Jake shrugged his shoulders. “Hell if I know.” He sighed heavily. “My girlfriend is forcing me to come.” He laughed as he said the words and then shook his head when the doctor eyed him. “I’ve been having some anxiety.”
“You’ve never been diagnosed with anxiety.” He said as he slid his hands into his pockets and leaned against the counter, giving Jake his undivided attention.
“Well not technically, but that’s what it is, either that or I’m having panic attacks, and I think I have mono again. So if you just give me some meds, I’ll get out of your hair.” He shuddered and looked at the doctors mostly bald head. “Sorry, bad choice of words.”
“Describe your symptoms for me.” He looked at him sternly.
Jake sighed heavily, why did he suddenly feel like the walls were closing in on him? “So I get these attacks where it feels like there literally is a ton of bricks weighing on my chest. I feel like I can’t breathe. There are times when I think I’m going to die if I don’t catch my breath. I wake up in the middle of the night drenched. I mean I’ll wake up and I’m lying in a pool of sweat, the sheets get ruined and everything. And now I’m noticing sharp shooting pains in my abdomen.” He scratched his head in thought. “I think that’s it.”
Dr. Brooks nodded and jotted some things down in his chart, not looking at Jake as he spoke. “Do you ever have a fever when you’re experiencing these episodes?”
“No, not that I know of.”
“Have you lost any weight recently?”
“No.”
“What about fatigue?”
“Yes. It comes and goes, but there are days I feel like I’m going to fall on my face from exhaustion and I haven’t done a thing all day.” Jake said honestly.
“Okay, I need you to take off your shirt and lift your arms.” He placed the chart on the counter behind him and stood in front of Jake.
Jake laughed. “Doc, I didn’t know you swung that way.” He quipped as he pulled his t-shirt over his head with one hand.
“Still the character, I see.” The doc said as he pressed his fingers to each side of Jake’s neck. He moved them around and applied pressure to certain areas. “Lift your arms.” Jake shrugged and lifted his arms and Dr. Brooks did the same thing underneath by his armpits.
“Lucky for you I showered and used deodorant.” The doctor didn’t say anything he just made some more notes in Jakes chart. “Can I drop my arms?”
“Yes.” He pushed the call button on the intercom that rested on the wall. “Leah, I’m going to need to take some blood, can you assist?”
“Right away Dr. Brooks.” Black Cherry’s voice filled the speakers.
Jake cringed. “Needles?”
Dr. Brooks turned to him and stared at him disbelievingly. “You’re covered in tattoos and you’re squeamish about me drawing a little blood?”
“Not really, just trying to play the part.” Jake laughed. “Have mercy on me, doc.”
Leah entered the exam room, and Jake noticed the faintest shade of pink on her cheeks. He chuckled, knowing very well that his brother colored up those cheeks. She slipped on a pair of rubber gloves, as did Dr. Brooks.
The doctor marked each vial while Leah, prepped Jake’s arm, finding the perfect vein.
“How’s Luke doing out there?”
Leah averted her eyes towards Jake. “How would I know?”
Jake laughed and then realized she was about to draw his blood. “I guess I should shut my mouth now.”
“Probably.” And then she smiled at him. She filled a bunch of vials with his blood, before pressing gauze to where she had poked him. She applied a bit of pressure before stretching a Band-Aid across his skin. “I’ll get these to the lab right away. Anything else?”
“Put a rush on it.” Dr. Brooks said as he wrote on a prescription pad. “Jake I’m sending you for a couple of tests. First we’re going to get an x-ray of your lungs, and a few other tests. Your lymph nodes are swollen, which usually means infection. But you wouldn’t be having all these side effects from just an infection. It’s important you get these tests done right away.”
He turned and faced Jake for the first time, looking into his eyes. “I want the results in my hands in one week. That means you need to make these tests your number one priority tomorrow and the next day. If you call radiology and they give you a problem, call my office and we will handle it.”
