Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“So, someone doesn’t like having their blood taken,” Doc said gruffly.
“Who would like that?” she asked incredulously.
Corbin patted her back. “Nobody likes it, but it’s one of those things that needs to be done.”
“Nuh-uh.”
Oops. Her Little was slipping through. And she didn’t even really care.
“Bebe, you need to get a blood test. Doc is worried about how pale you are. He wants to check your vitamin levels, among other things. So be good and sit on the bed so he can do that.”
He tried to set her down.
But if he thought being all reasonable was going to get her to sit and have her blood taken . . . well, he better think again.
“No.”
“Bebe,” he said sternly.
“No. I won’t do it.”
Yes, she knew she was acting looney.
Or, rather, like a Little girl who didn’t want the nasty needle to prick her.
But that didn’t mean she could stop.
“Well, that’s too bad since now you won’t get the good girl gift,” Doc said.
Wait. What?
No one had said anything about a good girl gift.
“What gift?” she asked suspiciously.
“It’s a grab bag.”
She turned to look as Doc held out a box of gifts. They were all individually wrapped and she instantly wanted one. But when she reached out to take one, Doc drew the box away.
“Nope. Not until you’ve let me take some blood.”
Her lip dropped into a pout. “But I want one.”
“Then you know what you need to do,” Corbin told her in a low voice.
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
“This from the girl that likes to jump out of planes and do crazy skateboarding stunts?” he asked.
“Yes, but none of those things have needles. Needles are scary.”
And she really wished she had Nutters. Or her pacifier.
Okay. There was something about this place that was bringing out her Little.
Or perhaps it’s Corbin. Maybe the longer you’re with him, the more you trust him, and the more you want to show him all sides of yourself.
Yeah.
There was that too.
“You can sit on Corbin’s lap and you don’t have to look at the needle. Then you can pick a present. What kind of things do you like on your Band-Aids?” Doc asked.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Well, I have bumblebees for Caley and bears for Ellie. Oh, and mermaids for Charlie.”
“Squirrels,” she whispered. “I like squirrels.”
“Hmm, I don’t have any squirrel ones at the moment, but I’ll order some in. What do you think you’d like for today? I have rabbits for Abby. What about a cute rabbit?”
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll try.”
“That’s my brave girl,” Corbin told her as he sat with her on his lap. He held her face against his chest. “I’m so proud of you. This won’t take long.”
She let out a small squeak as Doc held her arm and put something cool on the inside of her elbow.
She waited for the pain. She hated having blood taken.
“There, all done. Corbin, hold this here while I get her Band-Aid.”
Wait. What?
“All done?” She turned her head to look down at her arm. “But I didn’t feel it!”
Doc winked at her. “That’s because I’m magical.”
Wow.
He just might be.
“There. You have a bunny Band-Aid and you get to choose a gift.”
For some reason, she went all shy as Doc held out the box of gifts, burying her head in Corbin’s neck.
He ran his hand up and down her back soothingly. “It’s all right, darling girl. You can choose something. You earned it.”
“You sure did. Do you want me to take a look at your hand while you choose?” Doc asked her.
She nodded as she searched through the box while Doc checked her right hand. Finally, she chose something, wincing as he moved her hand around.
“Hurts, huh?”
“Yes.”
“Does the pain get worse after you use this hand a lot?”
She nodded.
“And do you know what caused it?” he asked.
Bebe glanced up at Corbin, unable to tell Doc about him.
“Her ex was an asshole who made her write long essays as punishment, even when her hand was spasming or burning with pain.”
Doc stiffened. “Motherfucking asshole.” He stood abruptly, making her squeak.
Then he froze, staring down at her. “Sorry, Bebe. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’m not mad at you.”
She nodded, surprised at his soft tone.
Doc glared at Corbin. “You’ll take care of the bastard?”
“Oh yeah. I will.”
“Good. Right. I think you have tendonitis in that hand. From overuse. However, I’d like to take an x-ray to be sure. I’d also like to send you for an MRI in Wishingbone. I’ll get an appointment set up.”
“What do you do for tendonitis?” Corbin asked.
“Painkillers when it’s flaring up. We can try a steroid shot to get rid of the pain.”
Oh. She didn’t like the idea of that at all.
“Physical therapy. I can give you some exercises to try and strengthen the muscle. As well as some heat-based treatments. But when you’re doing something that makes it hurt, you need to stop. Rest it and ice it. If it’s swelling, it can be wrapped. However, you don’t want it to get too stiff, either. So don’t rest or wrap for too long. Because it’s been left for a while, we really need to try and quickly get on top of it, okay? The girl that did this mural, she has a brother who is a physical therapist. We’ll set up an appointment with him as well.”