grip the end of the bed. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
Coach’s eyes bounce back and forth from each of us. His lips twist in contemplation like he’s trying to puzzle something out, but I don’t know what.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
She reaches for his hand and he gladly gives it to her. “I’m fine, Daddy. Promise.”
Emotion flickers over his face at her calling him that. “Okay.” He turns to me. “You call me if anything else happens. Take care of her.”
“I will.”
He gives her a hug and sends me a look that says thank you before slipping out of the room.
It’s another hour before we get out of there, and I call an Uber to pick us up. They called her prescription into a local pharmacy, but they won’t be open for a couple more hours.