A Betting Man

Chapter Six

I open one eye and see that Cayden and I are alone. Oh God... what's going on? He's grinning down at me like a jolly giant. I gasp and sit up a little straighter, instantly alert.

"What's going on?" I mumble.

He sits on the one tiny chair in the room. It looks too small for him. "Fey went to get your purse," he explains. "I was dying for them to leave. I have to know - are you making him suffer yet?"

I gasp and look over at him, incredulous. What the fuck?

"I don't know what you're talking about," I say indignantly. Fey and her God damn foghorn mouth. I should have known.

"Come on, Addie. You don't have to lie."

"What did Fey tell you?"

"That he made a bet on you, and you know all about it."

Christ!  Who's side is she on, anyway? She walks back into the room just in time to receive the hairiest fucking eyeball I've ever conjured. She stops in her tracks like she's been sucker punched.

"What?" she asks quizzically, my purse clutched in her hand. She looks from me to Cayden. "What's going on?"

"I don't know. Why don't you tell me, Fey," I sneer.

Her eyes widen. "You said something!?" she screams at Cayden. He holds up both hands defensively.

"Hey, hey! This is between you guys."

"Like hell it is! I told you not to tell her I told you."

"Why did you tell him, Fey?" I whine. "Now everything is ruined."

"What?" Cayden seems confused. "Nothing's ruined. Don't you understand?" He looks at me as though it should be obvious. "I can help you."

I snort. "You're friends with Justin. Why would you want to help me?"

"Because I'm friends with Fey, too. And any friend of hers is a friend of mine." He wraps his huge arm around her waist and pulls her close. I roll my eyes at the term "friends." "And besides, Justin's been getting on my nerves with his fuckery. He needs to be brought down a notch or two. And I know about the bet and... well... that's not very cool."

Is this guy serious? I'm kind of liking him a lot right now. I'm very interested in where this is going.

"Whatever happened to 'bros before hoes'?" I ask sarcastically.

Before he can answer, Dr. Carr strolls back in, interrupting our conversation. Damn it. He has a thin folder in his hands - my file - and he opens it as he stands in front of me.

"Well, Miss Richards," he begins, "I've got good news. It isn't broken, most likely just sprained. I'm going to wrap it with some ace wrap and you should keep ice on it until the swelling subsides. You need to elevate it as often as you can and rest it for at least two weeks. Is that clear?" I nod. "You can take the wrap off to shower, but I'd suggest having someone else wrap it back up for you. But don't let them wrap it so tightly that it cuts off your circulation."

No kidding. This isn't my first sprain, of which he's very much aware. But I guess his little speech is standard...can't have me suing for a rotten arm after I walk around with no circulation in it all day. I wonder if that's ever happened to anybody...

I nod politely, ready for him to get on with it so Cayden and I can continue our conversation. He promptly wraps my wrist and puts the ice pack on top. The nurse comes in as he leaves and takes out my IV. I blush as she removes it, remembering how I'd been all over Justin and how close his mouth was to mine again. What was even more disturbing was that I'd actually thought, for a very brief moment, of what it would be like to kiss him. Such close proximity to a man like him is obviously dangerous... I need to be more careful.