Can't Imagine by Kate Bold

Author:Kate Bold [Bold, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kate Bold
Published: 2024-08-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The ER was busy, even at this time of day, late afternoon. The man watched the steady stream of medical professionals walking back and forth by his triage spot, a dizzying revolving door of new faces.

He was only looking for one, though.

Until then, he made sure to play the part well, clutching his side and wincing in pain every time someone walked by. He couldn't risk the possibility of someone recognizing his act. Reaching up, pretending to scratch his ear but actually checking to see if his hairpiece was still straight, he fixed his hospital gown and prepared for her arrival.

Instead, a chubby blonde came in. She was wearing a pink sweater and rubber shoes that squeaked as she walked. Her smile was entirely fake. He could tell she was just waiting for the end of her shift. “And what seems to be the problem, Mr . . . Templeton?”

“Who are you? Where is the other nurse. I was treated by Nurse Chen, the last time,” he said. He hated to call attention to himself, but this was a matter of necessity.

Her smile fell. “Nurse Chen is with other patients,” she said, reaching for a blood pressure cuff and motioning for his arm.

He angled himself away from her. “I’ll wait. I only want to be seen by Nurse Chen.”

She rolled her eyes and dropped the cuff on the table next to him. “Fine. Suit yourself,” she said, sensible shoes squeaking as she pulled the curtain back and disappeared.

He could just imagine the exchange: Laura darling, there’s a real jerk in triage 3 that only wants to be seen by you, you lucky girl. He’s your number one fan. He didn’t really care what most others thought of him, especially some chubby nurse who hated her job. All he cared for was Laura.

Laura, who worked tirelessly. Laura, who needed his help.

And he was here to give it to her. It was only a matter of time. She needed, like the others, to truly understand what she had done, to let those scars show.

He had the solution.

The man expected he'd be waiting quite a long time after rebuffing the nurse. But to his pleasant surprise, about five minutes later, Laura Chen appeared, a bright, genuine smile on her face. Even so, he could see the hurt behind it.

“Mr. Templeton, you requested me?” she said, confusion dawning upon her face. “I saw you before?”

He nodded.

She read his chart on the tablet in her hands. “I can’t say I remember that. I wasn’t able to find your record, and it says here you don’t have insurance.”

He nodded again, his breath catching at being so close to her.

“No shame,” she said with a smile. “It’s fine. We’ll get you feeling better soon. What seems to be the problem?”

He clutched at his side. “A pain here.”

She palpated the spot through his gown with the gentlest of touches. “What kind of pain? Shooting, or more like dull?”

“Back and forth,” he said, catching a scent of her perfume, or perhaps her shampoo.

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