The Scarred Wife's Racing Five

Chapter Twelve

POV Noah

As we made it down the stairs, she didn’t make it easy. She continued to fight me and I finally had enough. “Noah, let go of m-my hand now!” She heaved, and I scooped her up in my arms instead. What is she going to do to get away? Fall?

Once we got back to the truck, I placed her in the passenger seat and buckled her in. Racing around to the driver’s side, I hopped in and threw the truck into gear faster than I thought possible. “What if you are bleeding internally or something?”

“What, are you a doctor now?” She shouted and I rolled my eyes.

“I don’t need to be a doctor to see that what you are doing isn’t safe! You can’t seriously think it’s alright to just let your injuries heal on their own.”

“I’ve been walking around like this for days, and you didn’t even notice.”

“So? I noticed now! I’m going to fix it now!”

“You don’t have to! I’m just a tenant to you! I don’t need you fixing me!” She screamed, and I pursed my lips as silence engulfed the vehicle.

I pressed my foot further on the accelerator and pulled my phone out of my pocket. Pressing my finger down on the number three in my speed dial, the phone started to ring. “Hello?” Sawyer’s voice rang through the cab of my truck.

“Sawyer, I have a patient for you. Clear your schedule.”

“Noah, I’m about to head home. I’m done for the day.”

“Even better. I will be there in five minutes.”

There was silence again and he sighed. “Alright. I’ll see you then. Are you the patient?” He asked.

“No.”

“Am I going to get more context? I don’t want to be conned into something that will waste my time.”

I glanced over to the woman in the passenger seat and she seemed to be fuming. I clicked my tongue against my teeth and turned my eyes back to the road. The contrast between her and Beth is like ice and fire. That woman would have a meltdown over a broken nail and Holly…? I can’t believe she’s just sitting there with more injuries than an offensive linemen, and she has the audacity to be mad at me because I feel as though she needs to get it treated! “I don’t have more context.”

The glare Holly shot my way after I responded to Sawyer confirmed that statement. I wasn’t going to get any.

“Okay? I guess we both will when you get here?”

“I guess.” I hung up the phone and gripped my hands against the steering wheel. I hope Sawyer was right. We had better get something out of this little minx before the night is over!

“I don’t want to be seen by anyone.”

“Holly. I’m not pushing this issue.”

She dropped her arms and turned her full torso to me. “I just fell. It’s not a big deal.”

“You fell on old injuries. Some of them look new! Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Like I’ve said already. It’s none of your business!” She shouted again, and I continued to race closer to the hospital. “This guy, you seem familiar with him. I don’t want to be treated by someone who will ignore patient confidentiality.”

I glanced toward her as we finally made it to the parking lot. “Patient Confidentiality? Holly, I’d be blind not to notice someone had hurt you. There isn’t anything confidential about what is all over your skin.”

POV Holly

I felt a lump forming in my throat as he and I continued this staring contest. I cannot believe he thinks that I’m some fragile creature that always needs someone to save me. I lived my whole life surviving. Now that he picks me up off the side of the road, he thinks he’s responsible for me? Some kind of hero? No. I’m not going to do this. The more he weasels himself into my world, the more my walls will crumble to let him in.

I tucked my legs into my chest and took a deep breath. “Can you bring us back? I can take a bus if you would like to stay.”

“Hard way it is.” He mumbled before climbing out of the truck. I was scooped back into his arms before I could figure out what he meant by ‘the hard way’ and I held tightly to his button-up shirt. Turning my face toward him, the soft smell of his chestnut cologne was enough to calm the defensive rage I’d built around myself.

I know he is just trying to help, and I’d be lying if I didn’t feel like my whole body was screaming at me to get some medical attention. So, why am I fighting this? “Sawyer.” Noah's voice came through the office and I heard another person sigh.

“And this is?” That voice must belong to Sawyer.

“She is my new tenant. I want her injuries to be assessed.” Noah continued, and I finally turned to see a man leaning on the check-in counter, assessing the pair of us like a painting in The Louvre.

“Was she interested in getting this assessment done?” Sawyer asked as he placed his hands in his pockets. His dirty blonde hair flowed in short waves and some dangled into his face. The laid-back persona of his dark green polo and khaki pants resting under his white doctor’s coat seemed to contract Noah’s sharp edges, but the playful look in this doctor’s face had me thinking they knew each other well.

“I told him I was fine.” I finally said, curtly. Speaking up for myself.

“Okay miss. If you are fine, I would like my friend here to put you down.” Sawyer continued as he darted his eyes toward Noah.

A huff was heard behind me before I was gently placed on the ground. The minute my left foot grazed the ground, I gasped and leaned into Noah’s side just to get some of the pressure off. “See, I told you she isn’t fine.” Noah growled while his arm wrapped around my torso.

Sawyer’s eyes moved between us again before he nodded. “Alright, come right this way. I will get you assessed now, and hopefully we can have a treatment for you in a couple of hours. If there are any broken bones, I want you to know that the techs are out for the day, so those results will take until tomorrow morning to get through.”

I thought about this for a moment, knowing the pain was indeed getting worse. I could continue to fight Noah and this doctor, or I could just take the favor and own this man yet another debt. “I can’t afford specialized treatment.” I said, and Sawyer smiled at me gently.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll put it on Noah’s tab.” He added with a chuckle before opening the door to the back rooms. “Follow me.”