by Avery Flynn
She wasn’t wrong. Suji hadn’t been able to stop staring, not after she found him sitting with Aaron. Talking with Aaron. Aaron, who never spoke to anyone. He was one of the kids in the ward whose parents were unable to stay with him full-time. Instead, they traveled back and forth on weekends to visit.
“He’s nothing like I expected.”
Mimi nodded. “I’ll give you that. The Nursettes tried their siren song on him earlier, and he didn’t even bat an eye in their direction.”
“Yeah, I saw that. I need to have a chat with the head of Teaching.”
“You do that,” Mimi fumed. “It was downright embarrassing. I’m glad there aren’t any television cameras covering this.”
“No kidding,” Suji acknowledged, glad Zim had kept his promise.
Overall, the event was going well. The kids were thrilled, and the parents seemed happy too. A couple of them appeared to know who Zim was, and he accommodated them with photos and autographs. The few reporters that had come were respectful of the children, all except for one.
“Did security escort the asshole Bannon out the front door?”
Mimi nodded. “Yeah, they tossed him out on his rear. The nerve of him, trying to interview some of the kids without their parents’ permission. Or ours.”
Suji nodded. “Some people have no morals.”
“None,” Mimi agreed.
A loud laugh from the corner of the game room caught Suji’s attention. She looked up to find Zim crouched down in front of Aaron who was animatedly describing something to him, his hands flying.
“Well, look at that,” Mimi mused. “I’ve never seen little Aaron so engaged, not unless his dad is here for a visit, or Tiffany drags a conversation out of him.”
“I know.” Suji crossed her arms and leaned against the counter, content to watch the pair. “I found them chatting earlier and couldn’t believe it.”
Mimi nudged her shoulder. “Watch yourself, doll.”
Suji frowned. “Why?”
“Yesterday, you were hell bent on keeping this guy out of our ward,” she remarked. “And today, you’re looking at him with stars in your eyes.”
Suji sniffed. “No, I am not.”
“Uh, yeah you are, and I do not blame you one bit. He’s been sneaking glances at you too.”
Suji spun to face her. “Really?”
Mimi chuckled. “Yep, like right now.”
Suji’s heart rate ticked up. “He’s looking right now?”
“Sizing you up like a three-course meal.”
“Shit.”
“Breathe, girl.” Mimi laughed.
“What was I thinking, agreeing to have dinner with him?”
“You were thinking ‘what a nice guy, who is also hot as fuck,’ that’s what you were thinking.”
Suji gaped at Mimi and whispered. “You’re a dirty girl.”
“You ain’t lying,” Mimi said, laughing harder.
“Seriously, though,” Suji whined. “What am I going to do?”
Mimi squared her shoulders, looking Suji in the eye. “Jokes aside, I’m glad to see you do something other than come here, work yourself to death, only to go home to an empty apartment, eat take-out and collapse in a heap.”
Not an inaccurate description of Suji’s daily routine.
“You didn’t agree to marry the guy,” Mimi reminded her. “You’re just going to a fancy dinner with a good-looking man. It’s for a good cause, and it’s something you can tell your grandkids someday.”
“You’re right.”
“I know I am,” Mimi agreed. “Now, what are you going to wear to this fancy schmancy fundraiser?”
Suji blanched. “Crap, I have shit for clothes in that department.”
“Maybe you should hit Amrita up for something,” Mimi suggested. “That sister of yours is a fashion horse.”
“True.” Suji fished her phone out of her pocket. “That’s a great idea.”
“I’m full of them today,” Mimi joked.
9
Suji was beginning to regret calling her sister.
“I look like a prostitute.”
“A very high-end prostitute,” Amrita countered.
“Do you actually wear this in public?” Suji tugged at the hem of the sleek, black shift which barely covered her ass. “Seriously, where’s the rest of it?”
Amrita giggled. “Okay, so maybe this isn’t your style. Try the yellow one.”
“No way, I look jaundiced in yellow.”
“True,” her sister agreed. “”Maybe the Tadashi Shoji?”
The red, cocktail dress was gorgeous, its lacy bodice timelessly elegant. Sexy, sheer sleeves and a deep-V back added just enough allure to keep it from being too matronly.
Tossing the black barely-a-dress onto the growing pile of clothes on her bed, Suji gingerly picked up the wine-colored sheath.
“How much was this?”
Her sister shook her head. “Don’t worry about that, put it on.”
The silky material felt heavenly against her skin, such a contrast to the rough cotton of her everyday scrubs. Suji smoothed the skirt down over her legs.
“Wow.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah,” Amrita said, admiringly. “He won’t know what hit him.”
“Amri, I’m not going to snag a man, I’m going to help the hospital.”
“Two birds, one stone,” Amrita teased. “Or look me in the eye and tell me you aren’t the least bit curious about what that hunk of a man looks like underneath all those clothes.”
“I’m beginning to regret telling you anything about this.”
“Hey, I wasn’t the one sucking face with him at the bar the other night.”
“Ugh, that was a mistake.”
“And I wasn’t the one who whipped out the laptop and showed me sexy pics of your hockey stud.”
