“Let me think.” I shushed Ted. I crouched down in a supply closet so I could have a moment alone. I had been dodging people all morning. I even hunted down Tessa and explained my situation and begged her to delete the videos. She looked embarrassed to get caught spreading that stuff around, so she agreed. It was too late by then, though. The damage had been done.
“Have you talked to your dad yet? Is he flipping his shit?”
“I’ve been avoiding him all day. Do you know how hard it is to get work done while there are about a hundred people you’re trying to avoid?”
“I can’t even imagine,” he said softly. “I just keep thinking about Whitney and how terrible this must be for her. I really hope she doesn’t think that I was in on this. I’m the one who actually wants to date her, remember? She was more than just a good roll in the sack. I actually like her.”
“And you don’t think I do?” I asked incredulously. “Never mind that. I’ll try to talk to Whitney. I’ll let you know if I hear anything from her.”
“Tell her I’m sorry,” Ted said.
“I will,” I said wearily, pulling at the ends of my hair. “Talk to you later.”
I hung up the phone and opened the closet door to see my father standing directly in front of me. His lightly lined face looked like he hadn’t slept in days. I was probably causing more grey hairs to sprout at that very moment.
“You’ve been ignoring my messages,” he said.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy.”
“We need to talk. Come with me.”
Office hours at the clinic ended twenty minutes ago, yet I was still at work, trying to keep myself busy. I didn’t want to leave work with all of the other nurses. That was their prime gossip time.
We silently walked down the long corridor toward my dad’s office. It made me more nervous that he wasn’t talking to me now. That meant that whatever he had to say could only be said in the privacy of his own office. I was in deep shit.
“I’ve already spoken with Whitney,” he said, shutting the door behind him. “She’s acting like she had nothing to do with the pictures.”
“She didn’t,” I replied. “It’s not her fault.”
“What’s done is done. I don’t think I need to explain the seriousness of the situation with you. There’s no way we can all continue to work here. I’m looking at retiring even earlier than expected. We’ve advised Whitney to find a new job, and I suggest you do the same.”
I nodded. I figured that he would want me gone.
“The thing I wanted to talk to you about was the reason you and Whitney were even doing those things in the first place. I just don’t get it, Chad. She’s your stepsister. Why would you have relations with your stepsister—on my wedding night, of all times?”
“We were together before we even knew about your relationship,” I said, raising my voice. “You didn’t have to marry Dr. Saunders.”
“No? Do you expect me to live the rest of my life alone?”
“Not particularly, but why did it have to be her?”
“I don’t know if I have an answer to that question. We love each other very much. There’s not much of a rhyme or reason to it. I’m not going to turn my back on the love of my life.”
“So how is your situation different from mine?”
“It–it just is,” he stuttered. “I’ve experienced much more life than you have. You have plenty of time to date whomever you want. If I pass up an opportunity like this, then what other options do I have?”
“What if I don’t have any other options?” I asked. “I’m nearly thirty. I’m not a child anymore.”
“Then why do you insist on acting like one? Besides, you aren’t in love with Whitney. If you just want to have sex with women, there are plenty out there. All I ask is that you keep your videos to yourself.”
I felt a fire ignite inside of me. Nobody understood. I didn’t just want to have a sexual relationship with Whitney. I had serious feelings for her. I’d tried to push them away for as long as I could, but they kept rising to the surface.
Even if I told anyone about my feelings for Whitney, I doubted that anyone would believe me. To my friends and family, I was just a playboy. I had slept around so much that no one even considered me as a possible romantic partner.
It was fun for a while. I had made love to so many beautiful women over the years with little consequence. Besides a few pissed-off hookups and a couple of pregnancy scares, things had been great for me. Even when I had the opportunity to enter into a monogamous relationship, I opted to stay single. It was more fun that way.
But now, I was ready for the next step. Whitney was special to me. She was the first woman in recent memory whom I couldn’t help but daydream about at all hours of the day. I wanted to come home to her after work and to wake up next to her in the morning.
Plain and simple, I was in love with Whitney. It went way beyond physical chemistry. I loved her and I wanted to be with her.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said to my dad, finally standing up for myself. “She’s not just a casual sexual partner, and I can’t just find someone new. She’s the one. I only want to be with her. Weren’t you just saying that you couldn’t turn your back on someone you love because it isn’t ideal?”
“Not ideal is an age difference or long distance. The two of you are stepsiblings. I’m not sure what would embarrass me more—for people to know that you used to fool around or for people to know that you’re in a committed relationship. It’s just not right, Chad. I don’t know how you’re not getting this.”
“Is that the only problem here? Or does this have something to do with the fact that you have never approved of any of my life choices?”
“What the hell are you talking about? Now you’re just being ridiculous.”
“I’m not. I’m not surprised that you don’t approve of whom I love because then you’d have to approve of something. I already know you don’t approve of my career choice.”
