by Lynn Hagen
As soon as I hit my bed, I passed out.
* * * *
Two days later I was at work, my headache gone and a hundred bucks richer. Larry and his cohorts kept giving me the evil eye, as if I’d cheated somehow. I smirked at them, tempted to stick my tongue out as I left the employee locker room and grabbed my cart and list of rooms that needed cleaning.
The first on my list was the ER. I hated those nurses who worked that department. The night before I went out drinking, I’d spent the entire night in there with my cousin Ezekiel. He’d pulled a muscle helping me move a bookcase and insisted his arm was falling off.
Being the good guy that I was, I’d brought him here and sat with him. The nurses had acted as though gossiping behind their station had been more important than getting Ezekiel the attention he needed.
And the guy who had been next to us had sounded even worse. While I’d been gone, Ezekiel had slipped past the curtain and had tried his best to comfort the stranger.
I came to a hard stop when I spotted Dr. Caleb Morgan. He was the dreamiest guy I had ever laid eyes on. He was also sweet and kind, unlike a lot of doctors who had a god complex.
He was coming out of one of the curtains when he looked up and saw me. His smile lit up my entire world.
“Hey, Chester. How’s your day going?” He wore blue scrubs, a stethoscope around his neck, and I couldn’t stop staring at his gorgeous, athletic body under those scrubs.
“I’m doing fine.” I inwardly groaned when I felt myself blushing. A horse had a better chance mating a cow than I had of dating Caleb. Wait, had I just made myself the cow in that scenario?
He move moved closer, tucking his file under his arm. “I heard about the other night.”
How on earth had Caleb heard about me going out to the bar? Housekeeping staff and doctors were on two different planets. My fingers curled around the cart handle as someone was paged over the intercom.
“About?” I would play dumb until he told me exactly what he knew.
“Why don’t we discuss this over lunch in the cafeteria?” He slid the file from under his arm and held on to it with both arms. I really wished I was that file. I wouldn’t mind being pressed against his hard body.
Wait! Had he just invited me to have lunch with him? I shoved my finger into my ear and wiggled it. “Did you just ask me out to lunch?”
I’d kept my voice low so the nurses couldn’t overhear me. A few were already staring at me with curiosity in their eyes. If I’d heard Caleb wrong, I didn’t want them snickering at me.
“Around noon?” Caleb’s pager went off. He moved his white lab coat out of the way and looked at it as I tried to come to terms with the parallel universe I must’ve been sucked into—the universe where I wasn’t an overweight man working a housekeeping job. A universe where I was tall and thin and a doctor like Caleb was.
“S-Sure.” Was this some kind of joke? Had Larry and the others put Caleb up to this?
Before I could pinch myself, Caleb excused himself and used the desk phone at the nurses’ station to make a call. Clearly the beeping on his pager had been important.
I walked away in a happy daze. Then I thought about Will. He was Ezekiel’s best friend and hot for Caleb. I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but maybe it wasn’t that at all. Had Caleb invited me to lunch to lecture me about getting so wasted?
That question made my happy bubble burst. The guy was just looking out for me, not wanting to date me, for Christ sake.
“Hey, Chester.” Caleb jogged to catch up to me. I’d almost rounded the corner when I stopped and turned, watching his silky hair bounce as he approached.
“Yes?”
“I just had an emergency come up.”
It figured. That was the story of my life. Any luck I thought I had was always quickly dashed. But who was I kidding? It wasn’t as though I had a chance in hell with Caleb.
“That’s fine. My work schedule is grueling anyway. I wouldn’t have had time for lunch.” My mouth wouldn’t shut. I just kept going on and on about why it was cool we couldn’t get together, but a part of me was disappointed, too.
He handed me a piece of paper. “Why don’t we meet here, instead?”
I looked at the Post-it Note. He’d scribbled down an address and his phone number.
My brows were furrowed when I looked up at him.
“If you can make it.” He gave me a sweet smile. “It’s my favorite place. Say seven? I really want to talk to you about something.”