“Whoa, Doc. What’s with all the urgency? What could this be?” Suddenly Jake didn’t feel like his jovial self and looking at Dr. Brooks, was making him entertain the idea that maybe he wasn’t well after all.
“No need to alarm yourself, we’re going to run tests to rule everything out. Once I have your blood work I’ll have a better idea of what this could be.”
“Well what exactly are you ruling out? By the stack of prescriptions you’re handing me it seems serious.” He swallowed as he took the prescriptions.
“I’m a general practitioner, Jake. I’m concerned over your lymph nodes, I want to make sure I don’t miss anything, and if I can’t figure out what is going on with you by the results of the tests then I will refer you to a doctor who can.”
Another reason he hated doctors, they beat around the bush on everything never committing to a damn thing unless they had solid proof, in fear of a malpractice suit. Jake had had enough.
“Yeah alright.” He waved the prescriptions like a flag and pulled his shirt back on.
“Make an appointment for next week, and we will go over the results.” Dr. Brooks said as Jake walked out of the room.
Luke was sitting in the waiting room staring up at the television when Jake walked out of the exam room. He walked over to Leah’s desk.
“I need an appointment for a week from today.”
Luke came up behind him, as Leah opened up the schedule spreadsheet on her computer.
“How’d it go?”
“Shitty, he’s sending me for a shitload of tests and I have to come back to this hell hole in a week.”
“Same time next week good for you?” Leah asked.
“Yeah, we all good? Can I go?” Jake asked his leg twitching, he desperately needed a cigarette.
“We’re good. See you next week.” She said and then smiled at Luke. “It was good to see you again.”
“Same goes.” Luke winked at her, and then realized Jake was halfway out the door. He hurried to catch up to him. When he stepped outside he spotted Jake, leaning against his truck smoking a cigarette.
“Jake, what happened?” He said as he leaned against the truck beside his brother.
“Dr. Paranoia is sending me for a bunch of tests, to rule shit out. What that shit is he didn’t say.” He closed his eyes and took a long pull on his cigarette.
“Well did he say if we should worry or not?”
“No, he seemed more like he was covering his ass than anything else.” Jake flicked his cigarette. “He’s just saving his own hide, raking in the insurance dollars.” He looked at his brother. “How many times did she call?” Knowing, very well that Cara had stopped calling him only to harass Luke.
“Two calls and three texts.” He sighed. “Do you want to call her or should I?” Luke asked.
He crushed his cigarette with the tip of his shoe. “No I will.” He said and reached for his phone. He stopped himself hitting the call button and looked up at Luke. “Let’s just keep all these tests between us, okay? No reason to get Cara nervous over this shit.”
“Are you sure?” He asked slowly, assessing Jake.
“Positive, and when I say let’s keep it between us that means not telling mom and dad either.” He said directly.
“Jake if something’s wrong mom and dad need to know.” Luke said as he dragged his fingers through his hair, frustrated beyond measure.
“Nothing’s wrong.” He hollered and then took a deep breath. They remained silent for a few moments. Jake looked down at his phone, staring at Cara’s name and her beautiful face that stared back at him. He sw
allowed the lump that was lodged in his throat. The unknown scared the shit out of him. Ironic wasn’t it? He had everything he wanted, things were going right in his life and now impending doom lurked. He looked at his brother, he was perfectly still, and his worried eyes stared at the parked cars. “Do I have your word?”
Luke didn’t take his eyes from the parked cars, and when he answered it was as if he was automated. “You have my word.”
That was good as gold, to Jake. He pressed send and waited for Cara’s voice to change his mood.
Chapter Sixteen
Jake wasn’t one to be a pessimist, it just wasn’t who he was. He was more the glass is half full, kind of guy. So after his shit show of a doctor’s appointment he called Cara, and her voice instantly calmed him. He had told her things went well with the doctor and they were just running some tests that would probably conclude that he had anxiety. It didn’t matter to him, that he had no idea what all those tests were for and what they would conclude, because he wasn’t about to worry himself or his loved ones until he knew exactly what was going on. He did follow through and set up his appointments to have the tests done, but once he did that, he pushed to the back of his head.
