Choosing Us: The Pierced Hearts Duet: Book One

by M. Robinson

  There was this certain vulnerability to him that I felt in the space between us. However, just as quick as it emerged, it was gone. Whatever it was had me questioning what I believed about him in the first place. The emotional attachment I felt for a man I had only just encountered was as overpowering and controlling as everything else had been up until this point. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him, which only made me even more confused.

  More cautious.

  More curious about him.

  In that place and time, all I craved was to see him smile. To catch a glimpse of the man I’d only stared at in photos. He seemed as though he was a walking paradox of contradictions. I was seeing the side of him that everyone saw, but there was something else under his allure.

  All I knew was, I liked it.

  I wanted more.

  I needed more.

  The uncomfortable silence hammered all around me, tearing into my insecurities that this was a bad idea. I shouldn’t be in this hospital. I shouldn’t be feeling anything for him other than what I was supposed to. Only adding to my plaguing emotions.

  He was my employer, nothing else but that.

  Right as I took a step in his direction, longing to hear his answers to my relentless questions, I heard him snap, “What the fuck is this?” in a sharp masculine tone, stopping my descent forward.

  It was only then I realized there was a woman standing in front of him. Her stunned appearance mirrored mine.

  “Why were these patients’ charts on my desk?”

  “Dr. Pierce, I thought—”

  “I don’t pay you to give me your thoughts, Miranda. I pay you to do your goddamn job. If filing these patient’s charts is too hard for you, you shouldn’t be working in my hospital.”

  I jolted back as did she, never expecting him to say that.

  What an asshole.

  “Dr. Pierce, I was just doing—”

  “Doing what, wasting my time?”

  “No, that’s not—”

  “I don’t have the time to do your job and mine. Last I checked I have MD after my name, I save people’s lives. This is my life and you’re fucking it up by being incompetent. It’s simple, all I ask is for you to file the charts, stay out of my way, and do the job you were hired to do. Now, are you capable of that?”

  She nodded, practically in tears. “Yes, Dr. Pierce.”

  “Good, now repeat after me… I will not try to help in any other way but doing my job. If I can’t do that, because I don’t know how to follow protocol, then I will get fired and become someone else’s incompetent pain in the ass.” He looked down, writing something in the chart in front of him.

  “But, Dr. Pierce, if you could just let me explain—”

  “For Christ’s sake!” He slammed the chart shut and threw a pen onto the counter, making both of us jump back. “There is nothing that could explain why I walked into my office to find a stack of charts on my desk that should have already been filed.”

  “I-I-I—”

  “Don’t start with the tears. I don’t have time for that either. Do your job, or I’ll find someone who can.” He abruptly threw the charts at her, making her scramble to catch them before they hit the floor.

  My mouth dropped open, and just as I was about to intervene, his RN did for me.

  “Aiden!” she chided, walking up to him.

  “Don’t start, Renee. I don’t have time for your bullshit either.”

  She nodded to the woman with a look of gratitude to walk away, and she did exactly that.

  Renee turned to glare at him, like this wasn’t the first time she’d done so. “You need a break. You haven’t slept in two days. You’ve been on call for longer than that. And don’t get me started on the last time you ate. You can’t go on like this, Aiden. It’s not healthy or fair to anyone, including your patients. Remember the time when everyone used to mean something to you?”

  I narrowed my eyes, contemplating what she had just said.

  It wasn’t just his kids he was neglecting?

  “Bailey wouldn’t have wanted this for you.”

  His fists connected with the counter, not startling her in the least. “Don’t you ever say her name to me again. Do you understand me?” He eyed her up and down, backing away in the opposite direction of me. Quickly spewing, “I’m the doctor, you’re the nurse, Renee, know your role in my hospital.”

  My eyes widened as did hers.

  Before she could reply, he spun and walked away, leaving us both there shocked and dismayed.

  “Wow,” I blurted too loud, causing her eyes to connect with mine. “I-I-I-yo-yo-yo…” I immediately started stuttering, unable to form words. My tongue getting twisted with my Spanish dialect.

  “I’m so sorry you had to see that.” She deeply sighed, embarrassed. Shaking her head for me. “He wasn’t always like this. I know how that sounds after what you’ve just witnessed, but trust me … he was the kindest, sweetest doctor, man you’d ever meet. I won’t make excuses for him, but circumstances change people. The hospital knows what he’s going through since his wife—”

  “Code blue! Code blue! All available medical staff to room 521-bed A. I repeat, we have a code blue in room 521-bed A,” the speakers in the hallway went off. “Shit! I have to go. It was nice to meet you, Camila,” she concluded, running off in the same direction as Dr. Pierce.

  Without giving it any thought, I went after him. My feet moved on their own, not walking but running this time. Going straight toward his office.

  I ran faster.

  Harder.

  And with more determination.

  My feet burned against the tile floor with each stride and sentiment bulldozing its way through my head. My heart pounded, my ears rang, and my vigorous breathing escalated higher and louder with every second that passed. The adrenaline flowing through my bloodstream had already taken over.

