Page 94 of Daddy’s Fortitude

Aimee nodded, unable to really talk. She felt a bit stupid that she’d fainted because she didn’t take care of herself.

She really was hopeless, wasn’t she? She kept telling herself that she had to do better and yet she kept fucking it all up over and over again.

It was embarrassing. She was a grown adult, and she needed to take responsibility for her own life. Sure, it was easy to rely on Ammo, but he wouldn’t always be here, and she knew it.

She stared down at her hands, which were clenched together in her lap.

“Sometimes it’s not always easy to take care of yourself, especially when you’ve got a lot going on,” Ammo said. “That’s why I’m here, to look after her.”

She gave him a grateful look and a small smile.

Reaching over, he lightly squeezed her shoulder.

“Right. It’s good to have friends around you, especially during these trying times,” Dr. Melton said.

“We’re more than just friends,” Ammo told him.

Eek, what the heck was he saying? Dr. Melton was going to get the wrong idea about their relationship. Such as it was.

“I should have insisted she eat more yesterday,” Ammo said. “And I tried to talk her out of going to work last night, but I should have made her stay at home.”

“You can’t make me do anything,” she told him with a huff.

“Can’t I?” he said, raising one eyebrow as he stared down at her sternly. “We’ll just see about that.”

Doctor Melton frowned as he stared between them. “Aimee, do you feel threatened?”

What? Where had he gotten that idea from? Lord, she hoped that Ammo didn’t get angry at Doctor Melton’s question.

“No, of course not. Ammo isn’t threatening me. Well, he kind of is, but that’s just the way he talks. He’s very bossy and demanding, and he thinks he’s always right. But he’s not mean about it. He’s only looking out for me, and I know that.”

“I would never harm Aimee,” Ammo stated firmly.

“Good.” Dr. Melton nodded.

“Hopefully it was just her blood sugar, but I insisted she come here to check that there wasn’t anything else going on,” Ammo told Doctor Melton.

“All right, let’s try and figure that out.” Dr. Melton walked around to where she was sitting. “Please hop on the table for me, Aimee. I’ll check you over and probably some blood. And look at that mole again. Actually, first, if you could hop on the scales.”

She got on the scales, then moved toward the table.

Ammo walked over and grasped her around the waist, lifting her up onto the table.

“Oh, thank you,” she said.

She could have gotten up by herself, but she had to admit, she was starting to like the way he picked her up.

Was it weird? Maybe. But she couldn’t help the way she felt. And she didn’t really want to tell him no. She’d rather just savor it while she could, so she had some memories for later on when she was on her own once more. So she could remember the time when someone put her first, took care of her.

The doctor took her blood pressure and checked her eyes, ears, and throat. He listened to her chest. And asked her a number of questions.

“What about going to the toilet? Are you having regular bowel movements? Have you noticed any changes? Are you having to pee more often? Are you more thirsty?”

Aimee just gaped at him. Did he have to ask those questions in front of Ammo? She could feel her cheeks growing bright red.

“We can have this conversation in private if you’d rather,” the doctor said.

“No,” Ammo stated.