by Smith, T. L
I start to freak out a little. OMG! This is why I don’t drink so much; I end up doing stupid shit. I look at him and realise it’s Josh from the club. Oh, sweet baby Jesus, I wish I remembered this. He stirs and rolls over. I look at him and realise last night didn’t do him any justice. He is still one of the most gorgeous men I have ever seen. His arm tattoos stretch along and go to the top of his chest. He clearly works out hard ‘because he is delicious. Muscles galore, but not bodybuilder, vein popping muscly. Biceps I just want to hold on to, and a defined chest and stomach that makes me want to run my hands over. Perfect. Josh has a distinct smell to him and it fits him perfectly. I want to breathe him in all day. It’s mixed between leather and musk. He opens his beautiful blue eyes and looks at me. "Hey, gorgeous," he says with a soft smile. I look at him for a while before I answer, "Hi." It’s all I can seem to get out.
He smiles, pulls me down to cuddle him and I feel his big friend poking me in the stomach saying hello as well. I sit up and tell him I’m going to get some water; he just stretches and smiles at me.
I walk into the kitchen, trying to rack my brain for memories or flashbacks of last night. The last thing I remember is dancing with him. That puts a smile on my face since the boy can dance. I feel a set of arms wrap around me and I instantly know it’s Josh. It feels comforting and I don’t mind having him hold me this morning with the way I am feeling. Another reason I don’t drink; the next morning is a bitch!
"Umm, head’s a bit sore... how about yourself?"
"Great. Did you want to head out for some breakfast?"
"No, I’m good, thanks. Think I’m going to head back to bed."
"Okay."
"Sorry, don’t mean to sound rude, but did we umm… you know?"
"What? Have sex?" he says with a smirk.
"Yeah."
He is still smirking at me. "No, but you definitely tried to."
"Oh, no." This is getting embarrassing. I can feel my face heat up. I’m probably the colour of a tomato right now. Great.
"Hey, sis," Lola says, walking in with a smile on her face and grinning at me, Mole.
"Hey," I reply, narrowing my eyes at her.
"How you feeling?"
"Like I got hit by a train."
"Oh, well,” Lola shrugs her shoulders at me and continues on. “Josh, Blake is here and he wants to know if you need a ride home?"
"Yeah, that would be great. I’ll just grab my stuff."
He turns and walks out of the kitchen back to my bedroom. Lola turns to me and says, “You little slut! Did you hit that last night? Tell me you did! Was he awesome in the sack? I bet he was. He is freakin’ HOT!”
"Arghhh! You fool. I don’t remember anything. How could you let me get that drunk last night?" Lola leans against the counter and starts laughing.
"WHAT?" she chokes out as she continues laughing. I just glare at her. She is pissing me off. I’m not in the mood for her shit this morning.
"I tried to stop you. I even got Josh to carry you out of the club, but you kept on grinding up on him. It was hilarious, you and your drunken horny glory." She can’t stop laughing and I’m ready to slap her across the face.
"Guess he was a gentleman then and just put you to bed, even after you tried undressing him in the car and jumping on his lap trying to get a little bit of action!" She looks at me and wiggles her eyes up and down before busting out in a laugh again. Why don’t I remember this? I hate the feeling of the unknown and I am mortified. What does Josh think of me? I cannot believe I got THAT drunk! But I wouldn’t change it. Josh can move on the dance floor and is “freakin’ HOT!” as Lola stated.
Just then, Josh walks back in the kitchen, dressed in what he was wearing last night. He looks me up and down and says, “I’ll catch ya later.” He leans in and kisses me on the lips. By the time he and Blake leave, I’m ready to go back to bed and dream about those lips as I try to get rid of this thumping headache.
Chapter 3
I’m working at the hospital today and I’m just about to get ready to go for lunch when Rose comes up to me and asks how my weekend was and how my studies are going. I’m in my third year of midwifery and will be finished next year. I need all the recommendations I can get, so I have taken on a few shifts at Princess Alexandra; the experience is great for my resume. I fill Rose in on my night out, but not all the details. I don’t want her thinking I am not studying hard enough to do my job. I like to keep my personal life separate from my life at work and college. I’m not a fan of the gossip world, and working in a hospital and going to college, I just don’t have time for the drama that usually follows. Rose just laughs at me and hopes I had a great night. She then starts talking about the new doctor who just started here. Supposedly, he is gorgeous, young, and all the girls are drooling after him. But he has let everyone know he is strictly professional with the way he carries himself.
"So, want to head down to the coffeehouse and get some lunch?" she asks me.
"Sure, just let me grab my bag."
Rose is a beautiful woman in her late twenties, though she doesn’t look a day over twenty-five; short brown hair, soft brown eyes, about five-feet-two really help to make her a knock out. She is one of the kindest women I have ever met. She always has a smile on her face, and even though she is a fellow midwife, she is always there to help, whether it’s just to talk, give advice, or make you laugh. She’s a shoulder to cry on and a person to just vent your worries to. She is always there. Working in a hospital, you need a friend like Rose. Times get tough and real in the maternity ward.