  He was getting a piece of my mind.

  No matter what.

  I rounded the corner, coming face to face with his office door that was slightly ajar. I saw him sitting at his desk, his body hunched over with his head in between his hands and once again it stopped me dead in my tracks. The heavy weight of what was devouring him alive had me frozen in place.

  He was in a trancelike state, lost in what could only be described as his own personal Hell.

  My stomach fluttered, my heart dropped. I was living in, breathing in, settled in his turmoil, becoming one with all his emotions. Watching the good doctor breakdown in front of me was a vision I’d never forget. His body took on a whole different demeanor. The cold, calloused bastard was gone, and a broken man sat in his place, not holding anything back.

  Tears rolled down his face, and a desperate heave escaped his chest.

  I leaned against the doorframe for support, witnessing his mind and heart going to war with one another. He didn’t stop, and I wondered if he could feel me too. Knowing it was a stupid thought, but it was there, nonetheless.

  His rage quickly took over, replacing what felt like the hole in his chest. I blinked, and he grabbed the picture frame he must have been lost in, forcefully chucking it across the room.

  Roaring, “Motherfucker!”

  I hesitated, nothing more, nothing less.

  He stood up so fast, his leather chair slammed into the bookcase behind him. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have thought he was coming after me when his feet started stomping on the ground, hauling ass out of his office. I turned, hiding behind the door. This wasn’t the right time to confront him, and I was beginning to think there would never be one.

  As soon as I heard him trampling his way down the hall away from his office, my cellphone rang. Skyler’s name lit up my screen, and panic rapidly took over my senses.

  Going from one fucked up situation to the next.

  “Oh my God, I’m so sorry I left Jackson with Jour—”

  “No need to apologize, Camila, I understand. I would have done the same thing had a family member ne
eded me.”

  “A family member?”

  “Yeah, Jackson told me your mom fell down the stairs, and you had to rush her to the emergency room. He said he told you to take the car, so you wouldn’t have to wait for the bus. I get it. Not a problem at all.”

  My eyes widened. “Right. I still should have called and told you, though,” I replied on autopilot.

  “Is she alright?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “That’s great to hear.”

  “It is.”

  “When family is involved, we lose our minds. Besides, it did Jackson some good to watch his baby sister. He was actually dancing with her like you do when I walked into the house,” she chuckled.

  “He was?”

  “Yes. Don’t tell him I told you, but I think he’s starting to come around to you.”

  “Yeah, I guess so.”

  “Anyway, I won’t keep you. Will you be back tomorrow, or do you need a few days to tend to your mom?”

  “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “Sounds good. Have a good night, Camila.”

  “You too.”

  She hung up.

  It was only then that I realized I was standing in Dr. Pierce’s office. I don’t know what blew me away more.

  The fact that Jackson covered for me or that the picture his father threw across the room was one of him and his wife…

  On their wedding day.

  Chapter 18

  <>Aiden<>

  Then: Seventeen-years-old

  __________

  “Bailey,” I warned as she kissed along the side of my neck. “We’re not doing this.”

  “Aiden…” She slowly pecked her way down my body. “Please. We’ve waited so long.”

  “Bay, the other kids are right outside the door and so are my foster parents.”

  “Actually, Mario got called into work, and the only kid here is Everly.”

  “That still leaves Eva.”

  She gazed up at me through her long lashes, smirking like a fool. “Your foster mom is in her room on the other side of the house. She’s too pregnant with a baby of her own to move. Besides, I locked the door.”

  “I refuse to disrespect them in any way, Bay. Not after everything they’ve done for me. For us.”

  I spoke nothing but the truth. This was the first family I’d been placed with who was worth a damn. At first, when my umpteenth caseworker assigned me to them a little less than a year ago, I didn’t believe it, but they proved themselves more times than I could count. It was as insignificant as meals on the table several times a day, where everyone talked about the peak of their day.

  To them always taking an interest in their foster kids doing their homework, studying for exams, just making sure we were ready for the school day ahead. Eva would pack lunches, take and pick up everyone from school on time, while Mario went to work. We were made a priority for once.

  My fondest memory was when Mario helped me restore my 1964 Chevelle I found in an old junkyard nearby. She was still a work in progress, but we were able to get her started and drivable. I was lucky he knew some mechanics in the neighborhood who found used parts we needed dirt cheap. We’d spent months working on rebuilding her engine and replacing her tires, when the day finally came to get her to start.

  “Okay, Aiden, start her up!” Mario hollered from under the hood.

  I sat in the driver’s seat and pushed in the clutch with my left foot, turning over the ignition.

  Putt, putt, putt.

  “Give her some gas!”

  I tried again, this time pressing my right foot on the gas and sure enough she rumbled to life.

  “You hear that, Mario?! My girl can purr!”

  He laughed, shutting the hood to walk over to me. “How’s it feel?”

  “Like she was made just for me.”

  I’d wanted a hotrod for as long as I could remember. One day, I’d have a garage full of them. This was one of the many accomplishments I set for myself.