Out of sight, out of mind, he went about the rest of his day as planned. He had met Pete at the Riverdale Ink, and was now sporting some new ink after five hours. He would need a few things touched up and shaded, but for the most part it was finished which was great because he didn’t have to hide it from Cara. He stopped off at the drug store and picked up some A & D ointment before heading to her apartment. It was late, but he had texted her to make sure she was still awake and she had insisted he come over. He knocked on her door, and leaned against the door jamb waiting for her to open it.
When she pulled the door open, all his troubles seemed to fade away. She greeted him with a big smile, and he could tell by the excitement shining on her face, that she was about to jump in. The thought made him laugh and he held up a hand to stop her.
“Easy baby, I’m in some pain.” He pushed himself off the doorjamb and pressed his hands to her hips, leaned down and gently offered his mouth to her. She arched her head back and took his lips between hers. It was a meant to be a gentle, hello kiss, but transpired into a heated can’t wait to rip your clothes off kiss. Her tongue slid inside his mouth and tasted him. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging him into her apartment. He kicked the door close with the heel of his shoe, before he cupped her face and continued to kiss her thoroughly.
Not sure who pulled away first, he looked into her eyes and smiled at her. “Hey.” He murmured.
“Hi.” She whispered back. Her tongue ran across her lower lip, savoring the taste of him.
Then her brows furrowed and she looked at him concerned. “Why are you in pain? Did something happen at the doctor’s office?”
He shook his head and slipped his leather jacket down his arms, draping it over the back of her couch. “Nope.”
He stared at her, taking her all in. She was wearing black yoga pants that folded over her hips, clinging to every single curve. She had a sports bra on and her hair was tied up in a ponytail. What he loved best was that she didn’t have a stitch of makeup on letting her true beauty immerse. She was stunning, and the most intriguing part of Cara, was that she was stunning both on the outside and the inside. Her concern for him, her love for him, shined in her hazel eyes. He could get lost in her eyes for an eternity. He snapped out of his trance when she grabbed his hand. She had been talking and he hadn’t heard a single word, he was too engulfed in her to hear.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Why are you in pain?” She said a little impatiently and whole lot nervously.
He laced their fingers together and brought their hands to his lips, placing featherlike kisses along her knuckles. “I love you Cara.”
“I love you too, but you’re scaring me right now.” She croaked.
“Don’t be scared.” He touched a strand of hair that had escaped her ponytail, wrapping it around his finger before tucking it behind her ear. “I don’t want you to ever doubt how much I love you, never, no matter what.”
She swallowed and stared at him, confused. He didn’t know why, but suddenly his words had meaning. He wanted her to know until the end of the time, how he loved her. Maybe it was the stupid doctor’s visit messing with his head, but he followed his gut and said the words anyway. Half full, the glass is half full; he reminded himself and pushed the dread out of his voice.
“When we were in Manhattan you asked me why I never tattooed the left side of my chest.” He cleared his throat, pushing through the emotion that hung in his voice. “Do you remember what I told you?”
She nodded, and glanced at his chest quickly before looking back into his eyes. “I remember.”
He didn’t say anything, instead he nodded to her urging her to repeat his words back to him.
“You said it was sacred territory and when I asked you why, you said it’s the closest place to your heart.”
Jake smiled at her, and dropped her hand that he was holding. His eyes didn’t leave hers and when she went to speak he shook his head, silencing her. He lifted his arms over his head, and looked down at the white t-shirt that was loose around his chest. He watched as her eyes glistened staring at the t-shirt and then back to his. He nodded briefly and she stepped closer. Her fingertips grazed the hem of his t-shirt. She searched his eyes trying to figure him out, but all he imagined she could see is how much he loved her at that moment. He hoped she’d see it, and would remember it, remember how he looked at her that very moment. He closed his eyes briefly, pushing that dread away again. He opened his eyes as she began to lift his shirt up his abdomen, all the way to his chest. The left side of his chest was covered with gauze and taped carefully to his skin. She tugged the shirt over his head, and he still kept his arms raised over his head as the shirt was thrown to the floor.
