The Shifters: Trysta and Fiero

5

Trysta sat in the back of the town car holding the gauze in her hand. When Fiero touched her, desire flared in her body. Her crush on him exploded tenfold. He helped her with her hand and the car. She'd heard rumors that Fiero was one of the more standoffish members of the band. When he helped her, he hadn't seemed that way. The moment he offered to take her to urgent care shocked her. A connection opened between them. She was worried they'd be spotted and photographed. Hal's words crashed down on her.

"You may not fraternize with the band members. You are young and single. If the tabloids catch sight of you with one of them, your job will be in jeopardy." She couldn't risk her job. Once back home, she'd hide in her cottage. Tomorrow Fiero would be gone for his photoshoot. They would go back to not interacting.

"We are here, miss," the driver announced. Trysta looked out the window, confused. They weren't at urgent care.

"Where are we?" she asked, nervous the driver was trying to get rid of her.

"Dr. Yate's personal office. He will see to your hand." Trysta watched a portly man step out and wave. "I'll be right here when you are done."

"Thank you..." she let the sentence trail off.

"Jon miss."

"Call me Trysta. We are both employees." It felt wrong to be treated as more than she was.

"Yes, Trysta." She smiled and climbed out of the car.

"Hello, you must be Trysta. Mr. Fiero called me. Come inside and I'll look at your hand." Dr. Yates had a warm demeanor. He made her feel safe.

"Thank you, Dr. Yates." Trysta stepped into the office. It looked like a typical doctor's office.

"We're closed on the weekends, but I am always available," Dr. Yates explained, walking her to an exam room.

"Thank you for making time for me. I hope my injury isn't too serious." Trysta took a seat on the exam table and lifted the gauze.

"Let's look." Dr. Yates shook his head once he had a good look at her hand.

"You will need stitches. This isn't too deep, but it is long. How did this happen?" Tryst blushed, thinking about her appalling actions earlier.

"I thought Mr. Fiero was a fan of the band trying to break into the house. When he turned around, I realized my mistake. Then the grocery bag holding my pickles broke. We were talking, and I wasn't paying attention as I reached for the jar. That's when I sliced my hand." As she told her story, Dr. Yates cleaned her cut and set up everything he needed.

"Typical accident. I can understand being distracted. Mr. Fiero is a larger-than-life personality. I'm going to put some numbing gel then I'll stitch you up. You don't have to watch."

"Thanks. I actually wanted to be a nurse, but life got in the way." She frowned. When she'd told her father what she wanted to be, he laughed at her.

"Never too late. You could do an online program to get your associate's degree. That way, you can work during the day."

"Maybe." She didn't know where she'd get the money to attend school.

"So tell me. How long have you had your hearing aids?" Trysta's good hand flew to her hair, smoothing it down. "You've hidden them to the untrained eye," Dr. Yates assured her, as he began stitching her up.

"I've had them since I was five."

"Progressive hearing loss?"

"No. I've always had bad hearing. I didn't grow up in a pleasant home. The school figured it out when I had to do a hearing test. They helped my dad get the help I needed." Trysta hated talking about it. Everyone gave her looks of pity when her life was brought up. She looked up and saw the very look she hated in Dr. Yates's eyes.

"Don't pity me. I am twenty-three and making it on my own." Trysta didn't need pity. It did nothing for her as a child.

"I'm sorry. I will keep everything we talked about confidential," he assured her, snipping the last of the thread.

"Thank you. I don't have health insurance to pay for your services."

"Nonsense. The band will pay my fees. I'll have a prescription for antibiotics and pain medication sent to the house. It will arrive this evening. Don't get the stitches wet. Come back in a week to get them removed."

"Okay, thank you." Trysta felt the last of her worry leaving her. Her employers were amazing to take care of her. Fiero was even better looking in person. Her naughty bits tingled when their eyes connected. Thank god he would be gone in two days. If all the band members made her react like that, she'd have to be careful. Hal had drilled it into her head. Her job depended on her discretion.

"Done." Trysta looked down at her wrapped hand. It ached now that the numbing agent wore off.

"Take ibuprofen when you get home. It will help with your pain." Trysta nodded and stood, picking up her purse.

"Thank you. See you in a week." She walked out to see the same town car that brought her here pull up. She climbed into the back and struggled with the seatbelt.

"Jon," she called after her third failed attempt.

"Yes?"

"Can you help me with my seatbelt? I injured my dominant hand. The bandage is too stiff for me to bend my hand."

"Oh, sure." He got out of the car and leaned in. Trysta leaned back and let him do her seatbelt.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Let me know how else I can be of help."

"I will." Trysta gave a tired smile. Her day was catching up with her. Her eyelids became heavy and the gentle movement of the car lulled her to sleep.

"Trysta." Jon's gruff voice woke her. She blinked away the blur in her eyes.

"We are here?" she asked, seeing they were in front of the main house.

"Mr. Fiero insisted I bring you here. He needs to see for himself you are okay." Jon unbuckled her and helped her out of the car.

"Oh." She wanted to lie down. Trysta went into the house and immediately was met by Poppet.

"Poppet!" she cried, kneeling to snuggle the dog. Poppet licked her face and barked. "I'm fine Poppet. Stop." She laughed, getting to her feet. Poppet barked and jumped around her feet as she went into the kitchen. The groceries she'd brought in were gone. Turning around, Trysta made sure she hadn't misplaced them. They were her groceries for her home. What did she do with them when Fiero took charge?

"I put the groceries away," Fiero announced, making Trysta whip around.

"You did?" Damn, she'd have to find them all and put them away in her home later.

"Should I not have?" He frowned, and immediately she wanted to make him feel at ease.

"No, um, thank you. I can make you dinner now."