by Alexa Davis
“Oh well, I’m sure you’ll get your shot.” He smirked. “Now I’m going to make a cup of coffee. Do you want one?”
I nodded and sat down, my head falling into my arms. “I’ll never see that woman again. I don’t know anything about her. I would’ve loved to thank her in typical Terrance style, too.” I didn’t need to explain what I meant, Braxton got the message. “Oh well, never mind. At least I’m alive, there’s that.”
I didn’t like to say it aloud, but the fact that Morgan rejected me made me want her all the more. I wish she’d stayed just so I could learn more about her, which was a first for me. I found her intriguing. There was something about her that truly appealed to me in every possible way. Maybe she was heading towards Lights Out – that was pretty much the only club in the area – so maybe if I went there again, I would be lucky enough to bump into her. Then I could thank her, fuck her, and move on with my life.
“So, are you going to go to the police?” Braxton asked as he handed me my drink. “We should report those thugs before they do it again, right? You don’t want someone else to get hurt in the same way that you did.”
“I didn’t get a good enough look at them,” I shrugged and turned away from him. “There’s no point, nothing will come of it. It’ll just be a waste of everyone’s time. Anyway, I have much better things to do today. For instance, you’re going to cook me a delicious meal to help me feel more human again.”
“You reckon?” he chuckled. “I guess that’s the least I can do if you won’t let me help in any other way.”
“Thank you, Braxton. That’s awesome. I do love you.” I fluttered my eyelashes teasingly at him.
“Yeah, yeah, boss, whatever you say.” He rolled his eyes but did it anyway...making him the best friend and employee in the whole damn world.
Chapter Eight
Morgan
Monday
I stretched my arms wide above my head, loving the sense of refreshment that could only come from a full day of sleep. I’d spent the entire Sunday in bed, and it didn’t feel like a waste at all. Now I could tackle Monday morning with a fresh pair of eyes, which would hopefully get me through the week.
Sure, I knew taking that step into the hospital meant that I was going to have to face the wrath of Nickie for letting her down on Saturday night. I had a whole bunch of missed calls on my phone, but I hadn’t been awake enough to ring her back. Of course, I felt guilty about it, but I’d been too asleep at the time.
“Hey, there!” I heard her peppy voice calling out from behind me, putting me out of my misery. At least she didn’t sound like she wanted to rip my throat out. “I’m surprised to see you still alive.”
She breezed past me with a grin, and I had to really pick up the pace to keep up with her. “I know, I’m an asshole. I’m so sorry, Nickie. But I did come to Lights Out, I just didn’t make it inside.” I clasped my hands together in a pleading gesture.
“Sure, you did.” She rolled her eyes in an over exaggerated way. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t really want to come. It was just lucky that I had the other girls with me. We actually ended up having an amazing night in the end.”
“I did come.” I had absolutely no intention of letting this drop. “I promise. I just saw a massive fight going on outside. Some guy got beat up by a gang of about five guys, and I had to help him.”
Nickie spun around to face me, her eyes wide with shock. “You did not get in the middle of it, did you?” I could see her eyes running all over me, trying to work out if I had any injuries. “Are you okay?”
“I just... I shouted out that I was going to call the police, and they ran off. Then I helped the guy because he was so badly beaten.” To be honest, it was all a bit of a blur now.
“Is he here?” Her expression shone with happiness, like this was the most interesting thing that would happen all week long, and it was only a Monday. “Can I meet him?”
“No, I just took him home and looked at his injuries there.”
“Ooh, sounds saucy!” Nickie bumped my hip which sent me stumbling into the break room. “Did you have a long, hot, passionate night of fun in your nurse’s uniform?”
I felt my entire body heat up with embarrassment...and maybe something else, too. Maybe a trickle of lust at the idea.
I wouldn’t ever admit it aloud, but a part of the reason I hadn’t been able to get out of bed all day was because I’d been filled with amazing, sexy dreams about the mysterious Terrance. Under all those injuries, I could tell that he was seriously gorgeous and that had infiltrated my subconscious. I hadn’t really thought about anything else.
