Interpretive Hearts

by Amanda Meuwissen

  Those two things did not need to marry in his head right now.

  “I’m sorry, I tend to ignore names until I’ve met someone,” Finn continued. “I just focus more on the injury and what’s needed of me while making a treatment plan; then once I meet the person, I’d never forget a name, especially with someone as memorable as you.”

  Teddy’s eyes snapped to Finn’s glittering teal, and Finn blanched when he realized what he’d said.

  “Sorry. Wow. Okay, fresh start? I really can be professional and help you through your recovery, I promise.”

  “Finn,” Teddy said evenly, “it’s fine. Really. Let’s get started.”

  With an obvious sigh of relief, Finn went through the usual questions Teddy expected from a doctor’s visit, making sure what they had on record was accurate and that there had been no changes.

  “And don’t worry, we won’t go through this every time, since you’ll have frequent appointments. Just the question about any changes. All we’re going to do today is go over your plan, hit the gym for a quick recap of the exercises you should be doing regularly, and prepare ourselves for the weeks ahead. Sound good?”

  Finn was professional and knew what he was talking about. Teddy nodded.

  “Great! Here’s the list you were given after surgery. Look familiar?”

  The paper Finn handed him showed various simple exercises with descriptions and diagrams. Teddy thought maybe he had glanced at it before.

  Once.

  “Have you been doing your exercises at home?”

  “Mostly.”

  “Teddy,” Finn said like a scolding teacher.

  “Not all or as often as I should,” Teddy admitted.

  “I know this goes without saying, but ignoring your daily routine, especially now, so soon after surgery, will only set you back, increase risk of infection—”

  “I’m aware.”

  “Then you’ll be sure to be better while following my plan, right?” Finn smiled that dangerous sort of authoritative smile that skilled parents and dictators managed so flawlessly.

  It did nothing to dilute how handsome he looked, even in scrubs.

  “I get the impression you’re not going to let me get away with otherwise,” Teddy said.

  “Well, I am the best at what I do.”

  “Because you’re the pushiest?”

  “That is one of my charms, yes.”

  Teddy laughed, and when Finn joined him, the tension between them finally dissipated. Teddy could do this. Finn was all too easy to be around.

  Once the formalities were out of the way, Finn led him from the exam room to the gym. There were various machines, mats along the floor, a walking station with standing parallel bars for people to hang on to while they did their exercises, as well as a bar along the wall in front of a long mirror like in a ballet studio.

  An elderly woman was being helped through the walking station by a lovely young redhead in seafoam green scrubs like Finn’s. Finn smiled at them in greeting before turning to Teddy.

  “As a reminder, most of these exercises can be done in bed if it’s easier than getting on the floor, but for today, I’ll help you. The trick is to avoid rotating your hip. So first, slowly, get down on your knees.”

  Maybe Teddy had jumped the gun, because hearing Finn say that in a soft, tender voice made his heart stammer, especially when warm hands gripped his elbows to assist.

  Once he was down, Finn remained standing above him to guide his form. Teddy was sure to keep his eyes on the floor.

  “Next, you’re going to roll onto your side and then onto your back, putting the least amount of pressure on the incision site and avoiding rotating where the top of your thighs meet your hips. So, this way… yep… just like that.” He helped Teddy roll until he was lying down with his knees bent. “See, look at you! Graceful even on your back.”

  He blanched again.

  “I mean….”

  “I get it.” But it did not help that Finn was so adorably fumbling while most of the time being confident and capable. At least Teddy felt no pain after the movement, barely a twinge.

  Finn released his arms and knelt beside him. “If you feel that getting down and up like that is too strenuous, we can switch to one of the exam rooms next time until you’re stronger. All on your terms, but don’t push yourself. Go ahead and stretch your legs out, and we’ll go through each exercise.”

  Teddy did so, and Finn led him through the first few, starting with ankle rotations, which were easy enough.

