CHAPTER 3
DRAKE
The pain in my ankle was throbbing despite the medication I’d been given. It was late in the afternoon, but still early for a party.
I had my misgivings about my father’s intentions. I don’t think I’d be able to bear facing him while I was in pain. Besides, I’d been advised to have an x-ray done as soon as possible. Hence, I asked Alex to drop me off at the hospital.
“You know, you’re right,” Alex said as I climbed out of his car. “It’s still early. Rosie and I will probably hang out first before going to your place. How about I pick you up after an hour?”
“No, man, it’s fine,” I said. “I’m not sure how long it’ll take. I’ll just ask the chauffeur to pick me up.”
“Alright, see you later!” Alex said. Rosie waved goodbye, too.
It seemed to take me forever to reach the third floor even with an elevator. I was having difficulty using crutches, and I was moving very slow in the hallways.
When I got to Dr. Anderson’s clinic, his secretary Alice greeted me politely, even showing concern over my injury. She was fairly new on the job, a middle-aged woman who seemed to be competent enough.
“Please take a seat first, Mr. Walton,” she told me, handing me a magazine.
“Where’s Dr. Anderson?” I asked, surprised that the doctor wasn’t around at this time. “He usually stays here until seven, right?”
“Uh, yes, but Dr. Anderson is on an indefinite leave,” she informed me. “His replacement, Dr. Hill, is on the way now.”
“Dr. Hill?” I repeated.
“Yes, that is the name of the new doctor who will be taking his place for the meantime,” Alice explained. “Rest assured that Dr. Hill is a highly qualified and recommended specialist in sports and exercise medicine.”
I was a bit annoyed that my doctor wasn’t around and was not going to be here for some time. I just hoped Dr. Hill was as good as he is.
I shrugged and just leaned back, flipping through the magazine without really paying attention.
After a few more minutes, I wanted to leave already or perhaps go to another doctor in the building. I was getting quite pissed. It wasn’t turning out to be a very good day, after all, despite my supposed winning move during the football game.
It was a good thing Alice suddenly spoke up. “Mr. Walton, Dr. Hill is in the building now and will see you shortly.”
I felt a sharp pain in my ankle, as if the injury knew that the doctor was coming. I really had to get this attended to immediately not just to make the pain temporarily go away but also to find out if it really was just a sprain or something else. Furthermore, Coach would want me to report to him at once.
When would I be able to play football again? I’d probably have to rest for a week or two. The thought actually comforted me. Maybe I needed a break—not to live like a couch potato or anything like that, but to explore something different.
The door swung open even before I turned. I got up awkwardly on my crutches, eager to have the consultation and physical examination done with.
The sight that greeted me took my breath away—literally. For a few seconds, I thought it was another patient.
To my utter astonishment, Dr. Hill was a female doctor. And she didn’t look like any ordinary doctor. With a friendly yet professional smile on her pink moist lips and her golden brown waves cascading past her shoulders, she was absolutely stunning. She was clad in a maroon knee-length dress that partially showed off her well-defined, tanned legs. And she had on a classic white coat with her name embroidered in front: Dr. Georgia Hill, M.D.
The name seemed to ring a bell in my head, as if I’d encountered it a long time ago. However, looking at this beautiful woman, I don’t think I’ve ever met her before. I wouldn’t have forgotten a face like that.
Her blue eyes were warm and inviting, locking with mine at once when I stood up. They reflected a tinge of shock at seeing me, which made me wonder if she recognized me somehow. After all, my picture would appear on social media from time to time, unfortunately not in relation to any of my achievements but just in connection to my family’s wealth and fame.
I was a few inches taller than her, but my big built would no doubt cover her slim figure if she were to hide behind me.
“Hi,” she greeted. The look of bewilderment was immediately gone. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
“You’re a woman,” were the first words that came out of my mouth. I wanted to take them back, but they naturally just stumbled out.
“Ah, yes,” she said slowly, her smile widening. “Is there any problem with that?”
“No, of course not,” I answered quickly, still not quite recovering. It wasn’t that she was a woman who was going to be my doctor until Dr. Anderson came back. It was more because I found myself actually staring, even admiring her appearance.
It was both odd and awkward, the way I stood there sort of gaping at her and checking her out at the same time.
“Just give me a sec and then you can come in,” she said, heading over to the private room inside the clinic. “Alice will let you know when. Thank you.”
I simply nodded, rendered speechless by her beauty. She was probably around my age, quite young for a SEM specialist.
When she disappeared behind the door, I took a long, deep breath. Whew. I seem to have it bad.
After just a minute or so, Alice told me I could go in already. I could feel my bloodstream picking up, rushing to spread heat across my limbs.
When I laid eyes on her again, I could feel my heart beginning to pound. I was undoubtedly very much attracted to this woman, for some reason I couldn’t explain.
Dr. Hill was sitting behind her desk, her eyes scanning my file. She looked up when I sat down, her eyes meeting mine. It was slightly intense, and I shifted in my seat before speaking.
“I’m a professional football player, and I had this injury earlier…” I said, my eyes automatically seeming to memorize every feature of her face.
She must have found me intense, too, because she suddenly seemed to look a little bit uncomfortable. She leaned backward on her swivel doctor’s chair. “I am aware of it, Mr. Walton. I’ve read your file and apparently a medic had also called in to report your injury. How are you feeling now?”
“Intense,” I murmured, then immediately realized what I’d just said. My eyes widened, ruining my playing-it-cool demeanor. “I mean, the pain’s really intense. It was earlier, but not anymore.”
Damn. I wasn’t myself, definitely.
“Okay, but it’s a good thing you stayed off it the past hour. You really should not apply any pressure on it for now as much as possible.” She stood up then and went around her desk to where I was seated. “Let’s take a look at it, Mr. Walton.”
“Please call me Drake,” I said.
She paused for a while, as if she was contemplating on it. The expression on her pretty face was unreadable. Then all of a sudden, she just smiled and motioned for me to go over to the examination bed.
I shuffled toward it, kind of pissed that I had to meet a lovely woman in this kind of situation. I pushed away that thought as I struggled a bit to bring myself up.
“May I?” she said, coming forward to offer her assistance. I nodded, anticipating her touch.
She leaned so close to me I could smell her perfume, adding to the desire building up inside me. She helped me up to a lying down position on the bed, the feeling of her skin against mine causing electric shivers to run through my body.
Afterward, she gently removed the bandage around my ankle. I was quite speechless as I watched her the entire time. She was going on and on about common ankle injuries in sports, but I wasn’t really listening. In my mind, I was running my fingers through her hair, rubbing my thumb along her luscious-looking lips.
At that very moment, all thoughts and worries had left me. I’d completely forgotten about my dad. All I could focus on was her touch and how much she affected me.
“Drake,” she called my attention.
“Uh, what was that again?” I asked awkwardly.
There was a twinkle of amusement in her eyes, but perhaps I’d only imagined it. “Does it hurt here?” she asked while pressing gently on a portion near my ankle. I honestly don’t remember how many times she’d been asking me. My mind had drifted far.
“It stings a bit,” I told her.
She went on to explain some more medical stuff before calling in an x-ray technician to assist me in the other room, which was also part of the spacious clinic.
Dr. Anderson had been my doctor since college. He’s actually a good friend of my parents, and was the best in the medical arena of sports and exercise within Windfield. But from the looks of it, Dr. Hill would surely give him a run for his money. Besides, she was beauty and brains rolled into one.
I’d be a fool not to admit that I wanted her around for long. Whatever it was that Dr. Anderson was attending to, I’m hoping he’s not going to be able to come back soon.