Forbidden Prescription 3: MFM Ménage Stepbrother Medical Romance (Forbidden Medicine) Page 19

  “Hey, Brandi. What’s up?”

  I didn’t tell my friend I was going home to visit my mom. Usually, even though the trips came frequently-ish, they were never really planned for. The soonest I had free time, I’d get up and go. Just as well I hadn’t told her, or she’d have been wondering why I was back so soon, and I didn’t want to get into it.

  “Hey, Emma. I wanted to ask if I can come over?”

  I didn’t even ask why. “Please. I would be happy for the company, you have no idea.”

  There was silence over the phone, making me think I’d come off a tad too strong. Brandi was my closest friend—my only friend, really—and she had this uncanny sense of knowing when something was wrong with me.

  “Okay, spill. What happened that I should know about?”

  I sighed, putting the yogurt down as I sat at my tiny kitchen table. “I don’t even know where to start.”

  “When you say that, you know I’ll just tell you to start at the beginning.”

  “I know. But it’s not something I can talk about on the phone. And it would take too long, anyways.”

  There was a pause. “Fine. You better be prepared to spill all the details. I’ll bring over some ice cream, okay?”

  I groaned, even though it was clearly a bribe. “Brandi, you are an angel.”

  She laughed at me. “Not quite, but it’s nice that you think so. Give me twenty minutes, half an hour, tops. Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  I looked at the cup of yogurt I hadn’t opened yet in my hand. Ice cream was technically not food, yogurt was at least more filling. I suddenly had a craving for ice cream, though. I put the cup back in the fridge, and got some bowls and spoons, that I set on the table and waited for Brandi.

  There was a knock on my door twenty minutes later, and I went to let my friend in. She held up the shopping bag, while plastic, and I could see the big tub of ice cream in it. I took it from her, closed the door behind her, and led the way back to my little kitchen, where we sat at the table that incidentally sat only two comfortably if that.

  I pulled the tub out of the plastic bag, set it on the table and popped the lid open. Then I spooned some into both bowls and sat on one side, letting Brandi take the other chair. She waited for me to get settled before starting in on the questions.

  “So, why don’t you tell me what happened?”

  “Can’t we just sit here and eat delicious ice cream and pretend nothing is wrong?”

  She just stared at me until I sighed.

  “Fine.” I took a spoonful of ice cream, let it melt in my mouth, then swallowed. “So, I went to my Mom’s this weekend.”

  She looked surprised at the blunt statement. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going?” she frowned. “In fact, you never tell me when you’re going. I just find out that you went, or I don’t.”

  “It’s not that big a deal, Brandi. And I don’t tell people because I usually just decide last minute, get in the car and drive over, sometimes every two months when I’ve got free time.”

  “And what happened? Going to see your mom can’t be a bad thing.”

  Oh, if she only knew. I just ate some ice cream until her face contorted into a frown.

  “What did your mother do?”

  I didn’t really want to talk about it, but I kind of did want to talk to someone. I never had before, the few people I mentioned my mom to thought we were just fine, if a little distant. But I’d known Brandi since the third year of college. If there was someone I trusted, it was her.

  “So, my mom and I aren’t exactly the best of friends.”

  “I gathered that. Just stop stalling and speak.”

  I stabbed my spoon into the ice cream, watching it melt into a liquid instead of taking any more.

  “I’ve always known my mother wasn’t my biggest fan, but I was still surprised.” I circled the spoon over the top, encouraging it to melt. “How my mom treated me… it was just bad. I don’t know if I can say it was worse than it’s ever been, or if I’ve been wearing rose colored glasses for a while without really noticing. Or maybe she’s not right in the head and I’m dodging a bullet because I am never going back home.”

  It was a vow; one I knew I would keep. I should have felt something, maybe sad, but again, I didn’t feel anything. If I was being honest with myself, it hadn’t been home in a long time. I didn’t hate my mother, I liked her just fine when she wasn’t around. I would mourn her when she passed away, but every time I got near her I just got so close to hating her, it was scary.

  “I agree that your mom is not right in the head. Any other mom would be proud of their daughter.”

  Well. Not entirely.

  I thought back to the night with the twins, feeling a mix of guilt and shame, very little, though, and mostly pleasure.

  “There was something that happened Friday night. Besides Mom and me arguing again.”

  Her lips curled in a grin. “I know that look on your face. You had a little fun, didn’t you?”

  “I wouldn’t call it little.” I swallowed more ice cream and cleared my throat. “Well, them. I wouldn’t call them little.”

  Brandi watched me, frozen, for a second. Then she put her spoon down in her bowl and folded her arms.

  “Explain.”

  My lips twitched for a minute, then I giggled, giddy.

  “It was the most amazing night of my life, Brandi, you have no idea.” I knew I was gushing, but I couldn’t help myself. I wasn’t the kind of girl that gushed, about anything, but I felt it was warranted.

  “Don’t you dare tell me you went to bed with two hot studs when I was at home and bored out of my mind?”

  Her warning just made me laugh.

  “I won’t tell you, then,” I teased, pressing my lips together.

  “You better tell me what is going on before I take my ice cream back,” she threatened, making me laugh again.

