"He's going to say it's not the same thing. He'll never see it like that."

"I can try, right?"

Six

Dr. Kozol stood before me as he looked over my chart. Dad had called him in as soon as I was admitted.

"I highly recommend bed rest until you leave for your next gymnastics meet. You're burning the fuse at both ends. All you're doing is working against yourself," he said, sounding like my dad.

My eyelids were heavy as I looked up at him. I just wanted to go back to sleep.

"I know," I said. "I'm going to. My arm hurts really bad anyway. There's no way I can even do a cartwheel right now."

His eyes bore into mine and he lifted a brow. "Do not take Motrin for that. If you're in pain, or something is bothering you, I need to know first. Not all medications are safe for your kidneys."

"Okay."

"You're in pretty bad shape right now." He flipped to the next page. "Luckily, your kidneys have leveled out since you were admitted. As for the miscarriage," he continued, and my cheeks heated with embarrassment. "Again, bed rest is an absolute must. If you don't heal properly, you'll develop scar tissue and risk your chances of conceiving in the future. Your body could work against you, causing a flare up on top of that. Anything is possible when your immune system is compromised, as yours is right now."

"She'll get the proper rest she needs, Doctor." Dad reassured him.

Dad made it sound like I was going to be on bed rest for the rest of my life. I’d already decided I couldn’t spare more than five days, and even that was pushing it. I was hoping by then my arm wouldn't hurt as much.

"You're cutting it close, young lady," Dr. Kozol warned.

I nodded in agreement. I was playing with fate and I knew it.

Dr. Kozol strolled out of the room and Sophia returned to my bedside, reclaiming the chair next to me. Her fingers fidgeted with the sweater in her lap. I watched her, wondering if me being in a hospital bed brought back memories of her sick sister.

I reached out with my good hand and Sophia took it and gave it a sympathetic squeeze. Her jaw trembled.

I eyed Dad wondering when he was going to tell me the truth about the charges he pressed against Kova. I wouldn't throw Sophia under the bus for telling me, but how long was he going to torture me with his lie?

Dad's cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and looked at the screen.

"It's Xavier. I need to take this," he said, and left the room.

"You're going to listen to the doctor, right?" Sophia asked.

I shifted, trying to get comfortable. "Yes." Maybe I could sleep the pain away during my downtime, then I wouldn't have to think about anything either.

She released a sigh. "Thank God."

"Does me being in this bed remind you of Francesca?"

She nodded, her mouth flat.

"I'm sorry."

"If I could trade places with you, I would," she said, her voice tinged with sadness. Her comment moved me intensely. Joy never would have said anything like that.

"Can you do me a favor and put my hair up for me, please?" I asked. I was hot all of a sudden thinking about Joy and her lack of compassion. Sophia nodded and dug in her purse for a hair tie.

"Francesca had such thick hair like you. I used to wish I had it. She had the prettiest beach waves, while mine was bone straight."

"Thank you." I smiled at her once she was done.

The door to my room opened and Dad strode back in with his phone held out toward me. "Your brother wants to speak to you," he said. I took it as Sophia pulled my hair up into a messy bun.

Tags: Lucia Franco Off Balance Erotic
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