The Gender Lie (The Gender Game #3) by Bella Forrest (ebook reader for laptop TXT) 📗

foot off the bed before my muscles began to protest the move. I gritted my teeth, straining hard, but I could only manage another inch before it was too painful. Clutching the sheets, I felt a tremor roll down my thigh and into my calf as I tried to hold it up.

I released my breath and let my leg collapse back on the mattress. I had started to sweat, which unnerved me, and I felt like that little bit of movement had drained me of more energy than I had to spare. I met Violet’s gaze and then looked away, humiliated.

“That was very good, Mr. Croft,” Dr. Tierney announced with a sickly sweet smile. She pulled a pen out of her pocket and grabbed the file at the end of my bed, jotting a few notes. “Five seconds is an excellent start,” she added, clicking the pen. She lowered the chart and turned back to me. “Now for the other one.”

I tensed my jaw and concentrated on repeating the move with my other leg. I got it slightly higher off the bed before the pain set in, but I fought it off, determined to hold it up longer. The shaking started almost immediately, but I ignored it, trying to will my leg to stay up. Just like before, however, the pain became unbearable. It fell back to the bed and I loosened, panting.

Dr. Tierney nodded again in satisfaction and scribbled another note. “Two extra seconds on that leg—it’s very promising. Now, try to lift your knee up to your chest and hold it.”

Aggravated, I looked at her. “Is that all we’re going to be doing today? Holding my legs up?”

Still smiling, the woman crossed her arms and shot me a look. “What did you expect? Squats?”

Defeated, I slumped back into the pillows and forced myself to look at Violet. Her face had once again turned sympathetic, and as much as I cared about her, looking at her was making me angrier. I didn’t want her sympathy. I wasn’t even sure I wanted her here.

I forced my mind back to the task at hand. Groaning, I lifted my thigh toward my chest. I could only work it up to a forty-degree angle before the muscle spasms and discomfort started. Biting my lip, I focused on my breathing. I forced myself to breathe slowly, in and out of my nose. I was only able to hold the position for a few seconds before the pain forced me to drop my thigh.

“Excellent! And the other?”

Exhaling, I started to lift it when there was a sharp knock at the door.

Violet looked at me and then Dr. Tierney, and I relaxed my leg back on the bed, both grateful and irritated by the interruption.

“Yes?” Dr. Tierney called, turning toward the door.

The door swung open, revealing the same blond man who had called for Violet before. I thought Violet mentioned his name was Owen, but there were a few holes in her story that were a result of me falling asleep during parts of it.

“Hey Owen,” Violet said cheerfully. “What’s up?”

“Hey Violet,” he greeted, looking slightly bashful. “I know that you slated this time for Viggo,” he nodded at me as he said my name, and I held up my hand in return. “But Thomas and Desmond have that list for us, and Des is kind of in a fit to get it done sooner rather than later, so…”

“Oh,” Violet said, turning back to glance at me, her face indecisive. “Uh… Sorry, Owen. Viggo takes priority right now. Ask Quinn to help you.”

“Quinn,” he replied flatly, looking dubious. “He’s so….” And then he rolled his eyes and made an excited face, and Violet laughed.

I zeroed in on that laugh and Owen’s face, a wave of jealousy crashing over me. I suddenly felt like I had the strength to get out of bed and smash my fist into his jaw, and I even started to sit up but was forestalled by Dr. Tierney’s hand on my chest, as well as the pain that was still radiating in my thighs from the simple exercises.

Violet hadn’t noticed, but Owen had, and he shifted nervously. “Okay, well. If you find some time later…?”

Violet nodded, her dark hair bouncing. “All right, Owen. Please be careful.”

I tried to read the nuance of her voice as she said it, trying to get a feel if there was something more there, but she said it casually, as if he were a friend. Owen raised his hand and then left.

Violet turned back to me. “Ready for the next exercise?” she asked, clapping her hands together.

I frowned at her. “Who was that?” I asked, hating the tone of my voice as I said it. I was too old to be jealous like this, but I couldn’t seem to be getting anything right.

Violet gave me a confused smile, and I could tell she had picked up that something was wrong. “That was Owen. He’s one of the people who went with me to Patrus to get the laser for you.”

The words registered, causing me to falter. “Oh. He seemed…uh, nice.”

Cocking her head at me, Violet’s gaze twinkled as realization dawned. I suppressed a groan. “Oh my God… you’re jealous!” she announced. “Of Owen!”

I flicked my attention over to Dr. Tierney, who took a slow and exaggerated step back and walked away, her face a careful mask of neutrality.

I felt my cheeks grow hot in embarrassment.

“No,” I insisted, and Violet shook her head, refuting my statement with her disbelieving gaze.

“You are! Aww, that is adorable.”

I felt a flash of irritation at her adjective of choice but rolled my eyes. “Okay. I’m sorry—I did… feel… a moment of jealousy,” I admitted, unable to meet her eyes. “It’s just… he took you away yesterday and now he came for you again today… and I’ve just missed so much over the past two weeks that it’s hard to take in all of these changes at once. I’m having a hard time