We are having a coffee and chatting when she bumps me and tells me to look who just walked in. I look up and the first thing that comes to mind is Yummy! I take in his short dark brown hair, which is neatly styled, and his hot body dressed in suit pants and a white button-up shirt. He walks in, glancing around the room. When our eyes meet, he sends me a sexy smile. I’m not quite sure why he stares at me. I’ve never seen him before, but when he does, I feel the butterflies going off in my belly. I’m so shocked; I just stare. He walks up to the barista to order and I turn back to Rose and mouth, “WOW!”
She smiles at me and says, "That’s the new hottie everyone is talking about. Isn’t he scrumptious?"
All I’m thinking is Fuck. I have to work with that! How am I going to get any work done with Dr Hottie? I turn back around to catch another glance and find him staring at us and walking our way. Oh, shit. Before I can look away, he walks up and says, "Hey, ladies, do you mind if I sit with the two of you?"
We both nod our heads staring at him in disbelief. Rose starts talking like she knows him, and I just sit here watching and listening to his every word. It’s like he has me hypnotised and doesn’t even know it. He turns to me and introduces himself.
"Hi, I’m Dylan MacDonald."
"Hi, Dylan, I’m Sasha Adams."
"Nice to meet you, Sasha. You work at the hospital as well?"
"Yes. I heard you’ve just started here. How are you finding it?"
“I have just been transferred from Perth. So far, the people of Brisbane are good. The city has a different atmosphere to what I’m used to, but I am enjoying it."
Rose starts asking him how he likes the area and they’re back to having a full-blown conversation. I’m remain seated, listening and watching them, again, until he gets up to leave.
"Well, ladies, it has been a pleasure. I’ll see you back at work," he says while staring at me. I just smile and nod. What is wrong with me? It’s like my body and brain have stopped functioning! I need to pull my shit together.
He walks out the door and Rose can’t stop grinning.
“I can’t believe he came up and started talking to us! He hasn’t spoken to anyone. Oh, my God, he is so gorgeous! And that smile, did you see it?"
Rose keeps going on and on. I just nod my head, agreeing with everything she says. She could be talking about aliens and I would just nod my head. God, Dylan is tying me up in knots and I hardly know him. A
s we get up to leave, my phone beeps. I pull it out and look at it wondering who the hell ‘Stallion’ is and why is this person sending me a text. I don’t remember putting the name in my phone.
Stallion:
Hey, beautiful, how’s ur day been?
Hope you’re having a better week
than me. Mine would be a hell of
a lot better if I got to see your
beautiful face - Josh
I stare at my phone in disbelief. I don’t remember putting his number in my phone, let alone naming him Stallion. I can’t help but smile as I re-read the text and think about him. I type a reply back to him and he writes back immediately.
Me:
Hey, Josh, day’s been good. Just
heading back to work now. What
you been up to?
Stallion:
Well, don’t work too hard, wouldn’t
want you to work up a sweat.
You were sexy as hell when you
sweat it up in the club. Maybe
next time, you could sweat it up
on my dance floor— if you can keep
up.
Well, someone is a smooth talker and a bit cocky. I put my phone back in my pocket with a smile on my face and head back to work.
It’s near the end of my shift, so I’m check on the rest of my patients before I have to leave. As I walk in to see my last patient, Dylan is standing and looking very scrumptious. He sees me coming in, smiles at me, and then turns back to the patient. I have to smile to myself when I see him; he is one fine specimen of a man. I walk to the end of the bed and check her chart to make sure everything is fine before I leave for the afternoon. Then I let her know my shift is finished, who will be taking over, and say my goodbyes. I’m on my way to my locker when I hear my name being called.
"Sasha. Hey, Sasha." I turn around and see it’s Dylan.
"Hi," I say, feeling a little bit anxious and how close he is getting to me. God, Sasha! Pull yourself together. It’s not like you haven’t seen hot guys before! This is one of the moments where I wish I could be like my sister. She never gets nervous. She has this charm about her that makes her seem so carefree. Where at the moment, I feel like the awkward weirdo who can’t string a sentence together.
"Hey, I was wondering if you’re keen for a drink after work?"
I stare at him in disbelief. The rumour is he isn’t giving any woman the time of day, yet he is asking me out for drinks. I’m a little bit shocked. He gives me butterflies, but is that enough reason to get involved? I shake my head of my thoughts and manage to answer him anyway. Thank God.
"Umm… sure, where would you like to go?"
"Oh, anywhere. I’m not all that familiar with this area, so wherever you recommend."
"Okay, just let me get changed and I’ll meet you out front in fifteen minutes."
I walk into the change room and thank God, I packed a decent pair of jeans and top for a change of clothes. I walk back out and he is standing, waiting for me with a smile on his face. Looking me up and down, I can’t help but blush.
"So, the Vic is in the city, and it’s usually not that busy until later, if you wanted to go there for a few drinks?"
Dylan offers to drive us there, as it’s only a ten-minute drive. At the moment, I am not sure I can keep my eyes on the road as I take him all in, so I take him up on the offer.
We go to the parking lot and very silently walk to his car. His car is a BMW and it’s beautiful inside as well as out. It matches him to a tee.
