Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Where are you?” I ask, already on my way out of the office, getting in my car.
“I’m at home. I’m waiting for Lauren to come home so the kids aren’t alone.”
“I’ll be there in ten and then I’ll bring you to the doctor.”
“No!” she shouts then coughs. “It’s contagious.”
“We made out this morning, thoroughly. Plus, I’m immune. I never get sick,” I reassure her and continue talking to her till I pull up and ring the bell.
“You’re so annoying,” she says, hanging up and answering the door. She’s wearing baggy sweats that swallow her and a pink fuzzy robe while she coughs into her hand. “You shouldn’t be here.”
I have to be honest. I don’t know how to touch her, so I go in then back up when she starts hacking. Rachel and Gabe are waiting for her on the stairs with masks on. “Hey, guys.” I raise my hand in greeting.
They both wave back but don’t have any time to say anything because Lauren’s bus comes barreling into the driveway.
She gets out, rushing to the front door, taking in Kaleigh. Her hand goes directly on her mouth. “Hey, Noah,” she says to me then back at Kaleigh. “I called Mom and Dad and they are expecting you tonight. Mom is making up the spare room.”
Kaleigh nods, grabbing her bag and walking out toward her car.
“What are you doing?” I ask her when she gets to her car, opening the door. “You can’t drive,” I say, ushering her to my car. “Um, I need your doctor’s address,” I say, opening the door for her. “And, um, is it normal you have no shoes on? Should I go in and get a pair for you?”
Kaleigh just groans as she opens her bag and gets some flip-flops. “There.” She groans as she fastens her seat belt and puts the seat down, closing her eyes. I close the door and make my way to my side. Opening the door, Kaleigh opens her eyes and hands me her phone with the doctor’s address already loaded in the maps. I put it on my lap as I follow the instructions to her doctor’s office. Once I turn the car off I rub her leg, waking her up. “Let’s go get you some meds.”
She nods her head, getting out of the car and walking almost hunched over into the doctor’s office. She hands the nurse all her papers, coming to sit down next to me. I pick up a magazine, flipping through the pages, when the nurse comes out and calls Kaleigh’s name. I watch her get up while I continue flipping through the magazine as she stops near the door. “Aren’t you coming?” she asks me, her face so pale.
I put the magazine down and get up and follow her in.
She sits on the doctor’s table while I sit in the chair.
The nurse asks her questions while I look around till she asks something that makes my ears perk up. “Date of your last period?” she asks and Kaleigh’s eyes fly to mine right away.
“Last week,” she responds, looking at the nurse again.
“And you’re still on birth control right?”
I roll my lips in to not laugh while she squirms on the table.
“Yup,” she says before the nurse gets up and tells us the doctor will soon be in.
“So, you’re on birth control?” I ask, tapping my index fingers together. “This is great news.” I wink at her.
“Yes, just what I want to hear when I’m sick as a dog and dying is how good it’s going to feel without a condom,” she says, groaning while she shivers.
The doctor comes in and smiles as he sees Kaleigh. I hate him already. What is he, twelve? His slicked back hair, perfect clothes, fake veneer teeth. I sit up right when he starts talking.
“Kaleigh, it’s been a while. How have you been?” he asks her, reading her chart.
“She’s sick, so,” I say, stating the obvious.
He smiles at me. “I’ll take good care of her.”
He takes the thermometer out and asks her to open wide and I swear I want to throat punch this fucking tool. “You are running a fever,” he says, tossing the top of the thermometer cover into the garbage. He goes to feel under her neck while she whimpers out. I’m about to get up and take her somewhere else.
“Oh, that doesn’t feel good.” He grabs a wooden stick, asking her to stick her tongue out. “Ouch, that must hurt. Looks like you have strep throat,” he says, walking to the desk, writing something on his prescription pad. “Here you go. You should be feeling better in about two days. If not, you have to come back.” He smiles and puts his hand on her knee.
What kind of doctor is this clown?
I get up, clearing my throat while Kaleigh whispers at him, “Thank you so much, Todd.”