She came back. “You’re still blushing,” she said.

“Am I?” Amber laughed. “Sorry. Just … y’know. I’m not used to having my shirt off in front of someone.”

“Ah. I could take my pants off if it’d make you more comfortable?”

Amber burned hotter, tried to disguise it with another laugh. “No, that’s all right.”

“Pity,” said Kelly again.

“You, uh, you just run, then?” Amber asked, to change the subject. “You don’t work out or anything, or do yoga or Pilates or … boxercise?”

Kelly raised an eyebrow. “No one boxercises anymore. When was the last time you were in a gym?”

Now Amber’s laugh was genuine. “Me? Never. Look at me, for God’s sake.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m fat,” Amber laughed.

Kelly glared. “Hey. None of that talk.”

“Oh no, no, I’m not being mean to myself. I’m just being, y’know, honest. I’m overweight.”

“So?”

“So I don’t look good without my shirt on.”

Kelly looked her square in the eye for the longest time, then stepped back and looked her up and down.

“Uh,” said Amber, “what are you—?”

Kelly held up a hand for silence, and Amber complied.

Seconds dragged by. Eventually Kelly completed her examination. “Okay, Amber,” she said, “you’re overweight.”

“Uh, I know.”

“So what?”

“I just … I don’t look good, that’s all.”

“I beg to differ.”

“You look great, though,” Amber said, her words speeding up. “You look amazing. I love your hair. It’s gorgeous. And you’re so pretty. So slim and so pretty. You’ve got such a great figure.”

Kelly started to smile. “Why, Amber, are you coming on to me?”

Amber blinked. “What? No. What? I’m just—”

“Because as the person currently fixing your bandage, Amber, I am bound by a strict code of professional conduct. I can’t kiss you.”

“What? I didn’t say anything about—”

“I can’t grab you and kiss you,” said Kelly, wrapping the bandage around Amber’s shoulder. “I can’t pull you into me and press my lips against yours. It wouldn’t be right.”

“I … I know that, I’m just—”

“I can’t pull your hair, either,” Kelly continued. “I can’t grab a fistful of your hair to pull your head back to kiss your throat. It’s against all the rules, Amber.”

Amber nodded.

“I can’t nuzzle your neck,” said Kelly. Her voice was a little softer now, her mouth right at Amber’s ear. “I can’t kiss your collarbone. I can’t kiss the length of your jawline. I can’t do it, Amber. It wouldn’t be right.”

Amber swallowed.

“While I’m tending to your wound,” said Kelly, “I can’t do any of those things. Not even if you begged me. Not even if you begged me to kiss you, Amber. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Amber whispered.