Collecting Scars Read Online Free PDF Page B

still in last night's clothes and her messy, tangled hair pulled back from her face, but she felt on top of the world. As she swung the door open her good mood abruptly came to an end.
    “Frank...um what are you doing here? Joanie's not home.”
    Frank gave her his creepy smile, which made her shudder. “Hi Asha, you look like you've had a big night.”
    “Hmm,” she murmured, what business was it of Franks' anyway? She certainly did not feel she should have to explain herself to him.
    “Joanie asked me to pop around to fix the plumbing in the main bathroom.”
    “Uh why today? Why not on Sunday when you usually come?” Asha knew she was being rude, but Frank made her so uncomfortable.
    “Can't,” he answered her shortly, “busy helping a mate with some panel-beating on Sunday...look are you going to let me in or not?”
    Asha moved from the doorway, she really had no legitimate reason not to let him in, but her intuition was screaming at her.
    “Frank,” she heard Xavier behind her and spun on her heel to look at him. Surprised he knew who Frank was, but then remembering Joanie and Xavier knew each other, therefore, it was not too surprising. She must remember to ask Joanie the story about that sometime.
    She looked back to Frank still standing in her doorway who looked momentarily stricken to see Xavier.
    He appeared to recover quickly and nodded. “Xavier.”
    Xavier leant forward and planted a kiss on her forehead.
    “I'll be off, but I've left my number on your phone, call me yeah?”
    Not really sure what to make of everything that had happened in the short time since she had woken, Asha just nodded dumbly. “Ah um, thanks for um, y'know...” she stammered.
    Xavier winked and walked out leaving her to deal with Frank alone.
    “Well I'll be in the bathroom then,” Frank huffed and wandered off down the hall.
    Asha really wanted a shower but was not sure she wanted to be naked, while she was home alone in the house with Frank. So instead she grabbed a blanket from her bed, wrapped it around herself and lay on the couch and switched on the TV. Bringing the blanket to her face, it smelt manly, masculine like Xavier. Oh gosh, what was she even thinking? Her phone buzzed on the coffee table and she reached over to pick it up and read the text.
    Joanie; Hey girl...hope you had a good night with Xave, I asked dad to come around and fix the leak in the basin. Hope your head doesn't hurt too much. See u tonite. Jo
    “Yeah thanks for telling me now,” she muttered.
    Laying back she started flicking through the numbers on her phone, sure enough, there in her contacts was X followed by his number.
    No, she was not going to fall for this guy. She just wasn't.
     

Chapter 5
     
    MONDAY MORNING CAME AND WITH a little trepidation, Asha headed back to work. She checked in with Maria, who seemed happy enough to see her.
    “Did you have a good break Asha?” Maria enquired as she walked into her office.
    “Yes thank you, Maria, look I am sorry about going out of our area and I understand I have trod on some toes.”
    “It's okay,” Maria nodded. “I've asked for a meeting with the hospital’s allied health management team to discuss the issues of delaying referrals. I'd like for you to come along and express your concerns.”
    “Yeah for sure, thanks for that, when is it?”
    “This afternoon in the hospital boardroom. Four pm. I've had Gemma clear your schedule from two so you have time to prepare. I'm sorry it's such short notice.”
    Asha shook her head, “No, no that’s fine. Thanks, Maria, I appreciate it.” She didn't need time to prepare, she had spent plenty of time thinking about what she would like to say, given the opportunity.
    Back in her office, her first patient for the day was a woman named Kathryn who had recently been diagnosed with lymphoma. Kathryn was a well-dressed woman in her sixties. Asha noted on her paperwork she was listed as Ms, leading Asha to assume she was a single lady. This