“With broken ribs?” I question. “Why don’t we take you home? Is it close?”
He takes another drag and coughs while inhaling. He grimaces as he holds his side.
“Okay, get in,” I say, stepping aside and holding the door wide open. “You can’t walk or ride home in this condition.”
“A little cough is nothing new,” he argues.
“The cough is just a symptom of broken ribs.”
“They probably only bruised.”
“Probably?”
He shrugs. “They wanted to take X-rays, but I don’t have that much time to waste. Plus the doc said they’ll heal.”
“There could be complications.”
“It’s not that bad. I’m positive they’re just bruised.”
“Oh, yeah? Where did you go to med school?”
Dax laughs, pressing onto his side. “You’re a sassy one, aren’t you?”
The description takes me off guard. “Sassy?”
“Yeah.”
“No one has ever called me sassy.”
“Well, you’re giving me sass.”
“Maybe because I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“What, charming and adventurous?”
“Argumentative and trouble.”
“Okay, I’ll agree that I argue, but trouble? What have I done to cause you trouble? You’re the one who started this conversation.”
“I saw your leather jacket and tattoo.”
“Am I branded a criminal because you saw a scorpion?”
I fold my arms, suddenly feeling cold. “I didn’t know about The Scorpions before today, but apparently your gang has quite a reputation.”
He smirks. “But not a big enough rep to get across to Snob Falls? We can’t be that bad then.”
I lower my guard. “Maybe not.”
“Those scaredy-cat nurses like to exaggerate. You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”
“I’m capable of forming my own opinions.”
“Oh, I’m sure you are, Sassy.”
I roll my eyes and find myself smiling. “It’s Vanessa.”
“What is?”