We arrive at the Vic, head inside, and Dylan orders us a drink each. We take a seat away from the band so we can chat.
"So, how you liking Brisbane so far?" I ask him
He looks up and studies me before answering.
"It’s a beautiful city. I think I could stay here forever."
"Do you have many friends or family here?"
"Yeah, my baby sister, Kellie, lives here and a mate I went to high school with. I’m currently living with him at the moment while I find something for myself. How about yourself? Any family?"
"Yeah, my sister and I share an apartment south of the city, not too far away."
"Oh, that’s nice. You get along with your sister?"
"Yeah, we’re very close, but Lola and I are total opposites. We love each other unconditionally though. There’s only eleven months age difference between us, so we have always been pretty close."
He is staring at me like my every word means something important to him. It feels nice knowing someone it actually listening and taking it all in. We fall in a minute of comfortable silence until I hear my phone beeping. I quickly apologise and tell him I have to check if it’s from my sister. And sure enough, it’s from Lola, and there is also another from Josh.
Lola:
Hey, bitch, what ya doin
after work?
God, she has a way with words. I look at Josh's text as well, and can’t help but smirk. But I’m excited he is thinking of me when I’m not near him.
Stallion:
Hey, beautiful, your lips
look lonely. Would they like
to meet mine? ;)
"Sorry, just my sis asking where I am," I explain to Dylan.
"Sure, no problem," he adds with a wink. “So, Sasha, are you single?”
Okay… I so was not expecting that to come out of his mouth, but I guess it was going to come up anyway, right? I think on that question before I answer him. Yes, I’m technically single but my mind is on a very attractive blue-eyed tattooed, handsome man.
"Um, yeah, how about yourself?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact I am," he says, still giving me that brilliant smile.
We sit for the next hour talking about favourite movies, schools, and aspirations. Dylan is very easy to talk to and has so much love for his family and friends it makes my smile grow even wider listening to him.
Chapter 4
Lola, Brit, and I decide to have a girls’ day out. We head out shopping and go to lunch. iIt’s always great when we can spend an afternoon out together doing girly stuff. We’re in Southbank shopping for dresses for the weekend, when Brit comes out of the changing room in a see-through dress.
“What you reckon, bitch?” she says while spinning around in a circle.
“You so, cannot buy that, Brit,” I tell her with a look that says take that thing off.
“Why not?” She stands with her hand on her hip, eyebrows raised.
“Well, for one, it’s slutty. Two, I can see all your womanly parts. And three, I am not going out in public with you dressed like that.” Seriously, what is this girl thinking?
“Oh, come on, Sash, don’t be a spoilsport. It’s fun.”
I give her my best ‘whatever’ look, and she huffs and turns back around to try something else on. I want to pick something that will make Josh’s mouth drop the next time he sees me. Once we have bought new dresses and shoes, we make our way to the Chocolate Factory for some lunch. We get a table and look at the menu, and then the girls start enquiring about Josh.
“So, Sasha, fill us in on Josh? What’s he like?” Brit eagerly asks me.
“He’s good. We’re just chatting at the moment, but nothing interesting.” Well, I’m not lying. I haven’t seen him since the club, and so far, we have only texted each other a few times. “Brit, tell me about Adam and how it’s going there?” She starts blushing as I mention his name. Adam is a good friend of Blake’s. He and Brit have been seeing each other for a couple of months. I am so happy she is smiling again.
“We’re really good. I think I’m falling for him. He is so lovely, and he is so good in bed. The way that boy can make me turn, you would think I’m a pretzel!”
We’re all cracking up now, laughing so loudly that people start looking at us. But we don’t care. It’s good to have a laugh together over lunch. And it’s not like we get this opportunity very often.
“I’m so happy for you, Brit. You deserve happiness after how Koby t
reated you.”
“I know, and he makes me happy too. I just wish Koby would leave me alone. He is still texting me all the time, and stopping by at work telling me he is sorry and wants me back. He just doesn’t understand I have moved on.”
Brit’s previous boyfriend, Koby, was her high school sweetheart. They got close really fast. At first, he seemed loving towards her, but in our last year of high school when we were making plans for college, he started to become overprotective towards her. She couldn’t leave his sight, and he was always checking on her to see where she was and who she was with. Their relationship had become crazy.
After two years of being together, Brit ended the relationship because he was smothering her, and she didn’t feel safe with him anymore. But even a year later, Koby is still hassling her. Lola and I have tried and tried many times to get her to take further action against him because he is borderline psycho stalker, but she keeps refusing. Brit thinks we are making a fuss over nothing.
“Brit, if he keeps this up, you’re gonna have to get a restraining order on him,” Lola tells her. Brit knows she is right, but they were together for most of high school, and she is just too nice. My phone beeps and I look at the text message. It’s another one from Josh.
Stallion:
Hey, beautiful, I have tickets
to the drags tonight. Was
wondering if you would like to
join me?
I’m a bit nervous to see him again. We haven’t really spoken much in person other than text messages, but my mind is made up and I’m gonna take a chance on him.
Me:
Yeah, sure. What time should
