dudes that paid to fuck me in the ass got me sick. Yeah, I understand what that means,” Yoss spat out and I flinched. I couldn’t help it.
His ugly words shocked me.
Dr. Howell, however, never missed a beat. “Hepatitis B is spread through blood and bodily fluids, like semen. So yes, it can be passed through unprotected sex. The problem with hepatitis B is that you can have it for a long time before you ever develop symptoms. As I said, the virus attacks your liver and can cause scarring, which in turn can lead to liver failure.”
“Well, that sounds like a good time,” Yoss quipped sarcastically. He stared at the wall in front of him, not looking at either Dr. Howell or me.
“We’ll run more tests so we can make a more informed decision about treatment,” Dr. Howell told him.
“Treatment. So I need to have medicine.” Yoss shook his head. “Doc, I don’t know if you’ve figured it out, but I can’t afford treatment. Hell, I can’t even afford a decent cup of coffee,” Yoss laughed humorlessly.
I took a step forward. “The hospital has government funds to pay for your care, Mr. Fraizer. You won’t have to pay for it,” I assured him.
Yoss still wouldn’t look at me, but I noticed how his jaw tightened when I spoke.
I remembered him saying my name in his sleep. He had sounded so sad. So heartbroken.
Not now.
Now he was just pissed off.
“Imogen can explain how all that works. But as for the next step, we’ll take some blood this afternoon for your liver functioning test, though that means you won’t be able to eat any lunch,” Dr. Howell informed him.
Yoss snorted. “I’m used to not eating, Doc. It’s nothing new to me. I’ll be fine.” He finally looked at me. Just briefly.
“I’ll also most likely be ordering a liver biopsy, but we can discuss that further after I get the results from the tests.” The doctor closed the file and pushed his glasses up his nose. “I’ll leave you to talk with Imogen. Cheyenne will be in to take your vitals in a while.” Dr. Howell gave his patient a smile and then turned to me. “We’ll talk soon, Imogen.”
Dr. Howell took Yoss’s chart and left the room. Then it was just Yoss and me.
I stood there awkwardly for a while before sitting down in the chair beside his bed. I didn’t know how to be around him now. When I had walked into his hospital room yesterday, I had been overcome by memories of the young people we had been.
It was very obvious we weren’t those people any longer.
“Mr. Frazier?” Yoss sneered.
“Well it wouldn’t exactly be good for people to know that you and I—”
“Fucked?” Yoss filled in. I flinched at his cold tone.
Fucked?
No, it had never been something so harsh. He knew that. But he seemed intent on hurting me for some reason.
“That you and I know each other. Our history has no bearing on me coordinating your services. So there’s no point in bringing it up,” I finished, my voice hard and brittle.
“If you say so, Imogen.”
I took a deep breath and opened his file, pulling out the assessment I needed to fill out.
“I bet you never thought you’d see me again, did you?” Yoss’s barking laughter seemed incongruous with the situation.
“No. I didn’t,” I said, looking up at him. Some of the swelling on his face had gone down, but the bruises left a patchwork of color across his face.
“Too bad for you,” Yoss bit out.
I put down my pen and narrowed my eyes. “Look, I’m picking up on the fact that you’re less than thrilled to see me. I’m not entirely sure what I ever did to deserve this nastiness from you. I wasn’t the one that left you in the rain underneath a bridge,” I snapped.
Yoss and I stared at each other, a silent battle of wills. “You’re still pissed about that, I take it.”
My mouth fell open. “What is your problem, Yoss?” I demanded, getting angry.
“I don’t have a problem. I’m hunky dory, Imogen. I mean look at me. How could you think I
His ugly words shocked me.
Dr. Howell, however, never missed a beat. “Hepatitis B is spread through blood and bodily fluids, like semen. So yes, it can be passed through unprotected sex. The problem with hepatitis B is that you can have it for a long time before you ever develop symptoms. As I said, the virus attacks your liver and can cause scarring, which in turn can lead to liver failure.”
“Well, that sounds like a good time,” Yoss quipped sarcastically. He stared at the wall in front of him, not looking at either Dr. Howell or me.
“We’ll run more tests so we can make a more informed decision about treatment,” Dr. Howell told him.
“Treatment. So I need to have medicine.” Yoss shook his head. “Doc, I don’t know if you’ve figured it out, but I can’t afford treatment. Hell, I can’t even afford a decent cup of coffee,” Yoss laughed humorlessly.
I took a step forward. “The hospital has government funds to pay for your care, Mr. Fraizer. You won’t have to pay for it,” I assured him.
Yoss still wouldn’t look at me, but I noticed how his jaw tightened when I spoke.
I remembered him saying my name in his sleep. He had sounded so sad. So heartbroken.
Not now.
Now he was just pissed off.
“Imogen can explain how all that works. But as for the next step, we’ll take some blood this afternoon for your liver functioning test, though that means you won’t be able to eat any lunch,” Dr. Howell informed him.
Yoss snorted. “I’m used to not eating, Doc. It’s nothing new to me. I’ll be fine.” He finally looked at me. Just briefly.
“I’ll also most likely be ordering a liver biopsy, but we can discuss that further after I get the results from the tests.” The doctor closed the file and pushed his glasses up his nose. “I’ll leave you to talk with Imogen. Cheyenne will be in to take your vitals in a while.” Dr. Howell gave his patient a smile and then turned to me. “We’ll talk soon, Imogen.”
Dr. Howell took Yoss’s chart and left the room. Then it was just Yoss and me.
I stood there awkwardly for a while before sitting down in the chair beside his bed. I didn’t know how to be around him now. When I had walked into his hospital room yesterday, I had been overcome by memories of the young people we had been.
It was very obvious we weren’t those people any longer.
“Mr. Frazier?” Yoss sneered.
“Well it wouldn’t exactly be good for people to know that you and I—”
“Fucked?” Yoss filled in. I flinched at his cold tone.
Fucked?
No, it had never been something so harsh. He knew that. But he seemed intent on hurting me for some reason.
“That you and I know each other. Our history has no bearing on me coordinating your services. So there’s no point in bringing it up,” I finished, my voice hard and brittle.
“If you say so, Imogen.”
I took a deep breath and opened his file, pulling out the assessment I needed to fill out.
“I bet you never thought you’d see me again, did you?” Yoss’s barking laughter seemed incongruous with the situation.
“No. I didn’t,” I said, looking up at him. Some of the swelling on his face had gone down, but the bruises left a patchwork of color across his face.
“Too bad for you,” Yoss bit out.
I put down my pen and narrowed my eyes. “Look, I’m picking up on the fact that you’re less than thrilled to see me. I’m not entirely sure what I ever did to deserve this nastiness from you. I wasn’t the one that left you in the rain underneath a bridge,” I snapped.
Yoss and I stared at each other, a silent battle of wills. “You’re still pissed about that, I take it.”
My mouth fell open. “What is your problem, Yoss?” I demanded, getting angry.
“I don’t have a problem. I’m hunky dory, Imogen. I mean look at me. How could you think I
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