Page 96 of On the Double

“Unfortunately,” he grumbled.

“If they take my arm, make sure they bury it with Goldie.”

“Who’s Goldie?” he asked in confusion.

“My goldfish!” I nearly screamed. Fuck, why wasn’t he listening to me? “Ouch!” I screamed as the paramedic stuck a needle in my arm. “That fucking hurt!” Then my eyes shifted back to Oliver. “Don’t let them take my arm.”

“I thought you wanted it buried next to Goldie?”

“Screw him! I’m keeping my arm.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

Tears welled in my eyes at the thought of the surgeon sawing it off. “It’s my favorite hand.”

“You’re a righty.”

“I know, but it’s the one I use to put on mascara.”

“You don’t wear mascara, squirt.”

I sucked in a ragged breath, trying to stop the tears. “No, but I could. If they take my arm, I won’t be able to use it.”

My brother leaned in closer and whispered in my ear. “You’regoing batshit crazy, and if you don’t shut the fuck up,I’mgoing to take your arm.”

“You always were a bastard,” I grumbled. “You’re supposed to come to my rescue. Not belittle me for being scared.”

“Is that what I was doing?” he asked sarcastically.

“Nobody puts Harper in a corner,” a deep voice said.

My eyes shifted to the left and I stared in awe at the man who just came to my rescue. “Dwayne Johnson,” I murmured.

He looked down at me and winked. “You hang in there, Harper. I’ll take care of you.”

I smiled at him as the pain in my arm receded considerably. “I knew you would. You’re so amazing.”

“People tell me that all the time.”

“It’s because of those muscles,” I sighed. “You’re so handsome. And amazing. And your movies are the best.”

“Thank you. I do them myself.”

I giggled at the joke. “If my arm wasn’t holy right now, I’d feel your biceps. And then I’d run my tongue down them just to taste your skin. I bet you taste amazing.”

“That’s just the drugs talking.”

“No, seriously. I licked this other guy. He tasted amazing too.”

He leaned forward and stuck out his tongue, running it up my cheek. “When we get out of here, maybe there’s something else I’ll let you?—”

“Harper, Jesus Christ, not everyone needs to hear your fantasies,” Oliver grumbled.

I shifted my eyes to the left and sighed. “Nope, not Dwayne Johnson.”

The paramedic chuckled. “I didn’t even give you anything yet.”

“Nobody ever does. I just have a great imagination.”