by Ann, Natalie
***
Jack was programming the treadmill in the hospital gym when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Praying that it wasn’t an emergency and he could get home at a decent time tonight, he pulled his phone out and quickly scanned the text from Lucas thanking him. Jack replied back, then put his phone away.
As Jack had expected, there were no signs of broken bones or fractures. Nothing more serious than a pulled muscle. Rest alone should take care of the problem.
Starting his jog at a slow pace, Jack remembered the look on Lucas’s face when he helped Brooke climb onto the table, then later when Lucas was adjusting her shirt. Jack hated the pang of envy that came over him while he watched Lucas gazing at Brooke with love and concern.
Jack remembered a time not so long ago when he was in a similar place. When he looked at Tracy with concern, held her hand when she was in pain, and helped her with the little things. Like buttoning up her shirt when her hands shook, adjusting her belt when she started to lose weight or combing her hair when she was too weak to hold her arms up for any length of time.
He needed to push those sad memories away. It would only widen the gaping holes inside him again. Particularly when he was trying so hard to close them. So instead he focused on other memories, happier ones.
Like the first time he saw Tracy. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a perky ponytail on the top of her head and adorned with a bright red bow. She literally bounced on the school grounds with her friends, all of them laughing and giggling at some story they were listening to.
He’d been sitting by himself with his nose in a book, as always, off to the side of the building, watching from the sidelines. He had always been ridiculously shy and his love for school had targeted him as a bookworm. The only reason he was never called that to his face was because he was also the biggest kid in the ninth grade.
At over six foot then, and showing no signs of stopping any time soon, most kids stayed away from him. He had broad shoulders, long arms, and a lean tapered waist with thick muscled legs. He looked more like a football player than a scholar. Only he wasn’t athletic at all. His only athletic ability came from putting one foot in front of the other without tripping.
That day back then he’d been flipping through his science book, trying to study for an up-and-coming test, when he heard his name being called and looked up. There she was. Tracy. A ray of sunshine that beamed through the storm clouds, vibrant and full of life. She stood in front of him and asked what he was reading. She could clearly see it was his science book, but she asked anyway. After he answered her, she had grinned and started to run back to her friends when she tripped and turned her ankle.
She went down hard on her hands and knees. He jumped up to help, even as she giggled in embarrassment. But when he eased her up by the arm, she yelped in pain and couldn’t put any weight on her foot. He had picked her up and carried her right to the nurse’s office.
Somehow he ended up carrying her books all over the school for the weeks following while she was on crutches. She became dependent on him and it made him feel good. It made him feel strong, that this cheerful popular girl was interested in him. Tall, gawky, uncoordinated bookworm Jack. And thankfully she didn’t require him to talk much. She did all the talking, and he just followed along back then—happy to be with her.
But Tracy was gone now. And he was left behind. Alone, like he was before she ever made that first step toward him so many years ago.
Tracy had brought so much into his life and had made him a better person. When she left him, he reverted back into his reclusive self even more. More bitter than he ever thought he could be. But that kind of pain was a thing of the past. Because he wasn’t going to let himself fall in love like that ever again.
Before he knew it, the treadmill beeped and his time was up.
As he walked out of the gym he passed a few nurses that were walking in. Several of them looked up at him and smiled. But he saw only one face. The petite redhead who drove the Mini Cooper that almost ran into him a month ago. The same woman one who rocked a tiny bikini like it was made for her.
She made eye contact with him and smiled brightly, her green eyes shining. His eyes crinkled at the corners a bit as he walked on. A few steps past her, on impulse, he turned his head and caught her walking backwards, her grin still wide when she sent him a little wave.
He lifted his hand automatically, returned the wave, then dropped it and turned around, continuing on his way. Guess that answered his question on whether she was an employee or not, he thought with a twitch of his lips.
Then he sighed. Nope, not ready to even consider the possibility. And frankly, he didn’t think he had the energy to try right now. Hell, even if he wanted to try, he wouldn’t have the first clue on how to take a step. Way too daunting to even consider.
Besides, having casual sex with an employee in the same facility was a recipe for disaster. And that was all he would allow it to be—casual. Just like that, the small grin he was forming vanished.
***
“Roxy, I’m home,” Jack yelled from the foyer after he shut the door behind him. Slipping off his shoes, he placed them neatly next to the coat rack where he had hung his jacket. “Roxy,” he called out again. She normally made her way out of whatever room she was in to greet him when she heard the key in the lock.
He paused to listen for any sounds that would indicate where she was, but he was only greeted with more silence. Making his way to the back of the house toward the kitchen—which was normally her favorite place to be—he found it to be empty. “Roxy, where are you?”
Again, total silence.
Trying not to let the panic set in, he made his way from room to room. She wasn’t in the living or dining room, or his office. Climbing the stairs slowly, he told himself there was no reason to panic. She had to be in the house.
When he made it to the top of the landing, he started to hear an odd rattling noise coming from his bedroom. As he crept closer he realized it was snoring. Loud snoring, like an engine roaring to life then stalling and revving up again.
