by Zoe Allison
“Nope.” He stood from his crouching position. “Let me get my wallet and keys from the kitchen and we’ll go.”
He went through, grabbed the items and quickly tapped out a text on his phone, cancelling his lunch plans out of sight. He went back into the living room. “Come on then, wounded soldier.” He lifted her to her feet. She tried to walk and yelped.
The pain in her voice was like a knife to his gut. “Nope,” he said. “We’re not doing that.” He hauled her into his arms.
Eva smiled weakly. “You’re going to do your back in, then we’ll both need to be driven to the hospital.”
He smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m big and tough. I’ve been working out. Once we get there, remind me to show you my guns.” He walked towards the door and managed to open it one-handed, then carried her out onto the driveway. He set her down carefully by the passenger side of his car then helped her in before going back to shut and lock the front door.
Damon got into the car and they set off for the hospital. His phone buzzed in his pocket, no doubt Dave calling to ask why he’d cancelled on him at the last minute. But he’d make it up to him another time.
Chapter Ten
Eva smiled with relief when the local hospital came into view. After they parked, Damon insisted on carrying her to the front door, where he proceeded to support her through the revolving doors to reception and she booked in. They moved over to the seating area. Luckily, it wasn’t too busy.
Eva settled into the plastic chair. “Listen… You don’t need to stay with me. You go and get on with your day. Mum and Dad are bound to turn on their phones soon and I can get them to come collect me.”
Damon leaned back in his seat. “No way. I’m staying here. I want to see all the emergency room action like on TV.” He winked. “Anyway, I’ve not shown you my biceps yet.”
Eva smiled. There he went again. Flirtatious comments falling from his lovely mouth like confetti. But was there anything behind them? She was in too much pain to overanalyse, so she was just going to enjoy his attention. She pretended to roll her eyes. “Go on then. Let’s see these guns.”
Damon rolled up his sleeve and flexed his muscles.
Eva shrugged, trying to play down her enthusiasm. “Oh yeah, not bad.” She lifted her hand and placed it on his arm, giving it a squeeze then immediately regretting it, because her heart sped up to dangerous levels. She was pretty sure that everyone in the waiting room would be able to hear it beating like a drum.
Damon was doing his mock pout again. She laughed and inadvertently set her foot onto the floor, resulting in the laugh morphing into a moan of pain.
“Oops,” Damon said. “The gun show is too much for some.”
Eva leaned back into her chair and sighed.
Damon put his arm around her shoulders.
She looked at him. “This is just my bloody luck, isn’t it?”
He gave her shoulders a squeeze, then raised his hand to her cheek, stroking lightly down to her jawline. She closed her eyes for a second, revelling in his touch. When she opened them again, something had shifted in his gaze. What was it? He didn’t drop his fingers for another tantalizing couple of seconds. He smiled then pulled her into a hug. Eva decided just to absorb it and not overthink for a change. She leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. Damon played with her ponytail.
“Sorry I’m sweaty and gross,” she said into his shoulder. “You’ll need a second shower after touching me.”
“Don’t worry.” The bass of his voice vibrated against her cheek. “I like the feel of your sweaty body against mine.”
Excitement rippled through her. She didn’t dare look up in case he gave her that jokey wink, which she always took to mean ‘just kidding’.
Instead, she nestled in closer and he rested his chin on top of her head. She was in pain and she was going to allow herself this small pleasure. Just this once she going to let herself believe there was something in it.
He continued to stroke her hair and reached his other hand to take hers, rubbing his thumb over the back of it. Eva thought she going to go into pleasure overload. Every nerve ending was tingling, every hair standing on end and there was a fire burning in her pelvis. The only spoiler was the dull throb in her right calf, but even that dimmed into insignificance at Damon’s touch.
Eva was disappointed when the triage nurse called her name. She extricated herself from Damon’s side and he supported her to go through to the nurse’s office. He stopped at the door. She glanced back at him and reached out. “Will you come with me?”