I had Dr. Caleb Morgan’s cell phone number. I wanted to faint, unless it was the number to the restaurant. But why would he give me that? “I can do seven.”
If he wanted to lecture me, Caleb wouldn’t be taking me out to eat. Was he taking me out? Was this a date? I highly doubted he would make us split the bill, but I would insist. And I’d have to dig into the money I’d won to pay for my half, because did I really think Caleb would eat anywhere that wasn’t five-stars?
“Are you okay?” Caleb asked with concern in his eyes. “You look a bit pale.”
“I’m fine.” I forced a cheesy smile onto my face. “I’ll see you at seven.”
With a hesitant nod, Caleb hurried off to whatever emergency he had.
“That was real smooth.”
I spun and found Brad behind me, a big smile on his face.
“How much did you hear?” I pushed my cart onto the nearby elevator, Brad tagging along. He worked maintenance and was always busy, but it seemed my roommate had some downtime.
“Enough to know you won’t be home for dinner tonight.” Brad winked as he pressed the button on the elevator. “Nice score, by the way.”
“It’s not a score,” I argued. “He’s just a really nice guy.”
I was still trying to figure out why he’d asked me out in the first place. A lecture seemed farfetched. As we rode the elevator up, I picked up a candy wrapper some inconsiderate asshole had dropped onto the floor.
The doors slid open, and we stepped out onto the pediatric ward. This was my least favorite floor to clean. Not because I didn’t like kids. I loved them. I just hated to see them suffering. It always broke my heart anytime I waked past rooms and saw small kids lying in the large beds, tubes and wires hooked up to them.
They should be at home, skinning their knees when falling off their bikes, playing video games with their friends, and refusing to eat their vegetables. I always wanted to hug every last one of them.
Brad walked behind the nurses’ station with his tool belt around his waist and started talking with one of the staff members. I worked quickly and got out of there, anxious for this evening.
At the end of my shift, I returned to the employee locker room to get out of my uniform. I groaned when I saw Larry and his buddies in there. I wasn’t going to let them spoil my good mood.
To my surprise, and delight, none of them said anything to me. I changed my clothes and got out of there like my ass was on fire.
Three hours later, I was at a Starbucks on Sternum Street. Starbucks. That was where Caleb had wanted to meet. I’d been here dozens of times before but never knew the address.
Even I knew a coffee date meant the other person could get out of there if things didn’t go so well on a first date.
And I still wasn’t convinced this was a date.
An hour later I realized it wasn’t because Caleb never showed. I’d tried to call him twice—no more than that because I didn’t want to seem desperate—but my calls dumped to his voice mail.
The barista behind the counter brought me another coffee. “I figured you’d want a refresher.”
I looked up at him in surprise. “Uh, thanks.”
He shrugged and took a seat across from me without an invite. I didn’t mind. It was better than sitting there by myself. “It’s on the house.”
The guy was nice-looking, not as gorgeous as Caleb but he had pretty blue eyes and wore a dirty-blond man bun. The look suited his features. He looked like one of
those hipsters you’d see in a place like this. He appeared around six feet, although I was never any good at guessing a person’s height. But he was lean. Not athletic or anything, but he had a nice body.
He stuck his hand out. On his wrist was a leather bracelet. “I’m Vincent.”
I shook it. “Chester.”
“Well, Chester, what has you looking so down in the dumps?” He had his own coffee, so I figured he was on break. I shrugged, not willing to tell this stranger that I’d been stood up.
“Ah, I see.” He nodded. “Date didn’t show up?”
“You’re awfully nosy,” I said. I was being a prick because my feelings were hurt, even though Caleb never specifically said this was a date.
“Bad habit of mine,” Vincent said. “I should’ve been a bartender.”
That got a small chuckle out of me. “And I should’ve been born slimmer.”
Vincent looked me over. “Why?”
“Are you serious?” I wasn’t sure why, but talking to Vincent, a complete stranger, was kind of easy. When I opened my mouth again, all kinds of shit spilled out. “Look at me. Why would a doctor be interested in an overweight guy with a minimum wage job?”
