Pieces (Riverdale #1)

She didn’t even look up from her computer screen, “Name?”


How was he supposed to allow his good looks charm her? He cleared his throat, still nothing. He scratched his brow and then grinned as he leaned over her desk and placed his hands down firmly on the wood. She bolted up, like her violet eyes were caught in headlights. Jake grinned at her lopsided. “Jake Lanza, pleasure to meet you sweetheart.”

“I assume you have an appointment?” She was a feisty one, he’d give her that. No nonsense and all that.

“Well of course I do.” He glanced over his shoulder at his brother who just rolled his eyes, and dangled the Cinderella lunchbox like a bone. Jake cocked his head, wondering what kind of snacks he stashed in there, before turning back to Miss Black Cherry. “It’s at three thirty, doll.”

She slapped a clipboard in front of him and shoved a pen towards his hands. “Fill these papers out, every single one.”

Jake frowned wishing his mother was here to do that, another thing to add to the list of why he hated going to the doctor. “Can’t we just bypass all this?” He waggled his eyebrows, betting she wouldn’t be able to resist his trademark gesture.

“No. I need your insurance card too.”

Jake huffed. “Someone piss in your cornflakes, sweetheart?”

She ogled him, obviously taken back. That’s when he reached into his pocket for his insurance card and Luke stepped in.

“I’m sorry, my brother is not well.” He took the clipboard and smiled at her, his eyes silently apologizing to her. He turned to Jake and grabbed the insurance card from him and held it out for her.

“Obviously. Should I mention his outbursts as one of his symptoms?” She questioned Luke as she grabbed the card.

“No need, we’re working on it.” Luke winked at her, and she smiled. She actually smiled at him. Disgusted, Jake took the lunchbox from his brother’s hands, hoping his brother would charm her into getting them the hell out of there as quickly as possible.

Jake sat beside an older man who was blowing his nose. He looked the safest out of all the ailing patients. He peeked into the lunchbox and pulled out a bag of cookies and began to munch.

Luke was smiling as he sat beside him. He rested the clipboard on his lap and began to fill out the paperwork.

“You should ask her out.” Jake said, motioning to Miss Grumpy Black Cherry.

“You should mind your business and fill out your own paperwork.” He checked off a couple of things. “And her name is Leah.”

Jake raised an eyebrow at his brother as he popped a cookie into his mouth. “She told you her name?” Well, color him impressed.

“We had a couple of drinks one night.” He didn’t lift his gaze instead he continued to busy himself with the paperwork. “What’s your blood type?”

Jake almost choked on the cookie, and started to cough. Once he swallowed it and it slid down the right pipe. “You screwed the receptionist?”

The man with the runny nose leaned over and he and Jake stared at Luke expectantly. Luke looked up abruptly and stared at the two men and then back towards where Leah was. She hadn’t heard them. Luke smiled at the old man. “I’m sorry, he has Turrets.”

Jake looked at the old man next to him. “He lies!”

“Blood type?”

“Hell if I know.” Jake leaned closer to his brother. “You and Black Cherry hit the sheets or what?”

“What the hell does it matter?” He shoved the clipboard against his chest. “Do your own paperwork.”

Jake grinned. “You definitely did!” Luke shook his head and dropped his head into his hands, letting out an agonizing sigh until Miss Black Cherry-scratch that Leah, called Luke’s name. Jake was on the verge of changing his mind about doctor’s visits after all.

“Luke? Dr. Brooks will see your brother now.” She smiled, holding his chart in one hand and the door to the examining room with the other.

Luke and Jake stood up and walked towards her.

“Thanks, Leah.” Luke smiled and stepped inside the room. Jake scribbled something on the paper that was on the clipboard, before handing it back to Leah.

“He’s single. There’s his number.”

Leah’s eyes widened and she glanced down at the clipboard before watching Jake hop onto the exam table. She turned to Jake who standing against the wall, shaking his head. “You sure you don’t want me to add those outbursts to his chart?”

Luke shook his head. “One minute with him and the Doc, will see for himself.”

Leah nodded and put his chart in the sleeve on the front of the door. “The doctor will be right in.” She said before walking out of the room and closing the door behind her.

“You’re incorrigible.” Luke hissed.

Jake shrugged. “I don’t even know what that means, so no harm done.” He looked at him for a moment and then back at the door. “Are you going to hold my hand? Go make nice with your one night stand.”

“She wasn’t a one night stand.”