“No, it wasn’t like that. I just helped him and went back home.”
“Oh, well, that’s boring.” She pouted out her bottom lip in distress. “I wanted more information that that.”
“Sorry to be so dull. I didn’t mean to disappoint.” I rolled my eyes and sat down, taking a cup of hot tea from her. “And, I truly am sorry I didn’t come to the club.”
“Oh, you will have to come this weekend, we’re going again.” Nickie’s eyes shone again – clearly the night had been an epic one. I didn’t care that I’d missed it, though. I had actually enjoyed spending time with Terrance. “Annie made out with a banker, and Michelle got felt up by some guy who told her he was on TV. I don’t know if he was, though...that might have been a lie.”
“And, what about you?” I asked curiously, while sipping the piping hot English tea. “Did you pick up anyone?”
“To be honest, I got too drunk too quick, but that won’t happen this weekend. I have a plan. I’m going to make it my mission to get into the VIP section. I forgot this week because I spent the whole time laughing and messing about.”
“I’m sure you’ll meet your Mr. Right in there,” I teased, but before I could continue my joke, a thought struck me. There was a very strong possibility that Terrance was headed to the club, that was why he was hanging around out there. He might’ve even told me as much at the time, I couldn’t totally recall everything. It was bit of a terrifying blur, to be honest. “But yeah, okay, I’ll come with you, and I’ll make it inside this time. I promise!”
“Yay! That’ll be awesome, but I suppose we better get to work.” Nickie screwed up her nose in disgust. “I’ll see you later on, alright?”
“Yep, see ya.”
Well, that could’ve gone a whole lot worse. At least I still had my friendship in tact.
***
“Hello there, Mrs. Effy, how are you feeling today?” I smiled at the weary-looking elderly woman in front of me, trying to get her to open up. “Do you mind if I just take your blood pressure?”
As I slipped the machine up over her arm, she turned and gave me a look. “Do you really want to know, or are you just asking?”
“Of course, I want to know. Why would I ask otherwise?”
“People always do. Just to be polite, I suppose.” She sighed deeply before speaking out once more. “I’m lonely, very lonely.”
“Oh, I meant...” I really did mean physically, but if she wanted to go down that road, I did promise to listen.
“My husband died nearly five years ago, and I miss him terribly. Every single day, I miss him being there.” I gulped, unsure of what she wanted me to say. I saw death and grief every single day, but I didn’t know how it felt to have it happen to someone you loved so fiercely just gone.
“He was the one, you know?” she continued. “The only person I ever needed to be happy. People think I should be over it by now, but I’m not. I don’t think I ever will be. I just want to be with him in any way possible.”
“Oh, erm...” I had no idea where to even begin. If she asked me to help her kill herself, I’d freak out like crazy. That was my one biggest work fear.
“Do you have someone like that?” She gave me a look that pierced my soul. I suddenly felt like she knew me more than anyone else in the whole world did. “Someone that you love that much?”
“Oh... No, I don’
t. Not right now, anyway.” I tried to laugh, but it came out a bit more strangled than anything else. “I’m young, I’m playing the field, that’s all. But, you know, not in a slutty way.” Shit, did I really just say that? To a patient? Was I trying to get myself fired?
“What’s wrong with playing the field in a slutty way?” Mrs. Effy smirked at me, shocking me to the core. “Before I met my Tony, the love of my life, I played the field a bit.”
I opened and closed my mouth a few times before standing up and making my excuse to leave. “Right, well the doctor will call you in soon. So I’ll speak to you in a bit, okay?”
I raced from the room and straight through the waiting area into the break room to grab myself a drink. I just needed a break – that conversation had me hot and heavy...stressed, too. What was going on with me? One weird experience with a hot guy that I didn’t know, and everything was driving me a bit wild!