  He patted my back, gripping onto my shoulder. “You did it, son. I’m so proud of you.”

  This wasn’t the first time he’d said he was proud of me, but the more I heard it, the easier it was to believe.

  I wrapped my arm around his shoulder, emphasizing, “We did it.”

  Our dynamic was very much of a father and son. He knew I never had a dad, or a good example of an honorable man in my life, so he tried the best he could to provide that for me. Mario set the bar high, knowing it was what I needed without me ever having to ask. He spent weeks teaching me how to drive, going through how to shift and which gear was which. How to parallel park, so I could get my license and wouldn’t have to rely on the city bus to take me to and from work after school anymore.

  Every free second I had, when I wasn’t with Bailey, was spent helping Mario and Eva with my foster siblings. It was the least I could do for all they provided. From clean clothes, to toothbrushes, to beds with clean sheets and a pillow, and so much more.

  The list went on with their generosity and love. I know it may seem trivial to most people, but for two kids who grew up in the shitty ass system, it meant the world to us. Bailey wasn’t even their assigned foster child and they took care of her as well, knowing she meant everything to me.

  These two human beings had hearts of gold, a blessing to many, taking in kid after kid with no questions asked. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had a real home, a family who loved me as much as I did them.

  “Baby, this can’t be how you imagined making love for the first time?”

  She sighed. “No, you’re right.”

  “I always am.”

  She rolled her eyes, hiding back a smile.

  “I know it’s hard, I’m just too irresistible. It’s a curse really.”

  “Is that right?”

  “It’s the price I have to pay for having a huge cock.”

  She busted out laughing. I loved making her laugh.

  “I want to call your bullshit, but I can’t. Not that I’ve seen others or anything. I mean, you’ve probably seen them in the locker room. You tell me, are other guys as huge as you?”

  “Bailey, my cock is the only one you’ll ever see. End of story.”

  “What kind of answer is that?”

  “The only one that matters.”

  She giggled. “I love it when you act all alpha and possessive.”

  With a serious expression, I stated, “Who’s acting?”

  “You’ll always be the only guy I’ll ever want.”

  “You don’t have to want me, Bay, cuz I’ll always be right here. With you.”

  “How do you always say the right things?”

  “I only know how to speak the truth. My word is all I have.” I eyed her with a predatory regard. “But since your face is already down there, you can suck my cock.”

  “Oh, can I now?”

  I nodded, grinning.

  “I thought you said we weren’t doing this.”

  “I said we weren’t making love. My dick in your mouth is always fair game, Beauty. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t give my girl what she wanted, especially when she’s begging me for it?”

  “You cocky asshole,” she teased.

  “And you can’t get enough of it.”

  I was about to grip the back of her neck when we heard Everly shout, “Aiden!” through the door. “Mommy peed herself! She peed herself! She gets no M&M’s!”

  We laughed. Bailey chuckling, “What’s that all about?”

  “Who knows with Everly.”

  She was two and a half going on twenty-one. The family was potty training her and every time she used the bathroom, she got her favorite M&M’s.

  I walked toward the door, unlocked it and opened it to a little girl who was butt-ass naked.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Momma’s naked. Me naked too.”

  “What? Where—”

  She giggled, taking off toward Eva’s bedroom. Bail
ey and I quickly followed, knocking on the open door.

  “Ahhhh!” Eva screamed out in pain.

  “Bailey, go in there and see what’s going on please.”

  She hastily nodded, calling out, “Eva, I’m coming in!”

  “Ahhhh!” she yelled again.

  “Oh my God! Eva, are you in labor?”

  “Yes!”

  “Aiden, call 9-1-1!” Bailey ordered. “She needs an ambulance!”

  I ran into the living room to grab the house phone.

  “9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”

  “It’s Eva... she’s uh... she’s having a baby,” I stuttered, trying to keep my cool.

  “Okay, sir, stay calm. Where is she now?”

  “In her bathroom.”

  “Is her bag of water intact?”

  I nervously paced back and forth. “Her what?”

  “Has her water broke, sir?”

  “I don’t know, yes, she peed...”

  Everly enthusiastically nodded, skipping around. “Yes, Momma peed in her pants! She gets no M&M’s, der all mine cuz I pooped in da potty!”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Aiden.”

  “Okay Aiden, I need you to time her contractions. Can you do that for me?”

  “Yeah, I can do that. Give me a minute.” I grabbed the bag of M&M’s off the counter and Everly’s eyes lit up. “I’m going to turn on your movie and you’re going to sit on the couch and eat your chocolate like a good girl, okay?”

  “Beauty and da Beast!” she beamed, already going to town on the bag of candy. Everly loved that Disney movie, always claiming it was Bailey on the screen, and I couldn’t agree more. She looked just like the make-believe character. It was why I started calling her Beauty, named after the heroine, Belle.

  After I helped Everly get dressed, I made my way back toward Eva’s bedroom, announcing, “Eva! I need to come in and help!”

  “Come in! I wrapped a towel around her!” Bailey responded for her from what sounded like the shower. Her voice echoed in the air.