“That’s not true. What kind of doctor would I be if I didn’t think that nursing was an acceptable field of work?”
“You told me that I should have aimed higher.”
“Only because I knew what you were capable of. I told you that I would pay for you to go to medical school. You’re smart and you could have made it far. Yet, you chose an easier profession. I think it’s because it fits into your partying lifestyle better.”
“That’s not it at all. If you want to know, it’s because I don’t think a lot of physicians spend enough time with their patients to make them feel comfortable. They get the care they need, but a lot of times, they need more than medicine to get better. I want to be able to cheer my patients up or reassure them when they’re lonely or afraid. That’s why I wanted to become a nurse. Despite what you think, I care about people.”
“It’s not about the job. It would be easier to be proud of you if you didn’t do things to embarrass me. Have you ever thought, for once, about how your actions reflect upon me? I didn’t like having to pick you up from high school when you got suspended for being inappropriate with girls in the locker room—or being told by my employees that you’ve made a sex tape and you sent it to another nurse. If you wanted me to be proud of you, I think you would have tried harder.”
I scowled at my father. I thought it was unreasonable for him to hold me to his impossibly high standards. I was only human—he should expect me to make a few mistakes every once in a while.
“So what should I do? Move hospitals and be miserable for the rest of my life?”
“Honestly,” he sighed, “I really don’t care. All I ask is that you don’t get me or my new wife caught up in your messes. I’ve been dealing with them for too long. You’re an adult, Chad. It’s time to act like one.”
“Fine,” I said coolly. “If you don’t want anything to do with me, then I don’t want anything to do with you. I’ll find a new job so I won’t have the chance to embarrass you. You won�
�t have to worry about me, and I won’t have to worry about you. How does that sound?”
“Oh, don’t be dramatic,” my dad said, rolling his eyes.
“I think I’m finally being rational for once in my life. I’m not going to sit around and be miserable just to play it safe. I’m going to live my life, and if it’s easier to do so without you, then so be it.”
“Is that really what you want?”
I nodded, but I wasn’t entirely sure. I didn’t want to alienate myself from my family, but he gave me no choice. Plus, I was too fired up to back down now. I had to stand my ground and finally become completely independent of my father.
“I’m going home now, if you don’t have anything else to say,” I said crossly. “It’s been a long, shitty day, and I just need some time away from this place.”
“Fine,” he responded. “But don’t think this means that you can say these things to me and expect me to take it. I’m not happy about any of this.”
“I don’t really care. I have nothing left to say.”
I opened the door and walked straight down the hallway and out of the building. As I left, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I now knew that I needed Whitney in my life. I couldn’t sit idly by and watch Ted or anyone else build a life with her. I wasn’t going to watch her live her life from the outside. I needed to be with her.
I was excited by this new revelation, but also a little scared. I had never wanted anything so badly in my life. I wasn’t off to a great start with Whitney, so winning her over would be an impossible task.
Before I could woo her, I needed to apologize to her. I had made a terrible mistake, and no matter how unintentional it was, I knew it really upset her. If I could explain myself, I hoped that she could accept my apology and we could start from scratch.
From there, I had no game plan. Over the years, I had convinced many girls to agree to a variety of things. But I had yet to convince any woman to love me.
If there was anything I enjoyed, it was a good challenge. Deep down, I knew that there was probably no hope, but I was never one to shy away from a bet because the odds weren’t good. Perhaps I was an idiot, but I still wanted to try. If I succeeded, then everything I went though to get to the prize would all be worth it.
Chapter Fifteen
Ted
The last forty-eight hours had been an absolute whirlwind. I had experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows with Whitney. Now, I just needed to know where I stood with her.
Of course, leave it to Chad to stick his nose in my business and ruin the best thing I had going for me. He was just too impulsive for his own good. He did whatever he wanted and just dealt with the consequences later.
On the other hand, I was a more careful planner. It had taken days of brainstorming and agonizing over little details to plan just a few dates. I knew that Whitney had a great time with me, so it was all worth it in the end. If I thought things through thoroughly enough, then there was no reason to plan for disaster. Hence, my current situation.
Oftentimes, I wondered if I should be more like Chad. He was popular and everyone liked him. He gave off a fun and daring vibe. He was loud at times, but not in an annoying way. He just had a lot of charm and charisma that attracted people to him.
I was liked well enough, but I was a lot quieter. Where Chad might say the first thing that came to his mind, I thought about exactly what I wanted to say before saying it. I was cautious in just about all things in life. Maybe if I had been quicker to tell Whitney how I felt about her, I wouldn’t be in this predicament.
By the night of her parents’ wedding, we had already gone out on a few months’ worth of dates. Going slow worked out well for me, because anything too spontaneous would send my mind into a panic that something terrible would happen. I figured that slow was safe, and rushing into sleeping with each other or asking her to be my girlfriend would scare her off for good.
