Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

I hung up andflicked through my phone in search of Danny’s number.

“Is everythingall right?” Derek asked as he handed me my glass of water.

“Lucy is stuckin traffic and can’t take me to my appointment. So I need to trackdown Danny and see if he is available.” I found his number and wentto press dial.

“Never mindDanny. I’ll take you.”

“Don’t besilly. I’m sure Danny can quickly drop me off and pick me uplater.”

“Alexis, it’sfine. It really isn’t a big deal. And anyway, I’ve got nothingbetter to do.”

I stewed on itfor a second. “Well, if you really don’t mind then thanks, Iappreciate it.”

“Okay, let’sgo then,” he swung his keys round his finger. “Hope you’ve got ahelmet.”

“What?” Ishrieked.

“My ride is aHarley.”

“Absolutely nofucking way. Thanks for the offer, but I humbly decline.” I went todig my phone back out of my bag.

“I’m kidding,”he joked, and he gently placed his hand on the small of my back asI hobbled past him on my crutches and through the front door.

***

Derek’s ridewas actually a bright blue 2012 Ford Ranger, pretty much theperfect height for me to get in and out of without assistance.

During thequick ride to the hospital, I’d found out that Derek and Bryce hadgone to school together and that’s when they started up the band.Derek had also come from a wealthy family so to speak. However,he’d had no inclination to follow in his father’s footsteps as ashipping magnate. I’d also ascertained that he was single, and Icould not wait to put my Alexis-matchmaking-skills into play. If myplan worked, Carly’s fiery hole would be doused sooner rather thanlater.

We both took aseat in the waiting room of my surgeon’s consulting clinic. Therewere many other surgeons who practised at these particular officesand their patients were also waiting.

“Thanks fordoing this. Hopefully we don’t have to wait for long,” I said as Ilooked around the room.

A doctor cameout and announced a patient. “Asoka Andrews.”

Derek scoffedunder his breath. “Asoka?”

I smiled athim strangely. “Yeah? I think that’s what he said, why?”

“Isn’t that acharacter in Star Wars?” he explained.

“Yeah, I thinkyou’re right.” I laughed. “Ask Nate next time you see him, he’llknow.”

“I will.”

I leanedforward and picked up a magazine from the coffee table next to me.I needed something to keep my eyes focussed on for when I asked mynext question. Match-maker Alexis was about to come to life.

“So, why areyou single Derek? What’s wrong with you?”

I noticed fromthe corner of my eye that he’d swung his head round in mydirection, so I tried desperately to keep my stare fixed on thepages. He didn’t answer so I chanced a glance up at him. Heactually looked quite adorable with his shaved head and blue eyes,and especially the way he’d furrowed his chin in afor-me-to-know-and-you-to-find-out kind of way.

“What?” Iasked. “That’s a fair question. You’re young, intelligent, goodlooking and obviously athletic. You’re a firefighter and a leadsinger in a band. I don’t buy it. Something has to be wrong withyou.”

“Okay then,you tell me what you think is wrong with me,” he challenged.

“Um, thenmaybe I asked the wrong question before. You might not have agirlfriend, but maybe you have a boyfriend?” Shit! I hope not.Carls’ hole will burn to a crisp if that’s the case.

He laughed.“No, not gay. I have nothing against being gay, I’m just not gaymyself. Next,” he challenged again.

“Thirdnipple?” I asked, unperturbed by my outrageous suggestion.

He laughedharder this time. “No. Wanna check?” He went to pull down thecollar of his t-shirt.

I hit him inthe arm. “No, I believe you.”

“Next,” hesaid again.

“Smalldick?”

“No. Wannachec—”

I cut him offbefore he had a chance to finish.

“Alcoholic?”

“No, don’tdrink.”

“Drugs?”

“No, hellno!”

“Bad inbed?”

“Now you arejust insulting me,” he said playfully.

“Well? Youtell me then.”

“Why do youwant to know?”

“Because, Imay have a friend.”

He smiled.“This friend of yours doesn’t happen to be blonde and incrediblycute, does she?”

“Maybe,” Ianswered still flicking pages. “So, are you an axe murderer?”

“No, and mydick works just fine in bed. I just want to clear that up for whenyou tell Carly.”

I snapped myhead toward him with a huge smile on my face. “So, do you want meto tell her then?”

“Sure, whynot? I liked her.”

I may havebeen smiling on the outside, but on the inside I was in full-blownhappy-dance, happy-clap, party mode, singing and chanting to thetune of the conga in my head, ‘No more fiery hole, yeah. No morefiery hole, yeah.’

Another doctorwalked out and called for a ‘Spiros Soggianis’.

Derek leanedin closer and whispered, “Did he just say soggy anus?”

I cracked uplaughing, dropping my head into my hands. “Yes, I think so.”

***

Shortly afterMr. Soggy Anus got called in for his appointment, I got called infor mine.

My surgeonhelped me up onto the trolley bed and assessed my cast. “So,Alexis, how have you been? How has the pain been?”

“Yeah, not toobad. It hurt at first, and if I avoid doing stupid things likeforgetting and putting all my weight on it or bashing it againstthe table, then it’s fine.”

“Good. Andpain relief?”

“I’ve justbeen taking a couple of mild pain killers when needed. Other thanthat, it’s been really good. The worst thing has been the bloodyitchiness.”

“Well, luckyfor you, that’s all about to get better. Okay, let’s get this castoff and have a look, shall we?”

He slid acrossthe floor on his stool with wheels to a machine, grabbing whatlooked like a small saw and sliding back next to the bed I wason.

“What the fuckis that?” I asked, my eyes as big as saucers. “Sorry, but what thehell?”

“It’s a castsaw, it cuts through the fibreglass casing,” my surgeonexplained.

“What if itcuts through to my leg?”

He gave me areassuring smile. “It won’t, I promise.”

“I can’twatch. Can you knock me out or something? I can’t watch. You’reabout to put that sharp, spinning wheel of death right against myleg. I need to be unconscious.”

“Alexis, it’sfine. I’ve had it done before, you’ll be fine,” Derek placed hishand on my shoulder and lightly flexed his fingers. It was nicelycomforting but I wished he was Bryce standing there reassuring meand calming me.

I covered myface with my hands. “Do it, just do it.”

I heard thesaw start up, and I swear I nearly passed out.