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“I’m ready,” she said, pushing away from the bed and out of my arms.

My arms felt empty. I missed her warm weight. The aide smiled at me. “You can come too if it’s okay with Ms. Nemitz.”

I followed Melena and the aide down the hall, around a corner, and through a set of doors to another part of the building. It was confusing; hopefully, there wouldn’t be a test later. As a trained observer, I should be able to find my way, but honestly all the hospital halls looked the same. Too many work calls had led to these neutral corridors. Memories swamped me, but I locked them away to focus on Melena. The aide pushed into a small room with an exam table and asked Melena to sit down. An Asian woman with dark hair entered the room. She smiled briefly at me before focusing on Melena.

“Hi, I’m Van, I’ll be your sonographer tonight.” She moved to the table of equipment and picked up a set of small patches attached to wires. “I need to place these electrodes on your chest, then we’ll get started.”

“Will it hurt?” Melena asked. Her eyes were wide, and I moved closer to the opposite side of the exam table and reached for her hand, stroking the soft skin on her wrist.

Van shook her head. “No. If anything, it tickles. I’ll have you lay on your back and get comfortable. When we’re done with the electrocardiogram, I’ll use my magic wand here for the echocardiogram.”

I averted my gaze while Melena got into position. With the gown open in front, it took a moment to get her at least partially covered. “You can look,” she said.

After the electrocardiogram readings were done, I watched as the technician applied a thin layer of gel to her wand before running it over Melena’s skin. The fast beat of Melena’s heart pounded over the Doppler. Van took readings and pictures of her heart before having her change positions and starting the process all over again. I bit my lip to hold back my questions for the sonographer. Melena didn’t need me butting into her medical care more than I already had.

I couldn’t make heads or tails of the pictures on the screen, but Van seemed to know what she was doing. She clicked away, making recordings. “There. All done,” she said. “Traci will show you back to the procedure room while I have the doctor review these. She should be out shortly.”

Melena smiled and thanked her. She used a small towel to wipe the goop from her chest and winced.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yes. It’s just slimy. It feels weird.”

“What are ‘things you don’t want to hear on a second date,’ Alex.”

She groaned. “That joke’s got to be older than I am.”

My grin was unrepentant. “Probably. But, come on,Jeopardy!is a classic. If you don’t watchJeopardy!, I’m not sure we can hang out.”

She snorted. “So that’s where you draw the line, huh? I pass out in your arms, no big deal, but I don’t watch your favorite game show, and we’re done?”

I blew out the most dramatic sigh in my arsenal. “I suppose I could make an exception, this once.”

“So magnanimous of you, Torres.”

“Ouch. Last names, huh? I guess I’d really be toast if you used my first, middle, and last.”

“James Adrian Torres, don’t test me.”

“Damn. I thought I was the trained observer. How did you learn my middle name?”

“I’ve seen you flash your ID at the gym attendant.”

She’d done a masterful job of playing it cool if that was the case. I thought I’d noticed her first at the gym where we both worked out. It was nice to know the interest was mutual.

Traci returned to escort us back to the first procedure room. A few turns and she directed us behind a blue curtain. I tried to find my earlier levity, but Melena had sobered on thetrip back. She twisted her hands together, and I reached out my own to still them.

“Hey.” She didn’t look at me. “Hey, it’s going to be okay.” I injected every ounce of confidence into my words. But I didn’t know that. She called my bluff.

“Jimmy, you’re so sweet for staying with me tonight, but this all has me freaked out. Best case, it’s nothing, and I’m going to have a whopper of an emergency bill I can’t afford. Worst case, it’s something big, and I’m still going to have a whopper of an emergency bill I can’t afford.”

My gaze met hers. Her face was tight and pinched. “You’re worried about the financial side? Don’t you have insurance?”

She grumbled. “Yes. Crappy insurance for the self-employed. Up until now I’ve been healthy, so I carry the bare minimum. It’s been all I could afford as I get my business off the ground.”

I scrubbed my hands over my head as if the stubble were a Magic 8-Ball that would provide answers. Insurance sucked. Being sick sucked. None of it was ideal. I was lucky to have a good plan through work. It was one of the few perks of my profession. Public servant pay wasn’t so hot for the inherent risk, but the benefits helped make up for it.

Melena shook herself. “Never mind.” She met my gaze. “It’s not your problem. You just met me. And who knows? Maybe this is nothing.”