I leaned my back against the cold wall as soon as the drink was finished and slid my eyes closed. I needed to calm down and start behaving like my normal, sensible self, especially when I was at work.
But the images I could see in my head did nothing to help with that...
I kept imagining what it would’ve been like to accept Terrance’s offer to spend the night with him, instead of running away. I’d wanted to. I only turned him down because it didn’t feel right when he was so messed up. And because I didn’t want him to get the wrong impression of me...
Now, I couldn’t help but wonder if being overcautious getting in the way again. My mother’s voice freaking me out. I hadn’t even spoken to her, and all I could think about was my lame, never going to happen, happy ever after.
What I should have gotten was a night of hot, passionate loving. The sort of desire that would get me through the long, lonely days that’d follow. Spending that oddly intimate time with Terrance had unlocked a desperate need inside of me, one that I hadn’t realised it was there. Maybe I could have that crazy passion, after all.
“Are you okay?” Annie, Nickie’s friend from maternity, interrupted my little self-made fantasy. “Are you ill? You look a bit weird.”
“Yeah, I’m erm... I’m fine.” Thank God she couldn’t read my mind! “How was your night out on Saturday? Nickie said you had fun. Sorry I didn’t make it.”
“Oh, were you the one that was supposed to come?” She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and brushed some mascara onto her eyelashes. “Yeah, it was awesome. Shame you missed it. There were some super hot guys there.”
“Well, I will definitely be there next time!” I sounded too enthusiastic, like the nerdy kid who wanted to fit into the cool gang. I cringed at myself, but luckily, Annie wasn’t paying nearly enough attention to me to care. She was too busy making herself look good for an afternoon of delivering babies. “Nickie mentioned you met a hot guy...”
“Yeah, he was alright.” She sounded bored. Maybe it had been hyped up for my jealousy... “But there were too many to choose from, it made it really hard to pick just one.” Oh, okay, maybe not.
“Sounds amazing.” My daydreams started again, only this time I was dancing with Terrance and his hands were all over me. He was touching me in ways that drove me nuts. “Anyway, I better go. I’ll see you later.” I needed to get out before it became visible how crazed I’d become.
As I wandered back towards my office for the day, I couldn’t stop the small smile from playing on my lips. Maybe this weekend I would throw some real caution to the wind and would just act on my feelings. If I wanted someone, if I felt that powerful chemistry, then I’d act on it...just like everyone else did.
Fuck my mother and her ridiculous notions – it was time for me to start living. I would go with Nickie on her mission to get into the VIP section of Lights Out, and I would find someone to have fun with... Terrance, preferably, but I didn’t want to hold all my hopes out on one person. I just needed this desire sated, that was all.
The thought of going out to the club this weekend didn’t fill me with nearly as much dread as it did before. Actually, this time I couldn’t wait for the week to be over so I could start getting ready. It was going to be awesome; maybe I’d even go nuts and buy myself something new to wear...
Chapter Nine
Terrance
Saturday
“I’m not going to lie to you, I feel a bit nervous.” Braxton grabbed onto my arm as he spoke, trying to make light of the situation, but I could tell that there was actually something to it. “Was this where it happened?”
“Well, I parked my car down that road.” I pointed, feeling grateful that this time we’d taken a cab this time. “So it happened around there, down that alleyway.” I kept my voice steady, but I couldn’t ignore the tight knot of anxiety that clutched in my chest. “But it doesn’t look like there’s anyone there now.”
“Yeah, well, let’s just keep our wits about us tonight.” I felt like I was being scolded by a schoolteacher or something. “And, get inside as quickly as possible.”
“I will be fine with you by my side, big fella.” I grinned gratefully at my friend. “But yeah, let’s go inside. It’ll be a good night tonight.”
I had that happy sensation buzzing through my chest, that anticipated feeling that something good was going to happen tonight. Maybe that was because I couldn’t stop hoping I was going to bump into the mysterious Morgan again.