  “You’re going to want to do each of these three to four times a day. My recommendation is that we set up alerts on your phone to help remind you.”

  “Fine by me, Doc.”

  “Not a doctor the way you’re thinking. I just have a doctorate.”

  “What’s the difference?”

  “I can’t write you prescriptions.”

  “Utterly useless, then.”

  Finn laughed, the sound almost as captivating as the sight of his dimples when he smiled.

  Teddy tried to focus on the ceiling instead of Finn’s face—and how close he was, hands occasionally moving to Teddy’s body to help him with his form.

  “Great job. Next, we’re going to do buttock contractions.”

  Or Teddy could die right now.

  “Tighten your buttock muscles and hold to a count of five. Repeat ten times. Go ahead.”

  “Right….” Teddy started to, but this move hurt a little.

  “Slower. And count out loud, please.”

  “Three…. F-four….”

  “You all right?”

  “Stings a bit. Not too bad.”

  “You sure? Try even slower, and don’t lift your hips as much, just tighten.” Finn leaned over him and gently rested his hands on either side of the outside of his hips, holding just firm enough to keep him from lifting too far and stroking with his thumbs when he felt Teddy’s muscles clench.

  He was just checking Teddy’s form and to see if the pain was anything concerning, but it made him suck in a sharp breath.

  “Still hurts?”

  “No.”

  Finn’s eyes met his, and Teddy forgot his own name for a moment. “Keep counting.” Finn smiled.

  “Seven…. Eight….”

  As Teddy finished, he was able to shake off how drawn to Finn he felt, but only because Finn was professional even if Teddy’s mind wasn’t, and they moved on to the next set.

  “How’s Smudge?” Finn asked once they were off the mat, doing standing exercises at the mirror.

  “Good. Did you name him, by the way?”

  “No, he came with it already. Why, thinking of changing it?”

  “I was, but I think he’d resent me forever if I did.”

  “Smart call. Cats are notorious grudge keepers. That’s why I’ll make sure to never cross you.” He chuckled, keeping up the joke from before.

  He had no idea how right he was in Teddy’s case.

  “You okay on prescriptions?” Finn asked.

  “Thought you couldn’t write me any.”

  “I still need to know. If you’re running low, you should make an appointment with your general practitioner.”

  “I’m good. Anything else for today, Doc?” Teddy said, stressing the name despite Finn’s correction. He’d finished all the exercises, and while he was sore, he felt refreshed. He missed being active.

  “Only getting the rest of your long-term plan in the books. Come on.” Finn brought him back to the exam room. “What’s your preference, then? Floor or bed?”

  Teddy somehow managed to trip on his feet while sitting.

  “For next time! For—”

  “The exercises, I get it. Floor’s fine.”

  Finn’s face was flushed as he turned back to the computer. “You’ll, um… need physical therapy two to three times per week for three months, then once per week for three months after that.”

  “I remember.”

  “How would you like our ongoi
ng schedule to go? I recommend three days rather than two as the norm, but if something comes up, you can certainly cancel. I’ll get worried if you cancel on me too often, though. Any scheduling conflicts to work around?”

  “Just my time with you.”

  “What are you going to be doing while in town?”

  “I’m still working on that.”

  Finn remained thoughtfully quiet as he typed at the computer. “Same time as today, then, Monday, Wednesday, Fridays?”

  “Sure.”

  “Just let me know if anything comes up that might be physically taxing.”

  “You’ll be the first.”

  Finn’s fingers stuttered over the keyboard.

  “To know. Because you’re my neighbor,” Teddy tried to explain, leaving them both fighting a blush this time—and laughter.

  “I meant,” Finn said, “like getting into old habits with dance.”

  “Not likely.” Teddy’s smile dropped.

  “Oh? May I ask?”

  “What?”

  “Couldn’t you have stayed on with the ballet company as a consultant or other role? I know it wouldn’t be the same—”

  “I wasn’t going to get stuck behind a desk planning events and schedules.” Teddy cut him off, having known this would come up eventually—it always did. “Watching others train and dance when I can’t.”