The bedroom door was slightly ajar, so he pushed it open wider and stepped in. He fastened his eyes on the bed. His comforter was kicked halfway down and was partially hanging off of one side of his king-sized bed. The sheets looked to be in just as much disarray.
Smack dab in the center of his bed, Roxy lay sprawled out. Her head was on his pillow while she continued to saw wood without a care in the world.
“Roxy!”
The snoring stopped immediately, one big brown eye opened, then the other. He could almost see the dread spread across her face at being caught sleeping on his bed. But she made no attempt to move.
He walked closer and sat down on the edge, leaned in and placed his hand on her back. He slowly rubbed up and down her spine as she arched into him. Her big brown eyes looked at him adoringly, and his anger diminished. He could never stay angry with her. “I should send you back to where I found you.” But his words had no bite to them. “There were no cozy beds there for you. And you know you should be in your own bed, right?” Jack asked, looking to the other side of the room.
No answer, not that he expected one. He looked a little closer and realized his pillow was wet. “Did you drool on my pillow? It’s bad enough you’re on my bed, but you drooled on my pillow too,” he said in disgust.
Her soulful eyes continued to stare at him as she snorted and blew out a big mass of spit, drenching his pillow even more.
Jack rolled his eyes. Then realized he would have to wash his sheets and pillowcase before he went to bed later. He stood up and said the one thing that was guaranteed to get Roxy up and moving. “Let’s go for a walk.”
Just like that, his beloved seventy-pound boxer jumped off the bed and danced around in a circle at his feet, her nails tapping on the hardwood floor.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs Roxy darted toward the kitchen instead of the front door. “Oh no. No biscuit for yo
u. You were a bad girl. Maybe if you’re lucky you can have one when we get back.”
She seemed to understand everything he said as she turned around and made her way back to him. “Sit,” he ordered, and watched the wagging of her little nub of a tail quiver with excitement against the wood floors.
He slipped his jacket back on, clipped her leash to her collar, and made his way back outside, a full smile filling his face.
***
“So, how are you feeling?” Cori asked when she sat in the chair across from Brooke’s desk.
“Not bad. Still a little sore, but it’s getting better.”
“You never did tell me how you hurt your back.”
Brooke, true to form, started to blush like she always did whenever she was embarrassed. “I fell off the bed,” she mumbled.
“Seriously?” Cori barked out a laugh. “What were you doing? No, never mind, I’m not sure I want to know. On second thought, maybe I do.” She laughed some more.
“It’s not what you think,” Brooke explained. “I was on my hands and knees–”
“Stop.” Cori’s palm rose in front of Brooke’s face as she laughed even harder. “I decided I don’t want to know.”
“I was trying to change the sheets,” Brooke said with a scowl. “I was leaning over to tuck the corner under and I must have lost my balance. I tried to catch myself and next thing I knew I was lying on the floor.”
Cori tried to contain her laughter. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be laughing. Especially after you broke your back a year ago, but I can see it now. I’m glad you aren’t hurt though.”
“Go ahead. You can laugh. It is funny, even though it hurts.”
“I’m sure your pride can handle it. We know you’re always so perfect all the time,” Cori said with mischief in her eyes.
“So you want details, I’m assuming?” Brooke asked with a sigh.
“Of course,” Cori said, rubbing her hands together in front of her.
“OK, Jack was great. I liked him. I’m sorry that Dr. Chen is gone but glad he took her place. He was really professional. And best of all Lucas felt comfortable with him.” She grinned. “I know how silly it sounds, but I’m happy just the same.”
“OK, that’s good. I figured he would be professional, but was he friendly, or cold? Stiff? Anything…details, Brooke. I want to know about him as a person.”
Brooke frowned. “First impression—aside from professional—is friendly, in a controlled sense of the word. He was cordial and considerate, to both of us, even though I was the patient. I really didn’t get much more than that though. Sorry. Besides, aren’t you the girl who always swore off doctors? Too cliché for you?”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. But there is something about him.” She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “You know that burning feeling you get in your chest when you see someone you are attracted to?”
Brooke nodded, a soft look coming to her eyes. “Yeah, I do. I feel it every time I look at Lucas.”
“See, you do know. But it’s not just his looks, though he’s really hot. And big. He makes Lucas and Ryan look small and that isn’t easy to do. You know I like men like that.” Cori winked. “And he has that serious broody look to him. It’s kind of mysterious, which makes it exciting.” She sighed and then started to fan a hand in front of her face. “I’m getting hot thinking about him.”
She dropped her hand. “Anyway, off topic, sorry, I get so distracted when I think of him,” Cori said. “I’ve run into him a few times and every time I do, I catch him looking at me.”
“Everyone looks at you, Cori,” Brooke said with a grin.
Cori followed Brooke’s eyes to her clothing. Today she wore a lime green headband in her hair, which matched the lemons and limes dancing on the top half of her scrubs. Her bottom half was bright yellow. “I know. But I like dressing like this. It’s fun. Anyway, this is different. He doesn’t look at me and smile like most people do.” She tilted her head to the side. “Actually, it’s like he is fighting to not smile. Like he wants to and then stops himself for some reason. And you know me. It’s like a challenge now. So that—mixed with the burning in my chest—I just need to find out more. So can you ask Lucas about him? Please?”
