LifeOverLimb Read Online Free Page B

good when Ricky began to twist his fingers.
    “I was just going to get some breakfast so it may mess up the reading,” Ricky said, his voice pitched with worry.
    When a bright, red fifty-five flashed across the screen, Tanner bit back a curse. Ricky leaned over and once he saw it, more excuses began to fly, “It’s no big deal. Amy called in sick today so I had to work extra hard and couldn’t get away to eat like I should. Plus, I forgot to take my insulin a few times over the past couple of days so that’s making everything wonky.”
    “You’ve skipped doses?” Worry and anger clashed together and made that question come out way louder than Tanner intended.
    Ricky flinched. “It’s not like I did it on purpose. I just got busy and it slipped my mind.”
    Tanner didn’t know whether to shake Ricky for his recklessness or to put the guy in a bubble to protect him from his own naivety. Taking in a deep breath to calm himself, Tanner slowly let it out before saying, “Okay, let’s go.”
    That suggestion earned him nothing more than a surprised look.
    “Go where?” Ricky asked, still making no effort to stand.
    “To the ER. We need to get those levels stabilized.”
    Ricky shook his head and shrank back in his chair. “No.”
    “No?”
    “Do you always repeat things people say to you, or is just me?”
    “I find that it’s only you, but that’s because I usually have trouble following any conversation that you’re involved in. Now, get up and get your butt to the ER.”
    “I can’t”
    “Why?”
    “Because I have to get home. My family needs me. Look, it’s really sweet that you’re worried and all, but I’m used to this. I have some fruit and juice in my backpack. I’ll nosh them down and by the time I get home, I’ll be as good as new.”
    “Are you planning on driving home?” Tanner asked incredulously.
    “Of course I am. My family—”
    “Needs you. I know.” Tanner let out a sigh. “Can’t you get Ben to drive you?”
    “No! He has a mandatory meeting this morning so he’s staying over a few hours.”
    Well, that just sucked. Damn, what to do? There was no way in hell Tanner was about to let Ricky drive himself. He realized the he’d just have to intervene and offer up his help.
    “I’ll drive you.”
    Ricky’s eyes widened in shock before he gave a slight shake of his head. “I can’t let you do that. Plus, I need my van so I can fit all the kids.”
    “All the kids?”
    “You’re repeating again.”
    “Sorry, I just didn’t know you had any children.”
    Ricky laughed, some of the tension leaving his face. “They’re my brothers and sisters.”
    “How many are there?”
    “Counting me, seven.”
    Tanner almost echoed the number, but held back, not wanting Ricky to accuse him of chronic repeating again. “That’s a lot.”
    “Yeah, and since my mom is out of town on a business trip for the week, they’re my responsibility. So, I need to get home and get them to school.”
    “Okay, we’ll take your van, but I’m still driving.”
    Ricky hesitated. “Are you sure? I know it’s a lot to ask. You probably just want to go home and fall into bed.”
    Only if you’re under me.
    Tanner held in a moan as an image of a naked and sweaty Ricky popped into his head. With the way Ricky liked to talk, Tanner just knew the guy would be a firecracker in between the sheets.
    He abruptly pushed those erotic thoughts away because scrub bottoms did a piss-poor job of hiding an erection. Tanner gathered up the glucometer supplies and stuffed them back into the case. Taking off his gloves, he tossed them into the trash.
    The women for the next shift wandered in and paused at the door as they studied Tanner with unabashed curiosity. A blush came over Ricky’s face as he nervously cleared his throat, “I have to give Erica and Mandy a report, but I can be ready to leave in about five minutes.”
    “Sounds good, I need to let Ben know that I’m leaving and grab my stuff. I’ll