I don’t want him to feel obligated to go to every appointment with me.
Another message pops up.
Tyler: They’re my kids too. And I know where the doc’s office is. I’ll meet you there.
Well, that message can be read loud and clear. I don’t want to take it to heart or think it has any meaning behind it, but I can’t help but wonder if that’s all he’s worried about. Though I alreadyhave a feeling it is, since he hasn’t once reached out to check on me.
Not that he should. We’re nothing to each other.
Checking the time, I let out a heavy sigh. I have plenty of time to take a long shower before I get ready for my appointment. The shower will help with my sore muscles. Philip might have done most of the damage to my upper body, but I was sore all over from fighting him.
I wish I didn’t have to go to my appointment today, not with all the bruises still looking the way they do, but I won’t miss it or reschedule.
I barely park my truck in a spot at the doctor’s office when I spot Tyler closing the distance between where I’m parked and where he’s been waiting.
Damn.
I was hoping he would cancel.
Tyler opens my door before I can get my hand on the handle, his eyes coming to mine.
“Hey,” I croak out, nervously.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, not returning my greeting.
“Um, okay, I suppose.” I shrug and look away to grab my bag off the passenger seat. I toss my phone inside and grab my water bottle out of the cupholder.
I twist to slide out only to have Tyler’s hands on my hips, assisting me to my feet.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I tell him, quietly.
“My mom raised me to be a gentleman,” he grunts and steps back.
I don’t bother coming up with a response. I’m guessing that’s a conversation for another day, if ever.
Closing my truck door, I make sure it’s locked and toss the keys in my bag.
“The bruises are starting to look a little better.”
I jerk in surprise at his voice as we walk side by side toward the building.
“Ugh, yeah, I guess so.” They were definitely better than yesterday, but I know it’s going to take a while for them to fade completely away. “I’m hoping they'll be good enough for me to cover with makeup by the end of the week so I can go back to work come Monday.”
Tyler grunts something I don’t quite make out and opens the front door for me.
The medical building houses several offices, and we have to take the elevator up to the third floor, where he opens that door for me. Tyler follows me up to the registration desk, where I sign in and pay the co-pay for today’s visit before turning to find a seat.
I want to groan at the sight of several women in the waiting room gawking at us. Or maybe it’s my imagination that they are. Either way, I’m not sure it was a good idea to invite Tyler to tag along for this appointment.
I can only hope that it’ll be a quick one and I’ll be able to get away from him. Because the minute he sits next to me, all I can focus on is how good he smells. Sure, I don’t miss the dusty boots and the dirt on his jeans, but it doesn’t matter, it’s all a part of who he is, what he does. It’s what attracted me to him that night at Della’s wedding.
Thankfully, we don’t have to wait long before my name is called. I scramble to my feet faster than I should and hurry over to the waiting nurse at the door. She glanced at me, then at Tyler, and then back at me with a wink. Oh God, I don’t want to knowwhat she’s thinking. Sure, I know just how good-looking Tyler is, but that doesn’t mean I want to know others think the same thing.
Time passes slowly as I’m instructed to pee in a cup and the nurse checks my weight and vitals. It crawls even more when we’re shown into a room to wait for Dr. McAlister.
Throughout the wait, neither of us says a word to the other. He just stares off at the wall and I try to do the same, but end up glancing in his direction far more than I should.
It felt like an hour, but only five minutes passed before the door opened, and I could finally breathe.