He took her hand and followed her into the room.
The nurse asked some questions and did some basic observations. Then she collected a wheelchair and pushed Eva along the corridor to one of the cubicles. “The doctor will be with you soon. Can I get you or your boyfriend a drink of water?”
Eva was in too much pain to correct the nurse. “No thank you.”
Damon shook his head. “I’m fine, thanks.”
Eva waited for Damon to rectify the misunderstanding about him being her boyfriend but he didn’t.
The nurse left the cubicle and drew the curtain over.
Damon took a seat next to Eva. She stared at the floor, still terrified he was going to put their close encounter in the waiting room into the friendship context. But he didn’t say anything. He just shifted his chair closer and took her hand. “You doing okay?”
“Yeah.” She smiled. “Just a little sore is all.” She met his eye. “Thanks for staying with me. I’m glad you’re here.”
Damon smiled back. It appeared as if he was about to say something else when the curtain opened and a doctor entered the room.
Eva was manoeuvred to kneel on a chair while the doctor examined her leg. He palpated her calf and she gripped the back of the seat in discomfort. Damon moved closer, rubbing her back. The doctor finished, and let Eva sit again.
The doctor took a seat. “The good news is your Achilles is intact.”
Eva sighed with relief.
“The bad news is I think you’ve torn some muscle fibres. You’re going to need physiotherapy.”
“Okay.” Eva nodded. “That’s not too bad.”
The doctor smiled. “It does seem that most of the pain is coming from a muscle spasm surrounding the area. So, it should feel better quickly as that calms down. You can self-refer to see the physiotherapist. I can give you the details.”
“Thank you,” Eva said.
She was given some strong painkillers and took a couple before they left, although the pain was already lessening. The muscle spasm must be easing.
She checked the time as she limped from the department with Damon supporting her. Midday. They’d only been a couple of hours, so hopefully she hadn’t spoiled his afternoon. He helped her into the car and they set off for Eva’s parents’ house.
When they arrived, he assisted her inside and up the stairs, which were still pretty tricky.
She collapsed onto her bed and looked at him. “You’re an absolute lifesaver. The cinema trip tomorrow is on me. I’ll even get you some popcorn.”
He smiled. “It’s no problem. I’m glad I was around to help. Are you sure you’ll be up to the movies tomorrow?”
She sat straighter. “Are you kidding? I bloody well deserve an evening out after this debacle.”
He laughed. “I’ll pick you up so you don’t have to drive. Give your leg another day to recover for work. Will you be able to go in?”
She grinned. “Oh yeah. Doctors don’t take a day off sick unless they’re actually dead.”
He laughed. “Well, don’t die, because I don’t want to be lonely at the movies by myself.”
She shook her head. “I won’t.”
Damon moved to the door and paused. “Do you need a hand getting into the shower?”
Her gaze locked with his and Eva searched his face for signs that he was joking, but found nothing. For a moment she seriously considered saying yes. But then I’ll look
a fool when he says he was only kidding. She shook her head and laughed. “You’ve already gone above and beyond the call of duty. I’ll see you tomorrow—and thanks again.”
“Pleasure.” He disappeared down the stairs, the front door shutting quietly behind him.
Chapter Eleven
On Sunday, Eva was ready half an hour early for Damon to pick her up, sitting tapping her nails on the counter. This was the most excited she’d been to see him due to the closeness they’d experienced the day before. Her parents were out, so she sat in silence, waiting.
Eventually the doorbell went and there he was. Eva’s insides melted. It didn’t matter what the man wore, he still looked like a sex god. But this ensemble was particularly appealing. He sported a soft black jumper that clung to the muscles in his arms, accentuating them further. The darkness of his top seemed to bring out his eyes. It was teamed with black jeans that showed off his muscular thighs.
“Ready?” he asked.
Oh yes. “Yep, let’s head out.”
In the car they chatted about their day. Despite the ease of their conversation, there was a new tension in the air, which was clearly a result of their physical affection the previous day.
