Chapter 24: Bryn

The doctor asks Sawyer several questions and a nurse is sent in to draw some blood and leave a cup for his urine sample. I stay behind when he goes to the bathroom and the doctor sticks around.

“If you aren’t pre-med, what are you studying?” He asks.

I smile politely at him, but I find him a little off putting, but I can’t figure out why.

“I’m studying athletic medicine.” I tell him but I don’t elaborate.

He’s looking at me with a weird interest that makes me want to leave but I try not to show my discomfort.

“Nice. That takes a lot of dedication. It has to be difficult dealing with all those athletes. They don’t make the best patients.” He chuckles and I give him a courtesy laugh. “They’re stubborn and prefer a quick fix than a real medical diagnosis.”

He moves away from where he was leaning on the sink counter and sits on the chair next to me. I shift slightly but I can’t move much, or I’ll fall off this chair and onto the floor.

“Well, that’s what I’m there for. I make sure to keep the guys safe before it’s bad enough to get to you guys.”

He laughs. “I see. Aren’t you guys more like physical therapists?”

I don’t like the way he says that. Sure, I’m not a doctor who has gone through med school and years of residency, but I study some of the same things. I need to know a lot about the workings of the muscles and joints of the body and how to keep the players from getting unnecessary injuries. It’s still an important aspect of medical care and I’m proud of it. Also why is he so close to me? He’s turned his body so that our knees are almost touching.

“It’s a little more involved than that but it isn’t like being a doctor.” I admit nervously.

He’s close proximity and the weird vibe I’m getting is putting me on edge.

“Well, it’s a lot of work and not everyone is cut out for that sort of commitment.” He says a little too pointedly but I’m not exactly sure why he’s saying it.

Is he making a jab at me not being competent enough to be a doctor or that I’m unable to commit? Because that’s a little personal for someone I’ve only met for five minutes. He doesn’t know anything about me!

“I guess you’re right.” I don’t know what else to say.

“I think it’s healthy for women to explore all their options, but I understand some men find a woman exploring her sexuality as off-putting. I think it can be beneficial in some cases. How does a woman know who she should pick if she hasn’t experienced all kinds of men.”

Okay…what is he talking about? Where is this coming from?

“I’m sorry I don’t understand-“

He waves his hand cutting me off and I clench my jaw trying to fight back the anger that pulls out of me.

“Don’t misunderstand me though. I don’t like loose women. A couple of boyfriends in the past is fine but if she’s sleeping around regularly then I keep my distance.” He goes on and I’m so lost.

Why is he saying all this?

“All the woman I’ve been with have always preferred having a more experienced partner while I enjoyed being the teacher. I guess it was always my calling.” He’s leaning toward me now and I can feel myself starting to lean away.

This man has lost his mind. That can be the only reason he is sprouting all this crap for no apparent reason and also isn’t this unethical? Are doctors supposed to talk about their sex life with a patient? I mean I guess technically I’m not his patient, but I also didn’t ask for any of this information. He opens his mouth like he’s about to say something else and his hand is stopped midair. What was he about to do?

Sawyer closes the door and is looking between the doctor and me with a confused look. I can’t blame him, I’m confused too!

“Uh, all done.” Sawyer sets the cup down on the counter and the doctor finally stands and moves away from me.

Sawyer takes the doctor’s place next to me and reaches over to grab my hand. I let him because I’m weirded out by that exchange with the doctor and I could use the anchor.

“Well, that’s all we need for now. I’ll run some tests and contact you with the results. Besides that there doesn’t seem to be any physical issues that I can see, so you’re free to continue shooting baskets and all that.” The doctor says playfully but Sawyer’s hand tightens around mine.

“Great! Thank you so much for your time doctor.” I say standing and tugging on Sawyer’s hand to tell him to stand too.

He towers over me and I step back into him slightly. The doctor smiles and after talking to him it isn’t the nice smile I had thought it to be. It’s a smile of a creep and I can’t get away from him fast enough. So many red flags are going up around him that this room is going to get too crowded soon.

“Thanks doc.” Sawyer says and I pull him out of the door without saying another word to the doctor.

“What’s the rush?” Sawyer asks but I ignore him and continue pulling him out of the clinic.

I let him go when we reach my car and I climb in so fast that I nearly get my foot trapped in the door trying to close it. It feels like that doctor’s eyes are still on me, and I want to get as far away as possible. Maybe I’m overreacting but the things he said…and how close he got to me…

I got a bad vibe from him was bad and it has me on high alert. That small interaction has triggered my instincts and they are screaming for me to run.

This is the second time I’ve encountered a creep on campus. First was the drunk guy and now a perv doctor! Are all colleges full of these kids of men? No wonder so many college girls carry pepper spray and rape whistles. I noticed it at my study group meeting. All the girls had these colorful keychains that were cute versions of self-defense tools. I thought it was a little much but now I think I’ll need to get some stuff like that for myself.

“What happened?” Sawyer asks after I sped out of the clinic parking lot. “You seem on edge.”

“It’s nothing.” I tell him.

He might not think it’s a big deal and I guess to some people (men) it wouldn’t be but to me it was weird. It kicked my fight or flight instincts into gear for some reason.

“Don’t lie B, I can see something happened.” He sounds annoyed.

“The doctor just gave off creepy vibes.” I don’t want to go into all the details, so that’s all I’ll say.

“Oh. Yeah, the guy was weird, but the nurses were whispering and giggling over him. Not surprising…he’s a young professor and that’s like honey to flies. They love it.”

“That’s gross.” I grumble.

“You don’t think he was hot?” Sawyer sounds skeptical but he’s way off.

“No. Like I said I got weird vibes from him.”

“Your Bryn-senses were tingling?” He’s teasing me about how I had a weird way of feeling people out when we were kids.

I could be around someone for less than a minute and dislike them. He used to say it was my superpower and I guess it is, but it isn’t foolproof. Otherwise, I would have known the first guy I’ve ever slept with was a cheating butthead. Or maybe I didn’t want to feel it, so I ignored the signs. Who knows…

“It doesn’t matter. I just hope he can help you.”

He makes a sound of agreement and then it gets quiet. I’m trying to get the slimy feeling I got from the doctor out of my head when Sawyer speaks up again.

“We need to talk about something Bryn. I was interrupted earlier.” He says.

I glance his way because his voice sounds so serious. “Okay, what’s up?”

“About us. We need to figure this shit between us out. I don’t like being confused by this stuff.” He sounds annoyed now.

I’m not sure what to say. We ran into this head on, so I haven’t allowed myself to think about what this is between us.

“What do you want it to be?” I ask because I want to know where he stands too.

“I think I will kill anyone who touches you.” He says and my head snaps his way before I quickly turn it back to focus on the road again.

“Okay, that’s…something but what does that mean for us? Are you my…bodyguard?”

I see him scowl in the corner of my eye and I bite back a smile.

“No smart-ass. I’m saying you’re my girl and no one else can have you.” He says with finality.

This isn’t the first time he’s called me his girl and I hate to say how much I like it, but that still doesn’t define what we are.

“That doesn’t sound like you’re clarifying our relationship. It sounds like you’re laying a claim.” I point out.

“I am. I claim you and in return you get me.”

Wow, romantic.