Where Nerves End

that told me I wasnt getting away with it. “The only time you keep your arm that protectively against your side is when youre hurting.” He furrowed his brow, shifting his gaze toward my shoulder like it might offer any explanation I tried to withhold. “Did you aggravate it somehow?”
Besides stressing myself out? Over physical activity I wish I could be doing but can’t?
I clearedmy throat. “Define aggravating it.”
I thought he might give me hell for doing something I shouldnt have when I damn well knew better, but he just chuckled and shook his head.
“And I thought I was stubborn,” he said. “All right, what did you do?”
Grinningsheepishly, I said, “Helped unload a shipment of booze at the club.”
Michael rolled his eyes. “Really?”
I nodded. Okay, so maybe it wasnt entirely true. He didnt need to know Id been restless and agitated last night, and had taken it upon myself to rearrange the back room at Lights Out. Which meant moving about as many cases of booze as unloading a shipment would have, and at least that excuse didnt raise any questions beyond “what the fuck were you thinking, idiot?”
“How bad is it?” he asked.
I swallowed. “Its…pretty bad.”
He pointed sharply at the living room. “You know the drill. Ill go get my stuff.”
I planted my feet. “I appreciate it, Michael, I really do, but I have to get to work.” And I can’t do this. Not now.
“You have a shift manager?”
“Well, sort of. The bartenders whove been there a while are unofficial supervisors.”
“Call in sick.” His expression hardened. “Doctors orders.” “I seem to recall I cancelled my appointments, so thats—” “You want to be in pain all night again?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Again?”
He inclined his head. “You dont think I know you were up all night last night?”
Swallowing hard, I looked away and shifted my weight. “Sorry if I kept you awake.”
“Dont worry about it,” he said, his tone gentle. “But dont be a martyr when we both know I can help you.”
Closing my eyes, I released a long breath through my nose. Damn my shoulder. It was to the point the pain was worse than the awkwardness, and even letting him touch me wouldnt tense me up enough to counter the relief the acupuncture would give me.
Desperate times, desperate measures.
I took out my phone and speed-dialed the club.
“Lights Out, Brenda speaking.”
“Brenda, its Jason.”
“Oh, hey, boss. Whats up?”
I glanced at Michael and cleared my throat. “Listen, would you mind locking up for me tonight and keeping everyone in line? I need to—”
“Dont worry about it,” she said. “Need a night off?”
“I…well, Im—”
“Ive got it,” she said. “Dont worry about it.”
I exhaled. “All right. Ill see you tomorrow night, then.”
“Gnight, boss. Hope you feel better.”
“Thanks.” It wasnt until after Id hung up that I realized I hadnt told her why I wasnt coming in. Even my damn employees knew when I was in too much pain to function. Probably because that was the only reason I ever called out.
No, my shoulder wasnt running my life. Not at all. To Michael, I said, “All right. Im off the hook for the night.”
“Good.” He nodded sharply toward the living room. “Shirt off, shoes off, on the couch. Ill go get my stuff.”
I took off my shoes and, with some effort, my shirt. Then I lay on the couch on my stomach, folding my arms and resting my head on them, and Michael came back with his stuff.
I shivered when his hand made contact with my skin, but he didnt seem to notice. He didnt react, anyway. No, he was one hundred percent professional tonight. Dr. Whitman, not Michael. How he could switch back and forth, acting like we had never been anything except doctor and patient, Id never understand. We lived together, we were friends, wed fucked.
But apparently Dr. Whitman had never slept with me.
He tapped the needle into my skin.
I jumped, sucking in a breath. They usually didnt hurt, but this one stung. “Fuck…”
“Sorry. Is it getting better?”
The initial sting was intense, as was the ache that followed, but it eased after a moment. “Yeah, its getting better.” I released a long breath.
“Good.” He lined up another needle near my neck. “Why didnt you wake me up last night?” He tapped it into place. “No sense being miserable the entire day if you dont have to be.”
“You had to work today. I couldnt do that to you.”
“But if youre in this much pain,” he said,