Page 9 of Wild
"What were the circumstances?" the doctor asks, turning back to Noah.
"All kinds of places. The first time was on the tour bus, once at a hotel, twice before going on stage…"
"Has a doctor ever seen her?" Now she looks at Mia, but Mia only nods because she still doesn't have the energy to talk that much, so Erin shifts back to Noah.
"Jude had someone come out one of the times, but they said it was just dehydration."
The doctor raises an eyebrow.
"I'm guessing they didn't run any tests…"
"No. Jude said it was nothing, just exhaustion—told me to make sure she drank plenty of water and everything would be fine."
"Sorry, but—" Erin says. "Are you her boyfriend, or…?"
"Oh, no." Noah smiles, a little red in the face, and Erin smiles back because the guy gives off a kind of trust and calm she's rarely found in people. "We've been friends for years, and now I'm also her personal assistant."
The doctor nods without looking up, because she can't even explain why she asked—it wasn't information she needed to treat the patient.
"Alright, we're all set. I'm going to ask my partner to bring in the ambulance stretcher and then we're heading out."
When she steps out, she finds Barry already beside the gurney, waiting, and Erin smiles because she loves that he anticipates her every thought.
"Is this really necessary?" asks Jude, one eyelid twitching from the stress. "Do you have any idea how many people came out tonight? We can't just—"
"I don't care who came out, and I don't care what you have to say. The moment she became my patient, she became my responsibility, so we're going to do what I decide. If you wantto do something useful for her, clear the hallway and make sure the exit is free so nobody gets a photo of her. She's better, by the way," she adds flatly, and turns back toward the room.
Five minutes later, Mia is in the back of the ambulance with Erin, and Noah is up front talking with Barry, who keeps the guy distracted with his sharp, funny commentary about the job. The doctor clips the pulse oximeter onto Mia's finger and adjusts the drip on the IV line while the ambulance pulls away with the sirens off.
Mia stares at the ceiling as she slowly reclaims control of her body—and along with it, her only way of armoring herself: seduction.
"What's your name?" she asks, because she can't recall the doctor saying it before.
"Erin," she answers, tapping the embroidered name on her pocket while she checks Mia's vitals.
"Erin Dooley…"
Mia pushes her hair off her forehead—dry now—and gives her a slow smile. Erin sees it immediately, sees the exact moment the vulnerable girl from a few minutes ago transforms into someone determined not to show weakness. It's not that she has some special gift for reading people, but Mia's expression is shifting entirely. Her eyes seem to brighten, every trace of the tears that had filled them gone, replaced by a crooked smile aimed straight at Erin.
Erin wants to tell her she doesn't need to bother, that she's not going to play along, that Mia doesn't have to perform anything for her benefit—but she lets it go, because what matters most right now is that her patient recovers, and if this helps, she's not going to stand in the way.
"That uniform suits you," Mia says. "It's…" She appears to think it over, though she really isn't. She knows exactly what she wants to say, and the pause is just meant to make her targetnervous—only with Erin, it doesn't work. "…sexy," the singer finishes.
"It's a pretty tacky uniform," Erin says, settling back against her seat.
"Do you always wear your hair up?"
"When I'm working, yeah."
"That's a shame we didn't meet some other time. I'm sure it looks even better down."
Erin ignores her, wraps her fingers around Mia's wrist, and takes her pulse.
"Good news or bad?" Mia asks, watching the doctor's fingers against her skin.
"Low, but given what you've been through that's normal. Don't worry about it."
Mia narrows her eyes, searching for the button she usually uses to get under the skin of people she wants to unsettle—and failing to find it with this doctor.