  “All right. Picture this. You’re in high school, very low on the social hierarchy. And there are these two guys, brothers—twins—and they were both voted as prom king in their senior year because people couldn’t tell who was who.”

  Her jaw dropped. “No way. Twins? Hot ones?”

  I smiled, a little smug. “Yup, blond, and blue eyes built body; pretty amazing everywhere.”

  “How did this happen?”

  “I don’t even know. I just got there and my mom was getting into me because I was late. Like I could help it that my car broke down. So, I go out to the only bar in town, and I’m sitting there drinking by myself when they just come in. It was empty so they must have seen me quickly. So, they come over and sit, and we start talking, and…”

  Her eyes were wide and she was leaning forward. She waved a hand at me, impatient, when I stopped. “And… what? Go on already.”

  “They asked me to spend the night with them. I was pretty reluctant, at first, but I said yes.”

  “I can’t believe you of all people had a night with a pair of hot twins. Don’t just cut the story there, a little more detail.”

  I grinned. And I went into details. I was blushing the entire time, embarrassed and excited at the same time. I couldn’t believe I was even talking about it, I didn’t usually talk about my sex life with anyone.

  The more I told her, the more Brandi was more than jealous. Until she was the one lying on my table, eating ice cream to alleviate her misery.

  “I can’t believe your luck. Why can’t I get propositioned by hot twins and have a night of wild sex? Did I do something wrong in a past life? I swear most of the guys I keep meeting lately only want to jump into the sack when they aren’t even that great.”

  I snickered. “Who knows. Something may happen.”

  She just stuck her tongue out at me and opened the tub for more ice cream. We both took some, and she put the rest of it in my fridge.

  “Are you going to see the twins again?”

  I sighed, feeling a little of the misery swamp my excitement as I remembered that l
ittle detail. Why didn’t I just leave them with my number?

  “I’m not going back home, so I doubt it.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Carl

  I’d gotten into racing early in life. At twenty-seven, I could brag because I was amazing at it. The only thing I was ever good at, really, because unlike my brother, school never agreed with me.

  Abe was good at the racing, too. When I made him go with me, a part of it was so I could show off, in the one thing I thought I could be better than him at. We’d raced against each other a few times, and I had beat him, but he’d beat me about as many times, so we’d averaged at a tie. Then we decided to work as a team, and he stuck it out with me.

  Still, he’d only ever raced bikes. I was comfortable in pretty much anything. Even in cars.

  I was racing across the highway toward our destination. I spent more time on a bike than in a car, but I was comfortable in both.

  “Carl, slow down.”

  I scowled without turning at Abe’s warning. He sighed.

  “This is not a race, and we need to take our time. I already told you we’d have to wait till Monday to look for her anyway. There’s no hurry.”

  “I’m technically driving at the speed limit.”

  “Just barely,” he growled. “Look, just slow down, now, okay? Leave the racing for the tracks, that’s what they’re for.”

  I chuckled. He was always like that, giving me warnings, giving me tips. Sometimes, I felt like he thought he had to take care of me. Which was ridiculous, we were the same age, but it was what I got for dragging him with me everywhere I went, so I guess I deserved it.

  “You’re boring, little brother.”

  He growled, indignant. He hated it when I called him that, and I’d been using it since I learned that I was, technically, born before he was. Abe was fun to pick on because he was so serious most of the time. Even back when we were kids.

  “Don’t call me little brother.”

  I laughed. “You technically are.”

  “By a few minutes.”

  I threw a grin at him. I saw him narrow his eyes at me right as I turned back.

  “Carl, no.”

  He knew me better than I thought. I heard talk about twins having a psychic connection like that, but I could never tell what he was thinking. Of course, I didn’t need to, and I knew he read me so well because I was predictable.

  “At least pay attention to the fucking weather, if not me. It’s raining out there, you idiot. The roads are going to be slick, and it’s not like sliding on dirt. I know it’s hard, but please don’t do something stupid.”

  I scoffed at him, ignoring the stupid comment. It was just a little rain, and it had calmed down some time ago. I could see just fine through the windshield and only had to run the wipers once every few minutes to clear the glass.

  I didn’t listen to him. The route we were on would take us past the hospital as we drove into town. We hadn’t been there for a while, but I knew where it was, and I knew we were close. I let the speed go down a little.

  “Carl.”

  I ignored Abe, doing a mini stunt with the car. It should have been fine. The road was clear, this late in the afternoon on a Saturday. I’d started with a car before moving on to bikes, hell I’d been racing a lot longer than Abe realized, so it wasn’t like I didn’t know what I was doing.

  It was probably the speed, I didn’t let It go down enough for the stunt. Only, I was feeling a little high so I wasn’t paying as much attention as I should have been. I couldn’t handle it, the steering becoming useless under my hands as the wheels screeched against the road, all the water on the ground making sure we lost the traction I’d need to get the car back under control.

  I knew we were going to crash, and I couldn’t stop it. Stupidly, I closed my eyes. There wasn’t anything seeing could help with anyway, but I still shouldn’t have. I heard it before I felt it, then there was pain, sharp and unbearable, and everything went black.