  “You know,” Finn said with an awful look of pity, “even if it could never be the same—”

  “Because of my age, recovery time, possible complications? I know the spiel, that I can overcome it all and make the most of what I have, but I don’t do anything halfway. If I can’t be all in, then I’m out. And when you’re out, you’re out. Time to move on.”

  Teddy expected a fight, a harder push or pep talk, but Finn nodded.

  “I understand. Just keep me up to date, okay?”

  “Will do.”

  “Should we get those exercise alerts on your phone?”

  “Knock yourself out.” Teddy dug out his cell, swiped to unlock it, and handed it to Finn, who explained an app as he downloaded it that would better track Teddy’s progress than just adding calendar reminders.

  When he finished and handed the phone back to Teddy, he said, “You’re welcome to use the spa facilities at no charge given you have standing appointments, and since this is your first day, you can enjoy a complimentary massage with any of our available masseuses.”

  Complimentary. Maybe Teddy would indulge.

  “And only because I have to mention this, all our physical therapists are also licensed masseuses.” He gestured to the bed—table. Teddy really needed to think of it as a table. “Just not yoga instructors,” Finn added with a smirk.

  Oh, he made this hard.

  Really hard.

  “I think I better use someone else, if it’s all the same,” Teddy said.

  “Of course.” Finn glanced away with that brief flash of shyness and disappointment that Teddy found so irresistible. “It was good to see you, Teddy. Remember to do your exercises, and I’ll see you again on Wednesday.”

  TEDDY was an asshole. He knew that. He didn’t try very hard not to be, and he’d been told as much many times over the years. Still, he could have been less of an asshole to Finn, who knew Teddy was interested and was interested right back, pushing only slightly, most of the time accidentally, but always backing off when Teddy made it clear he just couldn’t.

  Even though he wanted to.

  That didn’t change that now wasn’t the right time, and everything was already too complicated with Finn being his neighbor and now his physical therapist. He’d see him several days a week for months. They couldn’t start sleeping together. There were probably rules against that sort of thing, and Finn would get fired if Teddy gave in.

  He also did not want to switch to someone else. Having Finn know intimate details about him and his injury was bad enough. He didn’t need more people infringing on his life.

  Teddy just needed to get through a few weeks of routine and he’d stop thinking of Finn all the—

  “Hey, Teddy!”

  —time.

  Was he literally following him now? It was the same day!

  No, Teddy was in the supermarket in their neighborhood. Naturally, Finn shopped there too. He also wasn’t alone. A gorgeous dark-skinned young woman was with him. Teddy would have felt a stir of jealousy if he wasn’t certain Finn was gay.

  He looked his own level of gorgeous out of the scrubs, but then Finn always looked good, with his scruff and his perfectly coifed hair and his long, lean body.

  “Finn. Always a pleasure,” Teddy said, tucking his basket closer to him, suddenly self-conscious of the bottle of Kraft Easy Cheese inside.

  He’d been a dancer for over twenty years, rarely allowing a cheat day, but spray cheese had always been a weakness. No reason not to cheat now, though he still felt the need to hide it from these kids, who both could have graced a magazine cover.

  “Teddy, this is my sister, Rose. Rose, this is Teddy Scofield,” Finn introduced them, and she immediately smiled as she stretched out a hand.

  This was Rose? Teddy didn’t see the family resemblance, but then he knew better than to assume.

  “Enchanted,” he said.

  “I could stand to leave men enchanted more often,” she said with a giggle, her handshake confident and firm. “How do you two know each other?”

  “Finn’s my—”

  “Neighbor!” Finn jumped in. “Remember, he’s the one I helped into his house the other night.”

  “Oh, right!” Rose giggled again, and Teddy fought a scowl as he realized that would likely be how Finn introduced him to any of the folks from that night should he run into them too. “I didn’t recognize you up close. I hope everything’s okay. Nothing serious?”