Now, I wished I could have gotten the first time under my belt or asked her to see me exclusively. If I had, then I wouldn’t have to worry about her being in love with Chad. I was pretty sure she liked me, but I had a nagging suspicion that she liked Chad just a little bit more. That’s just what life was like being Chad’s best friend. You’re never quite good enough.
Whitney wasn’t answering any of my calls. I knew she didn’t want to talk to me, but we didn’t have the luxury of ignoring our problems in hopes that they would just go away. I needed to clear the air and make things right. That, or I needed closure that things were beyond repair.
So, like a psychopath would, I drove to her house and waited out on the street in my car until she got home. I didn’t know what her schedule was like or if she was even coming home. I just knew that I needed to speak to her immediately.
Around seven, she finally pulled up in the driveway. I jumped out of my car and ran toward her, hoping to get to her before she had the chance to slam the door in my face. I knew if I just made my case, she’d let me in to talk.
“What the fuck are you doing?” she shrieked. “You scared the shit out of me. Why would you do that?”
She had a point. It probably didn’t look right seeing a man sprinting toward you, especially in the dark.
“I’m sorry,” I said, holding onto her shaking hands. “I just really needed to talk to you.”
“You could have called.”
“You probably wouldn’t answer,” I muttered. “Can I come in? There are a few things I want to say to you. Besides, these things are best said in person.”
“Oh, great,” she mumbled. “I suppose things can’t get any worse for me. Come on.”
I followed her into the house and slipped my shoes off by the door. She flipped on the lights, illuminating her weary face.
“Today has been one of the worst days of my life,” she said, rummaging around the fridge. She pulled out a bottle of wine and poured a full glass. “Want one?”
I shook my head. I assumed my visit would be short. Whitney looked like she needed some space.
I followed her to the couch where she plopped down, sloshing wine out the sides of the glass. I had never seen her like this. She was usually put together so well, so composed all the time. It was hard seeing her unravel, knowing that I had played a small role in that.
“Can I ask you something first?” she said after a long drink.
“Anything.”
“Why would you do something like that to me? I really liked you and you have potentially ruined my career. Why would you come up with this scheme with Chad?”
“Is that what you think happened?” I asked, choking on my words.
“How else should I think? You two are best friends who both want to have sex with me. I’m assuming you made a compromise. A very weird, fucked up compromise.”
“Why would you think that I had anything to do with that? You saw my face when he barged in. I was just as surprised as you were.”
“Then why, when I texted you to ask if you knew what was going on, did you immediately know what I was talking about?”
I sighed. “I knew because once Chad realized what he had done, he called me.”
“And neither of you thought it was important enough to tell me?”
I looked at the ground, feeling sheepish. “Honestly, we thought there was a chance that no one would find out. We didn’t want to upset you if it wasn’t going to be an issue. I knew about the video a day before you did, but I didn’t know about the threesome. That surprised me just as much as it surprised you.”
She mulled over my words, swirling her glass of wine. She looked pissed, but at least she was listening to me.
“I’m so sorry this happened,” I said softly. “I know this affects you way more than it does me. I would just hate to see what we had disappear because of a stupid mistake.”
She bit her lip and opened her mouth to speak, but instead took another large sip. I waited for her response as she took her time to speak.
�
��Do you think we can just carry on exactly how we were before that night?” she asked. “Do you think the two of us could continue on without any more interruptions? I’m not sure if I see that happening.”
I was becoming more suspicious of her feelings by the minute. There was one question that was weighing on my mind. I knew if I asked her, she would probably get upset but also give me the answer I didn’t want to hear. I took a deep breath and spat it out.
“Are you in love with Chad?”
“What?” she squealed after too long of a pause. “No. He’s my stepbrother and he’s slowly ruining my life. No.” She added, “Not slowly. Quite rapidly, in fact.”
“Are you sure?”
“Why are you even asking?”
I let out a sigh. She clearly wasn’t getting it.
“We’re in opposite situations right now. You have two guys who really like you on your case. I have one girl who might like me, but who also likes my friend. You get to choose what you want. I can’t. It’s all up to you.”
“So what do you want me to do? To be honest, dating is probably the least of my problems right now.”
“You’re right. It’s silly when you put things into perspective like that. Still, this is the most important thing in my life right now. I don’t know if I can sleep at night without knowing.”
“You want me to choose who I would rather be with?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
She took another drink. Things weren’t looking good for me.
“Whitney,” I said in a last-ditch effort to persuade her. “I think I’m falling in love with you. If you don’t choose me, it will break my heart, but it’s better than wondering if you would rather be with Chad. I can’t live life that way.”
“I just don’t know, Ted,” she said, blinking rapidly. “I really like you. I think I’m falling in love with you too, but things are just too complicated right now. I would be lying to you if I didn’t say that I had some feelings for Chad, too.”
My heart fell. I think I knew that all along, but it hurt more to hear it from her.
Forbidden Prescription 3: MFM Ménage Stepbrother Medical Romance (Forbidden Medicine) Page 9
