Chapter 61

Nerves

Rhi POV

Once we've all settled down, and the everyone dried off, we were all sitting around the breakfast table just chatting. My legs finally stopped tingling after a while, which I was extremely grateful for. I got them back pretty good but there's definitely going to be something else in store for them. Water isn't payback enough.

Ana looks at the clock. "Rhi, it's 8:30. The doctor will be here soon. Don't you think you should get dressed?"

Looking down briefly, I hide my smile. When I look back up I plaster a confused look on my face and ask, "I have clothes on. What's wrong with this?" I know I need to get dressed, or at least put more clothing on. I will, but I just want to get a rise out of Alex and see his reaction. Consider it part of my payback.

His eyes shoot to me, darkening, and he calmly says, "Don't even think about it. You can't be seen by a doctor dressed like that. Come on, let's go. I'll help you choose something."

Coming over to me, he picks me up, throws me over his shoulder, swats my behind and starts walking toward the bedroom. I rest my head on my hand, looking at Ana and Kate, giving them a smug smile and a conspiratorial wink. They look at me, glance at each other and laugh, shaking their heads.

When we enter the room, he starts to let me slide down so I can stand up. Before my feet even hit the ground he stops when we're face to face. His eyes are dark, intense and sparkling. It feels like he's trying to look into my soul again.

"You are something else, you know that? Definitely a troublemaker." He kisses me, slowly making it deeper. When he pulls away, he's left me breathless and all I can do is stare at him. Smiling, he whispers, "Now, how about we find you something more… appropriate to wear for a doctor's appointment." Turning toward my bed, he starts going through my suitcase. Though most of the contents are still strewn about on the bed where he left them last night.

I walk over to the bed and find a pair of jean shorts and a cropped t-shirt. Smirking at him, I pull out my red lace bra and matching thong and walk to the bathroom to change. Once I'm dressed, I exit the bathroom, "There, is this better?" I ask, twirling around.

He smiles, "Yes, much better." A moment later he frowns slightly, "Those shorts are awfully short though."

I laugh, "That's why they're called shorts, silly." I walk up to him, stand on my tip toes, wrap my arm around his neck and pull him down so I can kiss him.

Reaching down, he grabs my bottom and lifts me up, so I wrap my legs around his waist. Leaning back so he can see my face, he asks me, "What's wrong?"

Chewing on my lower lip, I look up at him and sigh. "I'm worried about the appointment. I hate doctors." I've seen enough of them that they just snoop and want to know more details than I want to talk about.

Leaning his forehead on mine, his deep voice vibrating my chest, "You have to get your hand looked at. You know that. It'll only get worse. Whatever the diagnosis is it will be ok. I promise." Lifting up his head, he kisses my forehead. "Let's just wait and see what he says before you freak out."

Instead of putting me down, he carries me into the bathroom and sets me down in front of the sink. "Here. You need to brush your hair and teeth. I can brush your hair if you want. It's so long and thick and beautiful. I love it."

Turning around, I look up and I'm caught off guard when I see him watching me in the mirror. "Um, sure. If you wouldn't mind? Can you put it up in a ponytail too please?"

Picking up my brush, he starts brushing my hair. He's so gentle that it makes me giggle. "What's so funny? You don't like my technique?" He asks, eyebrows raised and a smirk on his face.

I look at him in the mirror, a lascivious smile on my face, "You know, it's OK if you pull my hair." I smile and continue. "I mean, it's pretty thick. You'll be there for days trying to get knots out being that gentle." I bat my eyes, feigning innocence.

Narrowing his eyes, he gives me a look of incredulity. "Like I said, troublemaker." Smiling, he shakes his head.

After 10 minutes of brushing, he finally gets the tangles out and secures my hair into a ponytail.

Checking it in the mirror I'm pleasantly surprised. "Hmm… not too bad. Where'd you learn to do that?"

Smiling, he responds, "I used to help my little sister get ready for school. It's a skill that sort of sticks with you. It comes in handy when you have a beautiful girl who has long gorgeous thick hair and needs help because she's got a hand out of commission." He grins and his eyes light up.