  “Mostly just my embarrassment,” Teddy said, to which Rose and Finn both laughed.

  “Rose is a nurse, so her concern is genuine,” Finn said. “She works at the hospital, but our paths still cross.”

  “Family business, is it?”

  “Pretty much,” she said. “Both our fathers were doctors.”

  Teddy wasn’t sure which part of that sentence required more attention.

  “Just don’t ever say ‘and you’re only a nurse?’ or that I must have chosen it because I’m a woman.”

  Now it was Teddy’s turn to chuckle. “While I am generally an ass, I know better than that. Way I hear it, doctors have specialties, nurses know everything.”

  “You, Mr. Scofield,” she said through a heartier laugh, “I like.”

  “Please, it’s Teddy.”

  “Teddy,” Rose repeated, “why don’t you keep Finn company for a minute while I grab us a bottle of wine?”

  “Oh, I….”

  It seemed rather blatant that she was leaving them alone on purpose, especially since Teddy would swear she elbowed Finn as she passed him.

  Still, his curiosity was stronger than the urge to run away. “Pardon my prying, but both your fathers?”

  “Rose is my adopted sister.” Finn’s smile turned somber. “Her father still is a doctor, but my parents passed away.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “It’s okay. I mean, it’s not, but it was a long time ago.” The way his eyes went distant prompted Teddy to change the subject.

  “Why didn’t you mention you’re my physical therapist?”

  “HIPAA,” Finn said. “Sorry. Technically, I can’t tell anyone or that would be sharing patient information.”

  “Because then the person would know I require a physical therapist.”

  “Exactly. You can certainly tell people; it doesn’t have to be a secret. It’s just easier if we run into each other like this to keep me out of any moral trip-ups.”

  “Like heavily flirting with your patient?” Teddy couldn’t help teasing.

  “Prior to knowing that was the case,” Finn defended with a renewed smile. “Difficult though it may be
to stop now.”

  Teddy’s breath caught, because there Finn went again, since they weren’t therapist and patient at the moment. His eyes had this alluring way of darkening whenever he was being impish.

  “Professional, I promise. But just so you know, in case it ever crossed your mind, we don’t have any policy against dating our patients, it’s just frowned upon.”

  Imp.

  “Just so I know,” Teddy said.

  “Yep.”

  “That should do it.” Rose returned with a bottle of white added to her basket. Given the other ingredients, Teddy knew exactly what was on the menu.

  “Risotto, I take it? Who’s the chef?”

  “Oh, all Finn.” Rose patted his arm playfully. “I can’t cook at all. I’ll help myself to the rest of the wine and make pointed comments, though.”

  “She will indeed,” Finn said, earning him a light smack.

  Of course he could cook.

  “We’re just headed back to Finn’s,” Rose said, gesturing at Teddy’s half-hidden basket. “Are you really craving that spray cheese, or would you like to join us for dinner?”

  “What?” Finn turned to her in surprise, while Teddy wondered if she was an investigative reporter instead of a nurse with the way she’d noticed that cheese. “It’s movie night.”

  “So? Doesn’t mean he can’t join us.”

  “You never let anyone join us on movie night.”

  “He’s enchanted. He’s allowed. Teddy?”

  Both their attentions shifted back to him, and he was forced to contemplate the offer from a meddlesome sister—something he knew intimately well—who was clearly trying to set them up. Finn’s curious and hopeful expression despite having chastised her had Teddy’s walls crumbling like being struck by a bombing raid from their combined forces.

  “I would, but….” He stumbled to find an excuse.

  “But… he’s still getting settled,” Finn rescued him, while giving a disappointed glance at the floor. “He just moved here long-term. I’m sure he doesn’t want us smothering him.”

  “Rain check?” Teddy said.

  “Really?” Finn brightened. “Coz I’ll hold you to that.”