  Next thing I know, I wake up to white walls and a curtain to my left.

  I just blinked in the sudden brightness for a moment. I looked around, and it was easy to guess I was in a hospital. I was laying on a bed with railings, covered in white sheets, my hands at my sides over the sheets. There was a needle taped to the back of my left hand, attached to an IV drip, and when I followed the line, I saw the medical equipment.

  I looked down at my body, saw my leg on a sling that kept it elevated, wrapped in a white cast up to the knee.

  Fuck.

  I remembered driving and doing something stupid even when my brother told me not to. Then I felt myself start to panic a little. Where was Abe?

  Before it could get seriously out of control, though, I heard someone groan and curse. The voice was familiar, though low and a bit rough.

  “Abe?” I called, unsure.

  There was a short silence, then: “Carl?”

  The relief that flashed through me made me feel a little dizzy, even though I was lying down.

  “Thank God. I thought something bad happened to you, or something.”

  He snorted. “It’s your fault to begin with, you know. And I’m not exactly uninjured. Neither are you, even though I haven’t seen you yet.”

  “How long have you been awake?”

  “Not that long, I think.” He paused. “How bad are you?”

  I looked down at my leg, then tried to feel if I had injuries anywhere else.

  “My leg’s in a cast. I don’t think anything else is broken. You?”

  “My arm. It’s in a cast and tied on a sling around my neck. I can’t even feel my fingers.”

  Fuck. I could feel the guilt start to sink in. I shouldn’t have tried to be a show-off, not when we were on the highway, going a little too fast. I should have listened to my brother, and I cringed just thinking it.

  “Hey, Abe? I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you.”

  There was a short silence, then he laughed, sounding incredulous.

  “I didn’t think you’d actually say it. Whatever, man. You’ve always been an idiot but I’m stuck with you anyway.”

  I probably should have felt even a little offended, but I was just glad he wasn’t going to punch me over this. Or maybe he was just high on drugs so he was calm and more forgiving.

  Before either of us could think to add more to the conversation, the door opened. I couldn’t see who it was clearly, but Abe, his side being closer to the door, must have. I saw her for a moment when she walked inside before the curtain blocked her.

  “Oh, I can see you’re awake. How do you feel?”

  “Doing somewhat okay, considering the circumstances. Could I ask for a favor? Can you pull back the curtain?”

  “Well… it was put in place for privacy—”

  “My brother is on the other side of that curtain. I’d rather look at him than the floral print, honestly.”

  There was a short silence, and then her head appeared around the offending cloth.

  “Oh, I see you’re awake, too. Would you like the curtain drawn back as well?”

  “Please.”

  It was just a mutter, but she heard me. She pulled the curtain back, and I was relieved to see Abe, not just hear him. He was in a bed like mine, only his upper body was slightly elevated, and I could see the bulk of his arm in the cast, held against his chest by a sling.

  “All right. If you’re both comfortable.” She waited until we both nodded. “Good. Now, the two of you have been out for quite some time. You were brought in yesterday. You’re both lucky you aren’t hurt too badly from that accident, you’re expected to make full recovery.”

  “Um,” Abe cut in before she could go on. “Where are we?”

  “Oh, right! You’re at Central General Hospital.”

  My twin and I met eyes, and right then, I could almost swear I could read his mind. He must have been thinking exactly what I was.

  “We’d like to see Emma Davis.”

  I couldn’t sa
y who spoke first, or maybe we said it at the same time. The nurse was surprised, but neither of us paid any attention to it.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Emma

  Both boys were having their check-ups.

  Because I was technically still an intern, when the boys had their check-ups, a nurse had to go in with me. If the place wasn’t so busy, I wouldn’t have been assigned to them at all no matter their insistence, not without a senior doctor to oversee it. I managed to get a senior nurse, instead.

  I probably shouldn’t have been assigned to them, though. I didn’t just know them, I was emotionally invested. I might have argued if the senior doctor in the department had refused to let me take the job since I wouldn’t be allowed to see them or know what was happening with them, without that authority.

  I went through their charts as the nurse looked them over after I was done, just to be sure I didn’t miss anything. I’d gone through the pages several times, even added something to them once I was officially assigned to work with the twins. I practically had all the information memorized, but I kept reading it, worried something else might crop up.

  Human life was a fragile thing, I knew that better than a lot of people. One second, someone could be fine, and the next their condition has jumped to critical. But they’d gone through all the checks that put them out of danger. Still, I checked again.

  So far, everything seemed to be in order. Apart from the fact that Carl seemed to have broken his leg, whereas Abe had a fractured arm. But no one got concussed or had internal bleeding. Their limbs weren’t technically even broken, just bruised at the bone, a couple of hairline fractures that would heal on their own and the casts would come off in a couple of weeks or so. They had a few cuts, and that was about it.

  I was stuck between being horrified at the extent of the damage and relieved that it wasn’t worse.

  “Doctor Davis?”

  I looked up from rereading Abe’s chart and looked at the nurse.

  “Yes?”

  “These boys are going to be needing some more medication soon.”

  I checked both charts again just to be sure. “Could you please handle that for me?”