“Another mistake,” Suji remarked as she eyed her reflection in her floor-length mirror. “I think this dress’ll do.”
“You think?” Amrita clambered off the bed and over to where Suji stood. “You look amazing.”
“Hair down or up?”
“Down. I love this new bob thing you have going on. Very sassy.”
“Thanks.” Suji turned toward her bathroom to finish putting on her makeup.
Amrita followed, leaning against the doorframe. She smiled at Suji’s reflection in the bathroom mirror.
“I’m proud of you.”
Suji laughed. “For what?”
“For putting yourself out there.”
“Amri, I told you, this isn’t a date,” Suji insisted, trying hard to convince herself of that fact.
“I know it’s not the first of many, but it is a date, judging by how nervous you are.”
“It’s just been a while since I spent time around this many adults, not to mention adults with deep pockets who could do a lot of good for THUP.”
“Will Calvin be there?”
“Yeah, along with most of the board.”
“See? Nothing to worry about, then. It’s their job to wine and dine the donors. All you have to do is be arm candy for the sports star.”
Suji paused, right in the middle of applying her lipstick, and gave her sister the evil eye.
“What the hell, Amri?”
Amrita snorted. “Jesus, I’m kidding. Look at your face!”
“I will smack you.”
The doorbell rang.
Amrita arched an eyebrow. “He’s picking you up here?”
“He insisted.”
“He’s early.”
Too early. Suji wasn’t nearly ready for this. Was it too late to cancel?
“Breathe,” Amrita ordered as she made her way to the front door.
Suji tried to use a few calming methods to even out her breaths. She was counting back from ten when Amrita returned with an enormous bouquet of orchids and a shit-eating grin.
“What were you saying about it not being a date?”
“Those are s
tunning.” Suji took the vase from her and walked toward the kitchen.
“There’s a card,” Amrita announced before snatching it from the top of the arrangement.
Looking forward to the pleasure of your company this evening.
A car will pick you up at seven.
Yours, Z
“How very formal,” Amrita noted. “And he’s sending a car? Why not come get you himself?”
Suji set the vase on her kitchen counter and tried to tamp down her disappointment.
“I told you it wasn’t a date, Amri. I’ll meet him at the restaurant, have dinner, schmooze with the well-heeled crowd, and be home before the carriage turns into a pumpkin.”
“You do realize that, in that metaphor, you get to kiss the prince,” Amrita smirked.
“Nah, I’m not cut out to be a princess.”
“Hey, if the Manolo pump fits.”
10
Zim loved hockey. He loved everything about the game. The ice, the speed, the feel of flying from one end of the rink to the other. And it was like flying, or as close as he’d ever come to it.
He loved his team, they had heart. Their manager had integrity and knew the game inside and out. Zim loved it all. But he hated this part.
This was the very worst part, the cameras and the handshakes and the disingenuous questions. He could have done without any of it.
“Hey, Subzero, over here!”
Zim turned toward the photographer, pushed his hair out of his eyes, and forced his lips to curve upward. He hoped it at least approximated a smile. He kept telling himself it was for a good cause. Pose for a few photos with the right people, and wallets would open.
“Just a few more minutes, Zim, and then you can relax and have a few drinks.”
Zim’s agent had a difficult job. Not only did he have to deal with a client that all but refused to be photographed out of uniform, but said client was also hesitant to sign a five-million-dollar endorsement deal that would put seven-hundred-fifty-thousand dollars in his own pocket.
“I’m fine, Marty. Any sign of my parents?”
The agent checked his very expensive watch. “The car picked them up half-an-hour ago, they should be here any minute.”
“Good, thanks for arranging that. And the other car?”
Marty grinned. “She’s on her way too.”
“Thanks.”
Marty kept grinning.
Zim tried to ignore him.
“What?”
“You invited a woman to an event.”
Zim sniffed. “So? It’s not the first time.”
“Actually,” Marty countered, his thick black eyebrows high on his forehead. “It is, to my knowledge.”
“She’s the Head Nurse in Pediatrics, and I thought she should be here.”
Marty nodded. “Right, I get that, but you invited her here as your date.”
“I didn’t.”
“Yeah, you did,” Marty stated. “It’s good to see.”
“Meaning?”
“Zim, you are one of the hottest bachelors in sports, let alone hockey. People ask me all the time, is he seeing anyone? Is he straight? Gay?”
Zim fumed. “Who the fuck’s business is it what I do with my personal life?”
“No one’s,” Marty acknowledged. “No one god-damned person’s. But here’s the thing, people are curious creatures. And a guy that looks like you, has your money, and your career, they’re going to wonder and ask and speculate.”
“They can speculate all they want. Even if I were seeing someone, I sure as shit wouldn’t want it all over the sports news and tabloid websites.”
“Lydia and I would make sure to keep any mention of your love life out of the news,” Marty assured him.
Zim’s publicist, Lydia Valtersen, was a vital part of his team. She’d done a stellar job keeping the details of his private life private.
“I appreciate the sentiment, Marty, but there’s nothing to mention.”
Marty grinned again. “At the moment.”
“Oh, look. My parents are here.”
Zim was grateful for the interruption and quickly made his way over to the front door of the restaurant.
