Page 37 of Falling With You

I looked up at Sienna and grinned. “Yeah? You want to see my mobility?”

She just rolled her eyes and then glared at me. “Really? You’re here as my patient. That means there is no flirting or fuddy-duddy stuff. That is strictly against the rules.”

“It is not. You’re doing this as a favor to me.”

“A favor, maybe. But you’re still in the books. And that means it’s wrong.”

“I don’t want to be right,” I said, laughing as she glared at me again.

“What is wrong with you? You’re acting all weird.”

I shrugged and then followed the exercises she gave me, rotating my wrists, gripping the ball, doing everything that I could so I wouldn’t end up losing the strength that I had in my hand.

I didn’t know why I felt weird. Why I was acting strangely. Probably because every time I was around Sienna now, I couldn’t help but want to be near her more. I liked making her laugh. I liked when she yelled at me. I liked when she lost her temper and got all red in the cheeks and bit her lip when she didn’t know what to say because she was too angry to put words together.

I loved all of that. And I had missed it recently. Yeah, it had been because of the attack in some ways, but we had been acting weirdly ever since we slept together. And we hadn’t talked about it. We needed to.

I didn’t like that things had changed. And not for the better. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, and I didn’t know if I would know that until I had it. But I did know that I missed having Sienna make me laugh. I missed having Sienna anger me like no other. I just missed her.

That was why I was in physical therapy with her. Even though I probably should’ve gone somewhere else.

“Okay, then,” I said after a moment. She looked up at me and groaned. “Today will be our one day together. I’ll do the exercises you tell me to, and then I’ll find someone else. That way, it doesn’t get weird. Because you’re feeling weird. You look it.”

“You’re an asshole. Did you just say I look weird?”

“Do you always tell your patients they’re assholes?” I asked, my voice very prim and proper.

“No, I don’t. I just mean this is a mistake. I was just trying to help you, because…” She trailed off, and I cursed.

“Don’t you dare tell me that you were trying to help me because you feel guilty about me breaking my hand. Because it wasn’t your fucking fault, Sienna. Get that through your head.”

“Shut up. You can’t tell me what I’m allowed to feel.”

She let out her breath, rolled her shoulders back, and looked like she was calming herself. “I’m not going to raise my voice in my place of business. There are other people outside of this office, and I cannot act like a crazy, insane person. You’re just making me feel that way. So, why don’t you find that other physical therapist? This will be our one time, and I’ll make sure you get the help you need, but this is the one time we’ll be in this office together. Is that understood?”

I looked at her and then nodded. “That’s understood. I won’t bother you again. But, Sienna? I’m here because I miss you.”

I hadn’t meant to say that, and it didn’t even sound like me. By the look of shock on her face, she agreed.

I shook my head quickly. “You know what, forget I said that.”

She swallowed hard and looked at me. “I don’t know that I can. I miss you, too, Aiden. But things are different. I guess they’re always different. I don’t know what to say, Aiden. But I don’t think I can be your physical therapist.”

I winced and nodded. “Yeah, I can see this was a stupid plan. I guess I just thought of you at the time I knew that I needed someone to help me. You know?”

She nodded and smiled. “Well, I am pretty good at my job.”

“You’re the best at your job, according to my doctor.”

She smiled then, and it actually went to her eyes this time. “I’ve always loved Tracy.”

“Tracy, is it?”

“Yes, Tracy, a happily married woman with four kids.”

I blinked. “Four kids. How in the hell can she be a doctor and have four kids?”

“Because her wife carried all of them, and she actually spends time at home instead of only at the hospital. I really don’t know how she does it. She’s a goddess. All of us strive for that status.”