“Go ahead.” He whispered.
She stood on her tip toes and pressed her lips to his, ever so gently. When she pulled away her fingers delicately worked the tape from his skin and the gauze. He sucked in a breath as she slowly peeled away the gauze. Her fingers trembled as she stared at his chest, revealing the tattoo that covered the entire left side of his chest.
Cara couldn’t read Jake from the minute she opened the door to let him in her apartment. For a moment she thought he was breaking up with her, but when she looked into his eyes she saw a man who was so in love the woman he was staring at her. It was crazy, because she never had experienced love like that. And now he was asking her to repeat his words and un-wrap him as if he was a present on Christmas morning. She peeled the gauze away from his skin, her fingers trembling. Before she allowed herself to stare at what was beneath the gauze she gazed back into his eyes. His smile was wide, and so she looked. She stared at the tattoo in utter shock and awe. She heard her gasp escape, and felt the tears cloud her eyes. She blinked them away, but they slid down her cheeks.
His skin was raw and puffy from the needle and it glistened from the ointment that was applied when it had been finished. The entire left side of his chest had the picture he drew of her tattooed to it. It was as if she was staring into a mirror, her reflection shining back at her. He had tattooed her, her body, her eyes, how she stared at him after they had made love for the first time, looking back at her was the vision of her through his eyes and over his heart.
She brought her hand to her mouth and sobbed. She cried at the sentiment, for the love he had for her, for the man he was. Jake wrapped his arms around her, and brought her against the right side of his body, she felt his lips brush the top of her head.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, I’ll get it removed.”
She pushed away from him and looked at him as if he’d lost his mind.
“I’m not upset.” She cried and tried to scrounge up the right words. “I am so completely in awe of you. You drew me as you saw me that night, and completely
took my breath away then. And now you took that same picture and had it put on your body indefinitely. It’s as if you tattooed me to your heart.”
His smile would’ve lit up a football field. “That’s exactly what I was going for.” He reached out and wiped the tears on her cheeks. “You own my heart, and you always will.”
“I’ll cherish it, forever.” She whispered and smiled through her tears. She looked at his chest, still amazed. “Can I touch it?”
He nodded and watched as she traced her fingers delicately over the image, before pressing her lips over his chest. She glanced at him through her lashes and began to spread her kisses all over his chest. She heard him groan and looked up at him concerned. “Am I hurting you?”
“No.” His voice was thick as he splayed his palms on her hips. “I want you Cara. I want you so goddamn much.”
Eyes on his, she slid her hands over his and together they tugged at her pants. “I’m yours.” She said and then pulled her pants down the rest of the way. She stepped out of them once they pooled around her ankles and stood before him. She took his hands in hers and pulled him towards the couch.
He kicked his shoes off and worked the button of his jeans, before sliding the zipper down. There was eagerness there for the both of them, but relishing in their love for another took precedence. She grabbed his shoulders and pushed him to sit down on the couch.
Kneeling between his legs, she began to work the jeans down his thighs. He arched his hips, making the task easier for her. When she freed him of his pants she moved to sit on his lap. Her fingers traced his jaw, and she smiled before her lips found his. She took her time kissing him, exploring every crevice of his mouth. She loved the way his mouth responded to her, so inviting, and open. Her hands clutched his shoulders as they kissed. She could feel his erection under her, begging for her. She rocked against his slowly, tantalizingly, until a growl of approval escaped from his throat.
Jake pulled away, holding her face in his hands he looked into her eyes. They were green tonight, but hinted specs of all different shades of gold and brown. “Your eyes, Christ your eyes undo me.” He growled before his lips embarked on a trailblazing path down her neck, he sucked on her shoulder before his teeth scraped the sensitive skin.
Pieces (Riverdale #1) Page 16
