“I just need to do a breast exam, and then we’ll be done and you can get dressed.”
Great, the humiliations continued. “Just put your arm above your head, good, just like that.” As I lifted my arm, the stupid paper dressing gown fell open, and there I was, completely exposed, though feeling bashful about that was ridiculous considering he’d just been poking around in my vagina.
I stared at a spot on the ceiling while he kneaded his fingers into one breast, then the other. Both times, my nipples got hard, even though the room was fairly warm. I hoped that he didn’t notice, or if he did, that it was a normal sort of occurrence. If I hadn’t been so mortified by the entire scenario, I might have been able to acknowledge the fact that the whole thing was a bit arousing.
And then finally, mercifully, it was over. He closed the gown over me, and I sat up, clasping it around me.
“So do you have any concerns or anything you’d like to talk about?” he asked.
“Um... it kind of burns when I go to the bathroom.”
“How long has that been going on for?”
“A little while now.”
“Any other symptoms?”
I tried to remember. “I don’t think so.”
“Do you feel like you need to urinate more than normal?”
“Um... no, I wouldn’t say so.”
“Any pain or feelings of discomfort in your back or lower abdomen?”
“No.”
“No fever or chills?”
“No, none of that.”
He nodded. “You left a urine sample already, right?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I’ll order a culture test on that and should have the results back in the next day or so. If it comes back positive, I’ll write you a script for some antibiotics and that should clear it up. But of course, give us a call if your symptoms noticeably worsen in the meantime.”
“I will,” I said. “Thanks.”
He smiled. “You settling in okay?”
“Yeah, things are pretty good.”
“Happy to hear it. Listen, I know what it can be like, moving to a new place and all and not knowing anyone. So don’t be afraid to stop by or give me a call or text or something if you need anything. Here, let me write my cell phone down for you.” And he took one of his business cards and scribbled a number on the back of it before handing it to me.
“Thanks,” I said.
“You have a good one.”
He smiled at me once more and then left, and I let out a sigh, feeling both relieved and incredibly embarrassed that this situation had happened in the first place.
I ripped the paper gown off and got back into my own clothes as quickly as possible. There was a slickness between my legs; I hadn’t wiped the lube from the speculum off. I grabbed a handful of tissue from a box on the counter and stuck my hand down my pants, dabbing in my underwear. Good enough. I exited the room, hoping I wouldn’t see Cole.
But of course he was there in the front office, looking at something on the receptionist’s computer screen. I stood there for a second, and as I did, I watched the way the receptionist leaned toward him, gazing up at him with those puppy dog eyes. I felt a flare of possessiveness, which was completely silly.
“Am I all set?” I finally said.
They both looked over, Cole with a smile and the receptionist with an expression of annoyance.