Page 5 of Layla's Daddy
When he stands and guides my head forward to examine the back, I wince.
“Owie.” The babyish word slips out before I can stop it.
“Sorry, Little one. You have a pretty big goose egg back here, but the skin isn’t broken.” Dr. Rubio sits back on his stool.
I’m aware of Theo next to me. He’s moved down a bit, but his hand is on my thigh.
Dr. Rubio lifts the blanket back and holds up my arm next. “Kristen says you hit both elbows and landed on your bottom, too.”
“Yes, Sir,” I whisper.
The doctor looks closely at my top arm before bending to see the other one. “You scraped your elbows up good, but I don’t think you need stitches. We’ll clean those up and get some bandages on them.” He pats my cheek. “I’m going to look at the backs of your thighs and examine your tailbone now, okay?”
I swallow and hesitate before nodding.
When he rises to round to the other side of the exam table, Theo sits in the doctor’s rolling chair and holds my hand. His attention is on my face. “You’re being so brave, Little one.”
I bite my bottom lip as the doctor carefully lifts the blanket up to my hip. He moves the gown out of the way next. I can feel the cool air in the room on my naked bottom.
“Squeeze my hand, Layla,” Theo orders. “Tell me what your favorite kind of ice cream is.”
I whimper. He’s trying to distract me, but it’s not working. I hold my breath while the doctor examines the backs of mythighs. I’m fully aware that my butt is scraped up right at the juncture with my thighs.
“I’m going to clean these scrapes up, Layla,” Dr. Rubio says. “It will sting a bit. How about if I give you something to hold on to?”
I’m shocked when he reaches over me to hand something to Theo, and doubly shocked when Theo tucks a stuffed bear in my arms. “Hug this little fellow while Connor examines you.”
I purse my lips.
“You haven’t told me what kind of ice cream you like,” Theo encourages, stroking my neck.
I wince when something stings on the back of my leg. “Owie.”
“I’m sorry, Little one,” the doctor says. “I’ll be quick.”
I look back at Theo as Dr. Rubio rubs some kind of soothing ointment on my abrasions. “Uh… There’s only one flavor of ice cream,” I tell him.
He chuckles. “Is that so? What kind is it?”
“Blue,” I mutter.
Theo chuckles. “Blue? That’s not a flavor, silly girl.”
I nod. “It is so.” My Little is strong. I can’t tamp her down.
Dr. Rubio moves his attention to my tailbone, pushing around it. “I have to agree with Layla. Blue is an excellent flavor.”
Theo laughs harder. “Blue? You’re both bonkers.”
“Nuh uh,” I defend, and then I cry out as the doctor presses against my tailbone.
“I’m so sorry.” He holds my hip. “Can you be brave for me, Layla? I’m almost done.”
“Yes, Sir,” I whimper.
Theo’s brow is furrowed, and his jaw is tense as if the doctor’s exam is hurting him instead of me.
I grit my teeth as Dr. Rubio pushes against my tailbone a few more times. It hurts, and I clench my butt cheeks. I’membarrassed that my entire bottom is exposed and he’s had to spend so much time examining it, but somehow having Theo holding my hand and whispering to me makes it better. He’s a great Daddy. I wish he weremyDaddy.