There's a spark that starts in my tummy and the warmth quickly spreads throughout my body. I'm taken off guard. I don't know what I'm feeling. He's so… I don't know, DIFFERENT.

Kate and Ana POV

While Alex and Rhi were getting her some appropriate clothes, Ana and I ordered some breakfast foods. Nothing major, just some different items to snack on: fruit, pastries, muffins, breads, etc. We're sitting at the breakfast bar when Rhi and Alex come out.

"Oh my god Rhi, you look adorable! Though you look like you're seventeen, except for the killer body." I glance at her hair, "How did you get your hair into a ponytail one-handed?" I ask.

A smile spreads across Alex's face when Rhi answers, "Alex did it. Not to shabby, huh?" She laughs.

I nod, "Actually, Alex, you did a really good job."

He smiles, "Thank you. I used to help my sister when we were younger. I was telling Rhi that it's a skill that came in handy, though I never thought I'd actually need it."

Ana nods to them, "Have some breakfast. We ordered something light." She looks pointedly at Rhi. "Rhi, you need to eat something light because you don't know what the doctor is going to want to do."

Rhi looks at the food and makes a face. "I'm OK for right now. I'll just have some juice."

I hate when she does this. She needs to eat. We're always getting on her about it and it's like it goes in one ear and out the other. Honestly, I don't think she cares if she starves her body. For the longest time she never really ate, then a few years ago she started eating like a "normal" person. When she met Jace, that was thrown out the window and shit went south quickly. That fucker literally destroyed Rhi and her healthy balance. We've hated that bastard since day one.

I see Alex, who is standing behind her, clench his jaw and his eyes harden a little. It seems that it's frustrating him that she won't eat. God he reminds me of how Christian is with Ana. What is it with guys and eating? I'm so lucky Elliot doesn't have food issues. He'd drive me nuts.

"Are you nervous Rhi?" I ask. Maybe that's why she doesn't want to eat. She nods slightly, glancing at Alex. "It'll be OK. It's best you get this done and over with. Then we can figure out what to do from here. How does it feel now?" I'm trying to take the focus off food and onto something else. I know she hates when we harp on her about it.

With relief in her eyes, she responds, "It's pretty sore but I'm starting to get used to it." She pauses and something tells me we're not going to like what she's about to say. "Which is why I said it could wait until I got home."

Yup. I knew we wouldn't like that comment.

There's a deafening silence and no one is even breathing. "But I'm glad I'm doing this today. Might as well get it over with." She says quickly when she notices the tension on our faces; especially Alex's.

"Rhi, it's best to do it now rather than later. You know that. Quit being stubborn." I try not to snap at her but I don't think I succeed because Ana cuts in.

"Rhi, let's just see what he says. That way you have an idea of what you're looking at. You already said you're positive it's broken so I don't see any reason to be worried. You might just get it wrapped up until we go home. Just relax and see what happens." She quietly continues, "Besides there isn't an x-ray machine here."

Ok, now I feel kind of bad but she's kinda dumb when it comes to this kind of thing. Even her dad got pissed at her. Not to mention everyone else who raised her.

Rhi and Ana are silently looking at each other. After a minute or so Ana says softly, almost like she's trying to soothe a frightened child, "I'll make a deal with you. After the doctor leaves you can have a drink. How does that sound? You know you can't have one right now, but I don't see any reason you can't have one after." She looks at her, smiles and gives her a wink.

Alex and I look at Ana like she's lost her mind. Drinking is not a good idea after a doctor's appointment, especially if there's pain meds involved.

I say to her, shock evident in my voice, "Ana, why would you say that? We need to see what the doctor says first."

Ana looks back at me, "Kate, I said that because she looks like she wants a drink right now and I think having one after would be better. She doesn't need to smell like alcohol when the doctor arrives." Just as she finishes speaking those words, there is a knock at the door.

"I'll get it. Just to be safe." Alex walks over to the door and looks through the peephole. Taking a step back we hear him say, "Hello Dr. Wilcox. Come on in."