Page 37 of Operation: Ogre

He crossed his arms, and his eyebrows drew together. “You want to tell me what that was?”

“Not really.”

He sighed and sat down. “Anything you say here is completely private.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, not meeting his eye.

“You can tell me anything.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, but I didn’t want to talk about it.

Dr. Lee stared at me for a moment, then lifted his hands. “Fine. But know I’m here if you need to talk.”

“What’s wrong with my ankle?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Just bruised. Rest. Actual rest,” he said firmly as he began wrapping it. “Elevate, ice. You should be okay in a couple of days.”

“So the usual.” I was an athlete. I knew the RICE method.

He grunted. After he finished, he asked, “Do you have someone who can help you to your dorm, or should I walk you?”

I could obviously call Carter or Samantha, but I didn’t really want to worry them. Also, knowing Carter, he would lecture me. There really wasn’t a choice in who’d I call anyway. Jaxon. I nodded at the doctor. “Yeah, I have someone.”

“Alright.”

I shot Jaxon a quick text, and he responded less than a minute later that he was on his way. “He’s coming,” I told Dr. Lee.

He nodded and went about his business in the health center. I’d almost expected him to prod me about my freak out, but he didn’t, which relieved me and made me oddly sad. It was almost as if I wanted him to pester me, so I had to tell him, not that I wanted to. No. I just needed to keep this shit bottled up, and everything would be fine.

The door opened, and Jaxon stood there, breathing hard as if he’d been running. “Baby,” he said, rushing toward me. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. “Just bruised my ankle.”

“He needs to rest,” Dr. Lee said, not bothering to look up from the file he was reading.

“I will make sure he does, sir.” Jaxon drew me into his arms, and I flushed as he picked me up. I should be used to it by now. I loved when he carted me around, but for some reason, with the hot doctor staring at us, Jaxon taking care of me when I was hurt, and me coming off a panic session, I was oddly embarrassed. “Come on, babe. Let’s get back to the room.”

Thankfully, it was Saturday, so no classes, but the campus was busy, and we received several looks and whistles as Jaxon carried me. He paid no attention to any of them, just holding me close in his arms, whereas I flipped people off or told them to fuck off while I hugged him.

When we got back to our dorm room, Jaxon placed me on his bed, then shoved a pillow under my ankle. “Don’t move,” he ordered. “I will get you some food.”

“And coffee?” I pushed my bottom lip out.

Jaxon ran his fingers through my hair. “And coffee. Just stay here.”

“I can do that.” When he left, all I did was watch the door. I was trying not to think of anything. Also, I missed Jaxon when he was gone. It was getting bad, this feeling. I shouldn’t feel this way. I needed Jaxon to just stay my friend, but I couldn’t seem to help it.

It didn’t take too long for Jaxon to reappear with food and coffee. He settled on the bed beside me, and we both ignored the ominous creaking. “Thanks,” I told him before taking a long drink of my coffee.

“Thank me by working out less.”

“Jaxon,” I groaned.

“No, baby. You’re going to hurt yourself.”

I sighed and rested my head against his arm. “I will try. Alright?”

Jaxon kissed the top of my head. “I just care about you.”