Read Online How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back by Diana Rowland - Free Book Online Page B

count backward from one hundred. Odd numbers only,” Dr. Nikas said.
    â€œNinety-nine, ninety-seven, ninety-five,” Philip responded, voice a little rough but steady.
    â€œGood,” Dr. Nikas said. “Reg has brains for you with additives. Eat both packets and hold the ice pack on your jaw for about ten minutes, and you should feel much better.”
    Calm and collected as though nothing happened, Jacques moved to me and began reattaching the wires I’d pulled loose. All in a day’s work. Reg efficiently tidied the counter top and straightened the remaining syringes, then departed as silently as a ninja. A zombie ninja.
    â€œWhat happened?” I asked.
    Dr. Nikas released a breath. “An overreaction by Philip’s parasite to the stimulation by your parasite,” he explained as he took a syringe from Jacques. “With the imprint link between you two, Philip’s parasite reflected the reaction of yours but, because of its damaged state, it responded inappropriately. That said, the whole episode helped me understand better how to assist his parasite to normalize.”
    â€œYou mean the whole face falling off thing was good?” I asked doubtfully.
    â€œNot much fun,” he replied with a slight smile, “but, yes, it was good since it was under controlled conditions and gave me a great deal of information. I’ve made adjustments and suspect it will be smooth sailing through the remainder of the procedure.”
    â€œI’m all for smooth,” I assured him. “That was enough excitement for one day.”
    â€œI understand completely, Angel,” Dr. Nikas said. “The good news is that there’s nothing you need to do but be still for about half an hour while the parasites commune.”
    â€œWhat’s the bad news?”
    â€œYou’ll need to be still for about half an hour while the parasites commune.” His eyes flashed with amusement.
    â€œAre you accusing me of being fidgety?” I made a show of trying to roll my duct taped chair. “Jacques made sure I wouldn’t break anything this time.”
    Dr. Nikas laughed and shook his head, then moved off to check the monitoring equipment. “Philip, how are you feeling now?”
    â€œGood. I had a killer headache during the procedure, but now I feel better than when I came in,” he said, his voice clear again. “The leg pain is gone, and I’m not as tired.”
    â€œExcellent.” Dr. Nikas made notes on the whiteboard and muttered to himself. “Excellent,” he repeated a moment later as he stepped back to take in the whole of what he’d written. “Thank you, Jacques. That’s all I need for now.” The lab tech nodded and departed, and Dr. Nikas glanced our way. “Everything appears stable, so at the moment we’re simply waiting. Philip, keep the ice pack on your jaw.”
    His cell phone rang, and he answered with a simple “Yes?” then listened for a few seconds. “Now?” He frowned, glanced back at us, then to the whiteboard. “Are you—? Yes, all right.” He slipped the phone back into his pocket, glanced at us and gave a vague smile, then departed.
    â€œYou sure you’re okay?” I asked Philip.
    â€œBright and shiny, Zombie Mama,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to do that every day, but if it helps me, I’m not going to complain.”
    â€œGood deal,” I said, truly relieved. “You sure are full of surprises.”
    He snorted. “If I heard right, it was
your
parasite that overreacted.”
    â€œAnd
yours
that couldn’t cope,” I teased. Laughing at the horror of it made it easier not to freak about it.
    â€œAngel, you need to hold still,” Philip reminded me, and I realized I’d started fidgeting and swiveling the seat. I needed something to distract me.
    â€œDamn,” I muttered. “I left my phone with my audiobook in the