Eva glanced at Damon as he drove and cleared her throat. “Have you spoken to Dave lately?”
“Yes, why?” Damon said, grinning. “Have you spoken to Jane lately?” He glanced at her and winked.
“That depends,” Eva said, “on what Dave said when you talked to him.”
“I cannot possibly reveal any of my source’s secrets.” Damon mimed drawing a zip across his lips.
Eva leaned over and mimed pulling the zip back again. “Talk, Evans—or you’re in for it.”
He laughed, watching the road. “What’s it worth?”
She shrugged. “What do you want?”
A smile played on his lips. “I’m sure I can think of something.”
Eva’s breath caught in her throat.
He paused. “Be my date for the school reunion.”
Her pulse picked up pace. “Date?”
“Yeah, like a ‘friend date’.”
Her heart sank. Not the friend card again. This guy was the king of mixed signals. She thought for a moment. What did she have to lose? “Fine. Let’s go for it. Now tell me what I want to know.”
Damon grinned. “Dave fancies Jane.”
Eva waited, but he didn’t offer anything else. “What? That’s it?”
He shrugged as they went through some lights. “What more do you need to know?”
“I need details.”
He hesitated. “Dave…totally fancies Jane?”
“Damon. You totally steered me a bum deal.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I’ll have you know that my company is not a bum deal.”
She shook her head. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
He pulled up outside the cinema. “Be my guest.”
They walked from the car into the building and stood in line for tickets. The film was due to start straight away so they went into the theatre, the lights dimming as they picked their way to the seats. During the trailers they whispered comments and opinions to each other about the up-and-coming films. They laughed easily together, but Eva was very aware of his close, physical presence.
The room darkened further and the main feature started. Eva wasn’t sure what the film was about, but Damon had said it was some sort of life drama. Eva preferred comedies nowadays because she’d had enough drama in real life.
Despite not being her usual genre, the film was good, gripping her from the start, and Eva soon lost herself in the plot. She was carried away in a tide of empathy for the characters, two parents struggling with the illness of their child. However, all the while she was aware of the heat of Damon’s arm next to hers. Their hands rested on the seat divide between them, nearly touching. Every few minutes Eva would focus her awareness on her hand and wish that he’d touch her again the way he had the day before.
Eventually, about an hour into the film, he slid his hand closer. She held her breath. He lifted it and placed it on top of hers. She turned her hand over and entwined her fingers in his. Neither of them looked at each other or spoke, but they carried on watching the film in silence. Damon rubbed his thumb over hers. Electricity flowed through her arm and coursed through her entire body. She was holding her breath, scared that any movement on her part might make him break contact. She tried to relax but couldn’t keep her attention off the sensations he was creating.
What might happen after this? Would he kiss her when he dropped her home? Should she kiss him? She really wanted to. Maybe she should even suggest going back to his so that they could be alone….
There was a wail from the screen and her attention was drawn back into what was happening in the movie. She understood what the plot of the film was building up to, the death of the child.
Her insides turned to ice and she inhaled sharply. Damon turned towards her but she couldn’t tear her eyes from the screen. The scene climaxed as she predicted. She lifted her hand to her face as silent tears streamed down her cheeks.
She tried to block out the voice in her head. ‘It will be all right, won’t it, Eva? We’ve caught it in time?’
Damon’s voice cut through the darkness, heavy with concern. “Eva?”
She tried to answer him but couldn’t get any words out. She bowed her head into her hand, unable to watch the final few scenes.
Damon squeezed her hand and leaned in. “Do you want to leave?”
Eva shook her head. She needed time to compose herself before the lights came on and everyone in the theatre saw her like this. She breathed deeply, willing the tears to cease. She rubbed the wetness from her cheeks. She could still feel Damon watching her, and as the lights came up with the credits, he let go of her hand and drew her into him.
She mumbled into his jumper. “Don’t be nice to me, Damon, or I’ll start again.”
