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“Best not to try to expand your rib cage. That’ll hurt. Your ribs aren’t broken, but they are bruised.”
“Bruised? I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure every one of them is shattered.”
“It’s because of the airbags. Happens a lot to people who are as small as you are.” He picked up my cell phone that was sitting on the table by the bed. “By the way, someone named Jessica has called several times.”
“My boss.”
“I can step out if you need to call her back.”
I shook my head. “I can do it later.”
“At least you didn’t break your right arm.”
“Why?”
“Might be hard to write.”
“I’m left-handed.” Although with a keyboard, I used both hands equally.
“So, are you worried about your job?”
“My job? No.”
“How many assignments do you have?”
“What do you mean?”
“Besides the trial. What else?”
“That’s it, so far.”
When his phone vibrated, he took it out of his pocket and swiped the screen. “Chloe just landed. She’ll be here as soon as she can be.”
“What time is it?” I looked over at the clock, stunned to see it was almost six.
A nurse walked in and erased the name on the whiteboard and then added hers. “I’m Dolly, and before you ask, yes, that is my real name. My mama wasn’t too happy with me after twenty hours of labor, I guess, so that’s what she stuck me with.”
She turned around and set a laptop on a rolling cart. “How are you feeling, Miss Ali?”
“Okay.”
“She’s wincing more often.”
Dolly looked over at Cope. “Are you Miss Ali’s husband? This chart says she’s single.” The nurse looked at me. “If he hasn’t put a ring on it yet, girlfriend, you get after him about it. Don’t let this one get away.”
“We’re just friends. Through work. Sort of,” I stammered.
“In that case, you best get busy. He’s a fine one. Who, I’m sorry to say…” she turned to Cope, “needs to step out for a few minutes.”
“You don’t have to stay,” I said when he stood to leave. “I’ll be fine until Chloe gets here.”
He looked at me and then at the nurse before walking out.
“Damn,” Dolly said once he’d left. “That man gets my blood pressure goin’.”
He was hot. I’d give her that.
Dolly took my temperature and my blood pressure. “What’s your pain level, Miss Ali.”