“Because doctors are assholes,” Vincent said. “You’re not overweight, Chester. You’re just thick.”
“Is that what you kids are calling it these days?” I gave a wry laugh, although we looked the same age. Mid-twenties.
“I’m not sure about the kids, but I think you look sexy.” He winked. “Your doctor is an idiot for standing you up. I’d never do that to someone as good-looking as you.”
I had to still be in that parallel universe because shit like this never happened to me. Vincent was hot, and I couldn’t understand why he was flirting with me.
Vincent took a sip of his coffee as the coffeehouse music played through the piped-in speakers. For me, there was something relaxing about the sounds of milk being steeped, orders being called out, and seeing multiple people on their laptops.
This was more my speed. I’d take a coffee shop over a bar any time.
“I-I don’t know w-what to say to that,” I stammered, feeling like a complete moron.
“Say you’ll go out with me,” Vincent said. “I’d really like to get to know you better, Chester.”
He looked and sounded so sincere. I tightened my grip on my coffee cup, almost crushing it in my hands. “Where do you want to go?”
Vincent shrugged. “My shift is over. How about we take a walk?”
I should’ve known better than to reach for the stars. Caleb was way out of my league, but Vincent? I could totally see myself with someone like him.
“Sure.” We got up and headed for the door. When we stepped onto the patio, I spotted Caleb heading toward me.
No fucking way. This couldn’t be happening. I was digging Vincent’s vibe and wanted to get to know him better. Suddenly Caleb wasn’t all that appealing to me.
“Chester,” Caleb said when he stopped in front of me. “I’m sorry I’m so late. Had another emergency.”
Vincent looked down at me with disappointment in his eyes. “I guess your doctor showed after all.”
Instinctively or from insanity, I wasn’t sure yet, I grabbed Vincent’s wrist and held on to him. I didn’t want him to go. I looked at Caleb. “Sorry, but our date was a bust.”
Caleb’s brows hiked to his hairline as he pressed a hand to his mouth. “Oh my god! I’m so, so sorry if I mislead you into thinking this was a date. That wasn’t my intention.”
Vincent looked confused. I knew how he felt. “Then why did you want to meet?”
Caleb blushed a beet red as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I went about this all wrong. I should’ve just outright asked you. You’re a really nice guy, and I like you, but I’m interested in Brad and wasn’t sure how to approach him since I’m not very good at asking men out.”
If I hadn’t just met Vincent, I would’ve been embarrassed and mortified. Instead I chuckled. “We’ll talk about it later. I have a guy I’m very interested in getting to know.”
Vincent smiled at me.
Caleb introduced himself to Vincent. They shook hands and everything.
“You have my number,” Caleb said. “Call me. That is, if you don’t mind.”
Brad would flip his shit when he found out Dr. Caleb Morgan had the hots for him. He was the only one among the four of us—myself, Will, and Ezekiel—who didn’t fall all over themselves when it came to Caleb. But my best friend was definitely into the doctor.
He’d let slip, one night when he was drunk, how he’d love to have sex with the dreamy guy.
“I’ll call you sometime tomorrow.” But if things went well with Vincent, it would be a short conversation, because I wanted to devote all my time to my new hot stud.
Vincent took my hand and led my down the street, leaving Caleb behind. “I guess things are never what they seem. Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I took a sip of my latte. It was late October, and the air was crisp but still warm enough that I wasn’t freezing as we strolled down Sternum Street. The trees were a beautiful blend of autumn colors, and a few were already shedding their leaves. The dead ones on the ground crunched beneath my shoes, and I noticed that Vincent had yet to let my hand go.
“I hope this doesn’t sound creepy, but every time you come into the shop, I notice you.” He squeezed my hand. “It’s hard not to. You’re a very good-looking guy. I’ve wanted to ask you out for a while, but you always seemed to be in a rush.”
Had I known the barista had been checking me out, I would’ve moved at a snail’s pace. I’d noticed him before, too, but again, I’d never thought I had a chance with him.
