Page 57 of Defend Her Heart

I can’t focus on anything, I’m too busy trying to clench my thighs together. Bossy, protective Connor is new. I know he’s an enforcer out on the ice and he was always protective of me as a teenager. But this dominance? The way he leaves no room for argument? New kink unlocked, because holy hell, that just turned me on.

The nurse doesn’t look happy, but she nods once and then points at him. “Fine. But you don’t move. You don’t say a word. You don’t get in my way or compromise this test in any way. Or else I’ll call security. I don’t care who you are. My patient is my priority. Got it?”

I like her.

Connor nods once, standing like a security guard near the door.

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me as I lie down on the table.

The nurse goes through the procedure, telling me that I will lie down on the table for a bit before being slowly raised to the standing position. I will stay in that position for an extended amount of time, up to forty-five minutes, or until symptoms appear.

“I’ll be monitoring your heart rate and blood pressure, but make sure you tell me anything you feel, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, or anything like that.”

I nod my head, and she stands, grabbing some electrodes and a blood pressure cuff before setting that all up.

The next thing she does is secure the straps across my body. There are three of them in total. One across my chest, one at the tops of my thighs, and another across my shins. Once I’m all good to go, she lets me know the test is about to begin and she’ll inform me when it’s time for me to be elevated into the standing position.

It’s hard not to feel a little uneasy about everything. I know this is exactly what I wanted but how will it feel once I have an official diagnosis? What if Idon’tget a diagnosis after all this? The unknown is always a scary place to be, and my thoughts begin to betray me the longer the silence in the room stretches.

As if he can sense my discomfort, I hear Connor quietly clear his throat. Just knowing he’s here quiets the noise in my head. The sound of his feet scuffing against the floor causes me to gently lift my head, hoping to go undetected by the nurse. She and Connor aren’t off to a great start so I don’t want to give her any other reason to kick him out of here.

I barely get my head off the table when I see him. He’s already looking at me and when we make eye contact, the ghost of a smile appears on his face. It’s enough to ease my anxiety, so I lie back on the table and wait for the nurse to signal it’s time to raise the bed.

“Okay, Avery, I’m going to go ahead and raise the table. Once you’re fully elevated to the standing position, you’ll stay like that for hopefully the entire time. Remember to tell me anything and everything you feel okay?” She gently places her hand on mine and waits for my confirmation.

“I will.” As soon as she hears my confirmation, she’s pressing a button. Slowly, ever so slowly, the table begins to rise. Connor is the first thing I see once I’m no longer lying flat. He’s finally uncrossed his arms, standing with his hands in his pockets and feet crossed at the ankles. His eyes never leave mine, even after I’m fully in the upright position.

“I’m starting the timer now,” I hear the nurse say, but I don’t look anywhere but ahead. At the man who has somehow changed my life again.

A wave of emotion threatens to sneak up, and I tell myself to get it together.

You need to stay calm. If not for the test, for your sanity.

There. That’s much better.

I’ve been in this position for a little bit now. I’m not exactly sure how long with how focused I am on the man in front of me, when I start to feel my first symptom of the test.

“It’s not too bad, but I’m starting to feel a little lightheaded.”

The nurse confirms she heard me, and the next thing I notice is Connor. One second he’s leaning against the wall, and the next he’s pushing off it so fast, his entire body snapping to attention. It’s subtle enough that the nurse doesn’t notice, but I do.

His shoulders go rigid, squared as if he’s bracing for impact. He takes his hands out of his pockets, curling his fingers into a fist, like he’s fighting every urge to reach out for me. I watch him lift one foot and take half a step toward me, but I shake my head subtly. His jaw tightens and that’s when I see it in his eyes. Not panic, but sharp, unguarded worry.

It cracks something in my chest before I can stop it. God, I hate that I can still read him so easily, and I hate even more that he’s looking at me likethat.He’s looking at me like he used to, like I’m the only thing in the world that matters.

I swallow and force my lips to move even though my throat feels tight.I’m okay,I mouth to him silently. And I’m not sure if I’m trying to reassure him or myself.

He nods once and leans back on the wall again, but doesn’t take his eyes off my face.

The test continues like this for a bit, and I feel my heart rate rising as the minutes pass by. My chest is heaving now, sweat gathering at my brow. I’m hoping we’re nearing the end because it’s starting to become way too much to handle.

“I don’t feel so good.” I somehow manage to get the words out, even as my vision begins to go fuzzy around the edges.

“Avery!”

His voice is the last thing I hear before the world goes black.

I watch in horror as Avery’s face pales. I’m two seconds away from going to her when I see her eyes close, her head dropping to her shoulder, limp and lifeless.