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Trying to be aware enough of my body to answer that makes me realize I need to pee.

I squirm a bit but before I can even say anything, Brandt is moving again.

He bends down and grabs something from a cabinet before turning around.

I definitely don’t notice the way his scrubs stretch around his backside.

When he turns around, all potential sexy thoughts are lost. He’s holding a plastic container with a long handle. I don’t know what it is until he starts talking.

“While I’m glad you’re awake, it’s only been about an hour and we need to retest your blood levels to make sure you’re stable. So, as a present for being a fall risk, you get to use one of these to use the bathroom.”

He smiles at me again, like it really is a present.

I groan.

Brandt laughs.

“It’s not that bad,” Brandt says. I can feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment as he moves the blanket off my legs.

“Um, I can do that myself.” I know he’s a nurse and does this all the time, probably, but it’s different when we know each other outside of this hospital room. I mean, we kind of know each other. It isn’t like we’re best friends.

“If you’re more comfortable with that,” Brandt says. “It can be a little tricky to hold and use at the same time since you’re not sitting up.”

I don’t know what would be worse, having him help me or having to change the bedding and gown I’m wearing if I make a mess.

“Fine,” I say with a sigh.

“Tyler, I’m serious. It’s okay. I do this all the time.

” I relent and let him continue to fold the blanket.

He puts on a pair of gloves and lifts up the gown I’m wearing.

I realize I’m not wearing any underwear when he folds up the gown all the way.

“Okay, so you’re just going to spread your legs a bit, enough for me to hold this while you go. ”

My legs twitch at the cool plastic against my warm skin. Brandt mutters a quiet apology before pressing his palm against one of my legs.

I stare at the ceiling and let him work, trying my best to not feel self-conscious about this moment. My bladder releases with no problem as soon as Brandt says I’m good.

When I finish, Brandt disappears into the bathroom for a minute. I adjust the gown and blanket back over my legs. I feel better, for sure, but I know I’ve been slacking on maintaining the grooming down there. It’s such a fickle thing to be worried about when you’re laying in a hospital bed.

I look over at Brandt when he comes out of the bathroom without the container. He isn’t wearing gloves either and he tosses a paper towel into the trash.

“Okay, back to the game of a hundred questions,” Brandt says. “Headaches?” I shake my head side-to-side. “Bones aching?” No. “Upset tummy?”

“Tummy?” I ask, tilting my head just slightly. I can’t help but smile when he lets out a small laugh.

“Sorry, my last patient was a much younger kiddo.”

“I’m not a kiddo,” I grumble, sounding exactly like a kid.

“Any abdominal pain? Feelings of needing to vomit or nausea?”

“My stomach is a little sore, but that might be from the lack of eating last night and the small bowl of cereal this morning.”

“Why didn’t you eat last night?” Brandt asks. He sounds halfway between doing his job and asking as a concerned friend.

“I got home late,” I lie. The reality isn’t important to what we’re discussing. Brandt doesn’t need to know that I was broken up with.

“Were you working late?” He puts on another pair of gloves and then starts pressing down on my stomach with gentle fingers. It’s a little tender, but that’s normal for me.

“I wasn’t,” I say. “Austin has us out of there by five every day now.”

“I can’t tell you how happy all of us were when he took over again. Not that you didn’t make a good cup of coffee or anything.”

I laugh, but there’s a pang in my lower back that makes me wince. Brandt moves to the other side of the bed, looking at me for permission, before he helps me roll onto my left side.

“Is this tender?” His fingers prod my back.

It’s a dull pain, but it’s there. When I give the affirmative, I hear a low hum coming from him.

A contemplative one that doesn’t seem like good news.

He closes the gown back and helps me situate the blanket.

“I’m going to go let the doctor know that you’re awake.

He’ll want to come in and talk to you and we’ll draw some more blood to check your levels, okay? ”

“Okay.” I look around again. “Do you know where my phone is?”

“All of your belongings are in the bag over here,” Brandt says. He drops the gloves into the trash and then walks across the room to grab the clear bag. “Do you need the whole thing?”

“I was just going to grab my phone.”

Brandt looks through the bag for me. From what I can tell it’s just my clothes, phone, and keys. He hands it over to me and I click it on to see that it’s almost nine AM. There are several texts from friends.

“I’m going to grab you some breakfast as well, okay?” Brandt is standing at the foot of my bed and he’s pinning me with an expression that screams I better not refuse. I nod quietly.

The room is quiet when he leaves. I look through the texts first. One is from Austin, asking for me to text back when I can and that he hopes I’m okay.

Orion is pretty much the same. There’s one from Remington as well, if I need anything to let him know.

My heart rate picks up a bit when I see one from Mark too.

He’s asking if I’m okay. I guess the news of our breakup hasn’t spread to the whole group yet. I’m sure someone called or texted him.

I text him back first, wanting to get it over with but also dispel any worry. I let him know I’m okay and that it’s nothing to worry about.

I send the same message to the others as well. Austin texts back immediately, excited that I’m awake. He asks if he and Orion can stop by later. They’re going to be closing at noon today.

I’m about to text back when the door opens again. This time it’s a different nurse and another guy that has a tray with a covered plate.

“We’re going to draw some new labs before we let you eat, okay?” The nurse says with a soft smile. I nod and let her do what she needs to. It’s only a minute before the bed is being propped up so I can eat.

I thank them and wait for both to walk out before I uncover the plate. It’s bland at best. A piece of toast, not buttered. A small lump of scrambled eggs. There is a salt and pepper packet next to it. I have a cup of water as well. It’s a boring meal, but having something in my stomach might help.