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“No… it’s fine…”
“The only way I’m not texting him, is if you can take my phone away from me in the next ten seconds.”
Miller used his arm to prop himself into a seated position and reached out his hand.
Liza easily took one step back. “You failed.”
Miller watched her hit send with a look of accomplishment on her face.
“Come on. Let’s get you up.” Liza grabbed his left arm, while Oliver tugged on his right. He wanted to escape to a dark hallway and stay there until this horrible moment passed—like old times. Why did he have to crumble in front of Liza of all people?Because, that’s life for Miller Brooks, he thought to himself.
When they pulled up to an office building that Miller had driven by countless times but never entered, he saw a sign that read, “Cutting Edge Chiropractic.”
“I can’t afford much right now. We really don’t need to do this.”
“Don’t worry about it. Dr. Sam is a… friend.” Liza tucked her lips in, but Miller saw her dimples appear.
After opening the door so Miller could hobble inside, she spoke to the woman at the front desk. “Hi, I texted Dr. Sam about my friend here. He hurt his back while bowling and Dr. Sam said he could fit him in.”
Sublime. Now everyone in the waiting room gets to hear about my embarrassing moment too.The small waiting room was full.
“Of course. We’ll just need him to fill out this intake form.”
Miller quickly completed the form. A few minutes later, a soap opera actor pretending to be a doctor walked out and said, “Liza, right this way.”
It didn’t escape Miller how Liza seemed to transform into a schoolgirl as they followed Dr. Sam into a small room. She batted her eyelashes and looked down at the floor. Maybe she couldn’t handle looking at the sun. The person he assumed was Dr. Sam seemed to be radiating meticulous masculinity. He was at least 6’ 2” and wearing black trousers, a white dress shirt, and a fancy vest. The perfection of his blue eyes matched his coiffed hair.This isn’t being filmed for a Netflix series, right? Because no one looks like that on a normal day as a chiropractor, do they?
Dr. Sam motioned for Miller to sit on a drop table. “You must be Miller. I’m Dr. Sam.” He held out his hand and Miller shook it. “You aren’t the first person to get a back injury while bowling, I can assure you that. Let’s take a look.”
Miller wanted to dislike the guy, but he seemed frustratingly decent. Dr. Sam proceeded to push on his spine, which was fine until he reached his lower back. The pressure he applied made Miller let out a high pitch yelp.Please, pile on the humiliation.
“Found the problem. You have a subluxation, or in layman's terms, a misalignment of the L5 vertebrae. Your muscles have constricted around the area. Let’s have you lie down on your stomach.”
Miller inched his way down and turned over at granny speed.
When he was finally lying face down, Dr Sam said, “Now take a deep breath. Good, let it out.”
Then, he gave a swift jolt to Miller’s back and a crack rang out like lightning striking the ground. Next, Dr. Sam kneaded his fingers into the tight muscles around his spine, making Miller squirm.Why does this feel more like torture than medical care?He squeezed his eyes closed. After another minute, Dr. Sam patted his shoulder gently. “All done champ. Rotate applying heat and ice tonight. If it doesn’t feel better in a couple days, come back to see me.”
“Thanks,” Miller said through clenched teeth. Although internally he thought,Not a chance I’ll ever return.But, as he stood, he realized he was able to straighten his back with less pain already.
Liza stood. “I hate to bother you, Dr. Sam, but I think I might have tweaked a muscle in my shoulder.”
Dr. Sam turned his attention her way. “Let me take a look.”
Liza sat on the table and Dr. Sam proceeded to massage Liza’s shoulders. She let out a “uhh that feels amazing,” and a smile spread across Dr. Sam’s face.
“Glad to help,” he replied.
Gross, as Oliver would say.Dr. Sam moved his hands up Liza’s neck and her arms relaxed.It’s been at least five minutes, I think that’s good,Miller wanted to interject.
“You’re tense. Have you been under stress?”
“A little,” Liza giggled, dropping her head lower.
Miller felt the muscles in his face tightening. He cleared his throat hoping to remind them of his presence. They didn’t hear him. He looked down to find his fists clenched.Why do I care? Other than the fact this is third-wheel uncomfortable?Then, a thought slammed into him like a ball in Newton’s cradle.No,he argued with himself.There’s no way I’m… jealous.
Chapter 9