I really needed to work on my self-esteem. It needed some fine-tuning.
We walked for a good hour. I was enjoying Vincent’s company so much that I hadn’t noticed we’d gone five blocks and had circled back around to Starbucks. It was closed, the lights out. But our cars were still parked in the lot.
I didn’t want this night to end. We’d talked about everything from our jobs, to our families, to just about everything in between.
“Tell me I can see you again.” Vincent tossed his cup in the nearby trashcan. I did the same.
“If you’re serious about seeing me, then—” The rest of my sentence was cut off when Vincent cupped my face and gave me a toe-curling kiss that made me lightheaded.
When we parted lips, we both panted for air.
“Does that convince you I’m serious about seeing you again?” he asked.
“Party.” I could barely form the words in my head. I wanted another one of those soul-stirring kisses. “Wednesday. Halloween.”
Vincent smiled. “Are you asking me to a Halloween party?”
I nodded.
“What’re you going as?”
“A pirate, but it’s not too late to change my costume.”
He shook his head. “A pirate is perfect.” He pulled out his cell phone. “Give me your number. We’ll have to talk and text multiple times over the next two days to make sure our costumes are in sync.”
I gave him my number, and he gave me another kiss before we parted ways.
* * * *
Vincent and I talked and texted as much as we could on Tuesday and Wednesday, but considering we both had to work, and were exhausted afterward, it wasn’t as much as I would’ve liked.
He still hadn’t told me what he was coming as. He’d said he’d wanted his costume to be a surprise. I liked surprises, but I was dying to know. But that wasn’t what had my nerves all jumbled. Vincent was hot, funny, charming, and a great kisser. I was nervous that I wasn’t good enough for him.
“Okay, you need to stop,” I said as I looked in my full-length mirror. It was the night of the party, and I felt like I would throw up. “Remain calm. You’ve been on dates before.”
Even so, first dates always gave me the jitters. I shook out my hands and blew out a
breath, my heart beating too fast. I jumped and squeaked when my bedroom door suddenly opened.
“Look at you!” Brad grinned as he dropped onto my bed. “Such a sexy pirate. I’m shocked you decided to stick with this outfit considering your cousin threw a bitch fit when he found out you both had picked out the same thing.”
Ezekiel really had been put out, and I’d thought about going as something else, but since I’d already told Vincent I was gonna be a pirate, no way was I changing my outfit.
“It’s kind of tight.” I pulled at my shirt. The material clung a bit tightly around my gut.
Brad got up and smacked at my hand. “Stop that. You look fabulous, so stop fussing. Vincent is gonna love it.”
I’d told him about Vincent but had completely forgotten to mention how Dr. Morgan had a crush on him. I started to tell him, but since Brad was going to the party, wouldn’t it be more exciting for him to find out on his own? I thought it would be more romantic, so I kept my mouth shut.
Brad could thank me later.
I smoothed my hands down my sides. “Are you really sure I look fine?”
Brad kissed my cheek. “I wouldn’t lie about something this important to you.”
I grabbed his hands and squeezed them. “Okay. I’m heading out to meet up with Ezekiel and Will. Wish me luck.”
I met up with my cousin and his best friend. There was some female with us, but I was too nervous to care who she was.
“You really do look great,” Ezekiel whispered in my ear. “You make a better pirate than I do.”
I knew he was only saying that to boost my confidence. He was always saying nice things to me, when we weren’t arguing. But I loved him to pieces and appreciated his kind words. “You look great, too.”
We walked inside Randall Mercedes’ home, and I was floored at how spectacular everything looked. Everyone was in costume, and there were strippers there, too. It looked as though a decoration store had exploded inside Randall’s house, and the music that was playing had a funky beat.
The four of us stopped at the table in the center of the foyer, then we split up. I wanted to wait at the door for Vincent but didn’t want to seem desperate. I spotted the table of food but told myself to stay away from it, so I took a seat in one of the chairs by the wall and waited. Thirty minutes passed, and I still hadn’t seen Vincent anywhere.