I had a feeling she’d be bumping and grinding that cute ass on the dance floor, then I could finally make my move. Once we’d hooked up, I could get her out of my system and stop thinking about her all the freaking time.
The bouncer stepped aside to let us in, but not before I eyed him closely to check he wasn’t the same asshole involved in the incident the week before. He wasn’t, though. That guy probably didn’t work here, at all; I just had to be extra careful.
Braxton got us a table sorted and brought some drinks over, while I leaned over the balcony to examine the scene below. I was roaming my eyes absolutely everywhere, looking for the one person who could make this whole night epic. I couldn’t see Morgan yet among the crowds of beautiful women, but she’d turn up, she had to...
I had the sense that she would come here looking for me for the same reason I wanted to see her. I hoped she’d spent all week long regretting the moment she turned me down.
“Everything alright, boss?” Braxton looked concerned. “Are you looking to see if those assholes are here?”
Urgh, no I didn’t need to look. If I saw them, I’d know. “No, I was just checking out the talent,” I half lied.
“Already? Starting early tonight, aren’t you?” Braxton wasn’t convinced by anything I was saying. Why couldn’t he just take my words as golden? Why did he always have to know me so damn well?
“Well, if I’m going to help you get, laid then I need to start early, right?” I laughed loudly and chucked back a swig of my brandy. I was in the mood for getting pretty drunk tonight, especially since I didn’t have to drive. “We need to find the right one for you.”
“Ooh, like the shop girl... Summer, was that her name?” His eyes were shining brightly as he started to get into it. “Okay, I’m into that plan.”
He leaned over with me and we started picking out random women that we might like, but my heart wasn’t in it like it usually was. There was only one face I wanted to pick out of the crowds, and she wasn’t anywhere. Every time I saw a shock of long, dark hair my heart got excited, but then the face wasn’t quite the same. There was no point in staring at anyone else when they just weren’t quite the one.
Oh... My... God...
I tried to calm my body down, but it was freaking out. I was trying not to get too excited, but it seemed increasingly like... Like... Yep, there she was. That was Morgan.
“Oh my God.” I grabbed Braxton’s arm a little too hard. “There she is.” My heart was hammering now, the drink trembling in my hand. I’d hoped, but I never dared to truly believe that she’d come, but here she was...the w
oman I was absolutely desperate for.
She looked even more beautiful tonight in her shimmery, silvery dress clinging to her hips wonderfully. Her dark hair was tied up in a cute chignon, and she looked more put together, but also freer this time.
Maybe it was her expression. She was laughing loudly, her head backwards with mirth, which brought a grin to my face, too. I wanted to know why she was laughing. I wanted to be the one who made her laugh like that...
“Who? There who is?” Braxton was looking everywhere, but of course, he couldn’t find who I was talking about because he had no idea what Morgan looked like.
“Morgan, the nurse, the woman who looked after me. She’s here.”
“Are you serious? I thought you were never going to see her again. She’s here? Where? Which one is she?” Braxton’s excitement was obvious. At least with him showing enthusiasm, it meant I had something to be thrilled about.
“She’s got dark hair tied up. She’s in the silver dress, there. Her friend is wearing that red jumpsuit thing.” There were too many people, it was difficult.
“Oh yeah, I think I see her. Do you want me to get her up here?”
“Erm yes.” Why did I suddenly feel nervous? “Sounds good.”
“Just her, or her friends, too?”
“Just her... For now.” I felt bad for leaving Braxton with no one, but this was important. I needed this night with Morgan – it was the only way I could move past her. “Maybe we’ll switch things up a bit later on.”
To his credit, Braxton didn’t even look pissed off. He simply nodded and walked off to do what I wanted. I sat down and waited impatiently. I kept shifting in my seat and glancing downwards, trying to plan what I was going to say. This wasn’t like me, I was normally very smooth, but Morgan had seen me in a vulnerable position, I felt a little off guard with her. I kept thinking about her tenderly touching my wounds, looking after me, then turning me down...