He stroked her hair. “Want to tell me what’s wrong?”
She sniffed. “It was just an emotional film.”
He gave her a squeeze. “I’ve known you for nearly thirty years and I’ve never seen you cry. I know something is up.”
She hesitated for a second. She wanted to tell him, but she couldn’t. She needed to keep it all buried, in case it broke her again. “I’m fine. Honestly.”
He lifted her chin. “I know you’re not ready to talk about it. But I’m ready to listen, whenever you want.”
She glanced down, her throat constricted. “Thank you.”
They left the movie theatre for the car with her huddled into his side. Once they got there, she was reluctant to let go, so he tightened his arms around her.
Finally she managed to compose herself enough to look him in the eye. “Good job I invested in this heavy-duty mascara or I’d be getting mistaken for a panda and being transported to the nearest zoo right about now.”
Damon smiled. She could tell that he wished she’d open up. She knew everyone else felt the same—her parents, Rachel. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to… She just found it really hard to put it all into words, to break down the sturdy internal wall she’d built to protect herself. She’d always been like that to a degree, but when she’d been a soft, naive junior doctor, the emotional and psychological trauma she’d witnessed and experienced meant she’d had to strengthen her defences. Then Callum’s behaviour had solidified it, added armoured guards and its very own moat.
The drive home was silent except for the voice in Eva’s head, which was getting louder. ‘Please, Eva, don’t let this be it. I’ll do anything…’
The tears were close, only a kind word away, and she willed Damon to stay silent.
They pulled into the driveway, and he killed the engine. She daren’t look at him, but she reached out and took his hand. He responded with a squeeze.
After a moment she turned her gaze to him. His profile was so handsome. He met her eyes and she willed the words to come. She
tried to tell him how much she wanted to confide in him, for him to be the first she’d told the full story to apart from Callum, who hadn’t really listened or cared. But she couldn’t.
Damon smiled. “I know, Evie. It’s okay.”
Eva lifted her hand to his cheek. He closed his eyes for a second and moved into her touch.
She finally regained the power of speech, but it was hardly a breakthrough. “Thank you. I’ll text you tomorrow.” She dropped her hand, opened the car door and walked towards the house.
Chapter Twelve
Damon headed out of the changing room and along the corridor towards the gym. He opened the door and surveyed the room, the whoosh of the air conditioning hitting him in the face. It wasn’t busy on a weekday evening and that’s how he preferred it. He spotted a free treadmill in his favourite spot next to the glass window overlooking the pool and spa area, climbed on and selected his program. The machine started up and he began to walk faster, adding his ear buds. The high tempo music began, and he picked up the pace.
This was just what he needed to work off the thoughts racing round and round in his mind. Everything with Eva was getting more complicated, and he was sure it was his own fault for having feelings for her that were not just platonic.
When she’d injured her leg, he’d lost the ability to hold back. She’d seemed so unusually vulnerable. At least he hadn’t let it go further than a cuddle and some comforting, tactile gestures. But at the cinema the temptation to hold her hand was too intense, and he was sure that if she hadn’t become distressed at the film, he wouldn’t have been able to resist kissing her.
What was it that’d upset her so much? There was no way it was just the film, as moving as it was. He’d messaged her the next day to say he was there for her whenever she wanted to talk and she’d replied with a heartfelt thank you—but not volunteered anything else.
Something was going on with her and he wished she’d confide in him. The depth to which Damon was desperate for Eva to connect with him as a confidante surprised him. Although they’d known each other forever, they’d hardly seen each other the past few years. Yet pretty much as soon as he’d laid eyes on her at that first meeting, he’d felt the strength of their reconnection. It all just fell into place with Eva—the ease of their playful banter, the laughs they shared, the way he could tell her anything and she’d listen intently and be able to empathise with where he was coming from. He didn’t have that with any of his other friends, not to the same degree anyway. That was why he was so desperate not to mess it up.