The Manayunk, located in the belly of a large tall ship, served nouveau American cuisine in a retro-roaring twenties atmosphere. The vessel itself was permanently moored on the Delaware River, boasted a five-star menu, and had a spectacular view of center city Philadelphia. The interior consisted of warm, worn oak and rich red velvet.
Zim watched as his mother took it all in. This was definitely right up her alley, and he kicked himself for not bringing her here before now.
“Mama.” Zim took her hands and leaned down to kiss her cheeks. She wore a simple, mint green shift in soft chiffon.
“Kolya,” she breathed. “This is beautiful.”
“I knew you’d like it,” Zim replied, smiling. “And you look lovely.”
Zim’s father helped her out of her coat and handed it to the hostess before shedding his own.
“Very nice,” Gennady remarked, wearing a dark navy suit and a tie that matched Lilya’s dress. “Reminds me a little of the homeland.”
Lilya nodded. “Yes, the wood and the colors, very…what’s the word? Opulesce?”
“Opulent,” Zim supplied.
“Yes,” she beamed. “That’s it.”
“I have a table for you over by a window, so you can see the river.” Zim led them to the spot.
“Are we not sitting with you?”
“I’ll be close by, Mama. I have…someone joining me for dinner.”
Lilya stopped, her hand on his arm gripped him tight. “A girl?”
“Yes, but…”
“Oh, Kolya!” His mother clapped her hands together lightly. “It’s about time.”
“Mama…”
“Is she here yet? We want to meet her, don’t we, Genya?”
Zim’s father nodded, smiling at Zim over her head. “Of course we would, Lilechka, but something tells me Kolya’s not quite ready.”
“It’s not a date, mom. She’s on staff at the hospital.”
“Is she very pretty?”
Zim pulled out a chair for his mother, and she lowered herself into it. His father took the chair on the other side of the table.
“Yes, mama, she is.”
Well, he couldn’t very well lie to his mother. Suji Meriwether was a beautiful woman.
“Well,” she replied, beaming. “You never know where you will find your soulmate. Your father and I met when he delivered milk to our family’s house.”
Zim frowned, smiling. “You never told me that.”
His father nodded. “We did.”
“I thought you met in school.”
“We were in the same school,” his father confirmed. “But we were in different years. I didn’t know her before the day I dropped a jug of milk on their walkway.”
“Glass and milk went everywhere. My father was so angry,” Lilya provided, chuckling. “But I told him to go away, and I dealt with Genya myself.”
“You told dedushka to go away?” Zim laughed at the notion. His grandfather had been very much the disciplinarian, although he always had a soft spot for Zim’s mother.
“I did,” she replied with a mischievous grin. “I thought your father was too cute to be subjected to your grandfather’s wrath. He probably would have had him fired.”
“But your mother convinced him to let me replace the milk.”
“Yes. I hopped on the back of his bicycle and Genya cycled us all the way back to the dairy farm. Together, we brought back a fresh jug.”
“And that was that,” his father stated, smiling lovingly at his wife.
“Yes.” Lilya reached across the table and took his hand. “That was that.”
Zim had always admired his parents, their devotion to each other and to their children. And even though he knew they loved each other very much, it wasn’t often displayed which such open affection.
“T
his is what we want for you, Kolya,” his mother turned her shining eyes on him. “Love is a powerful compass. When you have it, it can guide you along your path.”
“He’ll find someone in his own time, Lilichka.”
She nodded at his father’s words. “I know. But only if he keeps his eyes open. Take that young lady over there.” She pointed behind Zim. “She is lovely, isn’t she? With kind eyes.”
Zim turned to find Suji standing at the front of the restaurant.
She smiled when she spotted him, her hand lifting slightly with a wave. She looked…incredible.
Her hair fell to the tops of her shoulders in soft waves, and she’d put on a little make-up. Nothing to overpower her luminous skin, but her lips were the color of dark cherries, and Zim had to lick his own.
The urge to kiss her roared up out of nowhere.
Zim couldn’t take his eyes off her as she made her way over to him. It was only when she stopped that he realized his parents had still been talking.
“Sorry I’m late,” Suji offered.
“No, you’re…you’re not late. Um…” Words? What were words?
Out of the corner of his eye, Zim saw his father stand up. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“Uh, yeah,” Zim sputtered. “Of course. Papa, this is Sujarta Meriwether, Head Nurse in Pediatrics at The Hospital of the University of Philadelphia. Suji, these are my parents, Lilya and Gennady Zimin.”
Suji extended her hand to his mother. “A pleasure, Mrs. Zimin.”
Zim chanced a glance at his mother and found her absolutely beaming, utterly mesmerized by Suji. He couldn’t blame her, she looked like she’d stepped out of a magazine.
“It is so lovely to meet you, Suji.”
“Our son speaks very highly of you,” Zim’s father marveled when Suji offered her hand to him.
“Does he? I’m sure he’s prone to exaggeration.”
“Our Constantine? Never.” His father chuckled.
Suji smiled, and it was teasing and playful. Zim hadn’t seen this side of her, and he found that he liked it very much. Maybe too much.
“Well, he made quite an impression on my kids today.”
