Free Fragile by Veronica Short Page A

they would I left for the emergency room.
    “I got paged,” I said to the nurse who was sitting at the desk.
    “Bed four.” He pointed his pen over to the left where the bed was located with the curtain closed.
    I walked over and pulled the curtain back and stopped stunned. I didn’t want to see him or speak to him, but here he was in my ER. Deciding to keep it professional, I stepped into the small space and pulled the curtain closed and reached for the chart sitting on the end of the bed.
    “I’m Dr. Jackson. They say you’ve been having headaches and dizzy spells?” I looked up at him and saw that he was smiling. “So help you, Rick, if you’re wasting my time right now I will give them a reason to admit you and it won’t be pleasant.”
    “You weren’t answering my calls or texts.”
    “So, there’s nothing wrong with you then.”
    “Lu, please hear me out.”
    “I have actual patients who need to see me.” He stood up and came over to me, taking my hand but I pulled it away before he could get a good grip on it.
    “I was out of line.”
    “Damn straight, you were out of line.” I snapped, crossing my arms across my chest.
    “I’m sorry, Lu. How can I get you to forgive me for my stupidity?” I could only stare at him. He was sincere as he always was and my chest hurt just looking at him. Nothing good could come from us being together. Regardless if we were friends or not, but I wanted it while I could have it.
    “You could be my friend again,” I whispered.
    “Your best friend.”
    We got some coffee and Rick asked if I could move back in with him. I agreed and he took my things back to the apartment when he left.
    When I got back to the apartment Aiden greeted me happily. “He really missed you. He was miserable, cried and everything.” Aiden had jumped up on the couch and his head was on my lap but it was probably due more to the pizza we were eating than me.
    “I know. Your Dad brought him by the hospital.”
    “Is that why you came over that day?”
    “It gave me an excuse to come over, yeah.”
    “When’s your next house viewing?” Rick reached over me and picked up a piece of pizza.
    “A few days but it’s an apartment this time.” I reached over and took the last piece of pizza from the box.
    “I’m sorry you missed your last viewing.”
    “Don’t sweat it, Dr. Douche bag picked it out anyway.” I took a bite of my pizza, pretending to ignore the look of disbelief on his face.
    “You let him pick out a home for you?”
    “He was there when I was looking, and he said it looked good.” I shrugged.
    “It was probably horrible anyway,” he announced, sitting back on the couch and pulled me closer to him. “Maybe you should show me this apartment online first just in case.”
    “Sure, I’ll go and get my tablet.” I got up from the couch and started for the stairs.
    “You got it?” He asked as I sat back down on the couch. He rested an arm around my shoulders, drawing me closer to him. I turned the tablet on and passed it over after I found the apartment.
    He whistled when he saw it. “Nice, it’s pricy but it’s nice. Can you afford this?” He placed the tablet down on his lap and looked at me.
    “I’m a successful Neurologist,” I said with as much cockiness as possible.
    “Well then,” he said with sarcasm dripping from voice. I laughed and took the tablet back, searching more apartments.
    When I was ready for bed I walked into bathroom and found Aiden passed out in the middle of the bed. I knelt and gave him a shove but he didn’t move. I tried again but got the same response. I sighed and went to find Rick for help.
    “Rick.” I knocked on his door before I open it slowly.
    “Yeah, Lu.”
    “Aiden’s stolen my bed,” I laughed out of frustration. “He won’t budge over, and he’s too big for me to move. Can you try and get him off?”
    Rick moved over in the bed and made some room, “Come here, Lu.” He pulled the blankets back, and I slid