“You know I don’t like to gossip,” Brooke reminded Cori.
“I’m not asking for gossip. I’m asking for facts. Please, you owe me.” She brought her hands together in prayer.
“How do I owe you?”
“Remember a few months ago? I got up early on a Saturday morning to help put your life back together. And I did it with no questions asked, and you know how nosey I am.” Cori continued to remind Brooke how she ran over to her house bright and early on a Saturday morning at Lucas’s request to check on her.
Lucas and Brooke had gotten in a big fight the night before and he was worried. Like a best friend should, Cori rolled out of bed, drove over, and delivered the message Lucas had asked her to, then watched as Brooke ran out the door looking like a hot mess to fix things.
With a sigh, Brooke conceded. “Fine. I’ll see what I can find out. But no promises.”
“Thanks.” Cori jumped up and made her way to the door. “You’re the best.”
Scrubs
Cori hated working out alone. Before she met Brooke last spring, she would run around coercing other nurses to meet her in the gym later in the day. And that was always hard to do.
Working as a nurse wasn’t an idle job by any means. Depending on where you were stationed, you could end up running around all day barely able to have a hurried lunch. Like in the ER. Or, like her, working in one of the specialty departments seeing patients all day long. Going through the same routine time and again, taking patients’ vitals, asking questions and preparing the doctors before they saw their patients. By the end of the day, most nurses were beat and wanted to go home and put their feet up.
Cori loved working in the doctors’ offices the best. It meant she was able to work first shift and had most of the holidays off, including weekends. First shift positions like that were hard to come by. Because she was so young, her seniority was pretty low. It would be years yet before she received a permanent placement in one office. So for now she rotated between offices, filling in for vacations, sick days or any vacancies.
She actually liked rotating around the hospital. She had always been a people person. She loved meeting new people, making new friends and most of all talking. Some would say she never shut up. But she just considered herself friendly.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” Cori said as she and Brooke made their way out of the locker room. “This week has really sucked without you. You know how I hate being by myself in the gym.”
“Gee, nice to know I’m good for something,” Brooke replied dryly.
“You know what I mean.” Cori sighed and then bumped shoulders with Brooke on their way to the gym. At least she tried to reach Brooke’s shoulder. Unfortunately, she only reached Brooke’s upper arm instead.
Brooke grinned at her, then looked at the purple and green polka dot bow holding Cori’s ponytail in place. Cori knew her ponytail was swinging wildly, so she grinned back at Brooke. Everyone turned toward Cori when she entered, not only because of the way she dressed—which bordered on loud with a splash of tacky—but also because of her mannerisms. She was practically skipping along. Again, Cori was aware of everything going on around her and delighted in the fact she left smiles in her wake.
“I’m going to do some low impact cardio today. Even though I’m not in any pain, I don’t want to push it,” Brooke said, turning her direction toward the stationary bikes.
“That’s good. I have some energy to burn.” When Brooke looked at her questioningly she explained, “Urology this week. It has pretty much made the days drag. You know how slow everything is there.”
They climbed onto their bikes side by side. “So, any interesting stories for me this week?” Brooke asked.
“Not much, unless you count the little
old man who goosed me twice,” she said with a giggle.
“You are joking right? A patient really grabbed your butt? Did you file a report?”
Cori waved her hand dismissing Brooke’s comment. “No, no need. He was a dirty old man. No harm done. It was the most excitement I’ve had all week. Actually, the most excitement I’ve had in months.”
She never had good luck with men. Her taste had always run toward men with the same happy-go-lucky attitude as she had. The only problem was those men never took anything seriously, including a relationship. Maybe she’d been choosing the wrong type.
Just because she liked to be the life of the party, always joking, laughing and flirting, didn’t mean she didn’t want a serious relationship. It bothered her more than she liked to admit that no one ever took her seriously. Most of the men she’d dated were out for a good time and thought she was too. When in reality, she wanted to settle down and start a family. As much as she tried to change those men, she always ended up hurt in the end. Which was why she had been going through such a dry spell lately.
Cori sighed dramatically. “I might need to get myself a new dongle soon. Mine is getting a bit overworked. I think it’s time for some variety.”
Brooke actually choked on Cori’s declaration, causing her to laugh in return. She was never going to let Brooke live down the one time she’d played a joke on her, explaining how she was going to arrange her dongles one night. Brooke knew full well that Cori didn’t know what a dongle was and that it sounded more like a woman’s sex toy than a USB drive. Brooke even pulled one out of her purse letting Cori think she was about to flash a mini vibrator. Once Cori realized the whole thing was a joke she said she would get even with her.
From that point on Cori continued to call her little “friend” a dongle. “Speaking of dongles,” Cori continued on. “Did you find out anything on Jack?” she asked with a bat of her eyelashes.
