Gloria sighed, more than used to rude men in her life. "I don't need another fucking asinine and ill behaved man in my life either, but here we are."

Gloria was used to hospital patients and, worse, men in her field who thought she didn't belong. She could handle some lip from a punk.


"I am." She acknowledged that they were dating and then frowned. "It does appear talking less keeps your face from bleeding so often."

The sassy sarcasm wasn't held back as she set her things down on the bed side table.

"Take off your shirt." It wasn't a request really. There was weight to her words and she wanted to check his ribs to make sure they weren't fractured. "And your shoes."

The swelling in the ankle caught her eyes as well.