by A. P. Watson
I was about to check my phone when a call light sounded. I headed over to answer it, making sure the patient had everything they needed, but it was a false alarm. When I returned to my seat, another text from Jacks was flashing on my phone.
Jacks: I just ordered five pizzas for you and your coworkers. It’s not nutritious, but it’s better than food from the vending machine. Should be there in thirty minutes. Everything is paid for, tip included.
Me: Thank you so much! You didn’t have to do that, but it is greatly appreciated. None of the nurses I’m working with tonight have gotten a break.
Jacks: Can’t let my girl starve.
Me: Thanks again . . . get some rest.
When the pizza arrived, Nate nearly keeled over in shock. He ripped the boxes out of the delivery guy’s hands and carried them into the break room. Misty and I were hot on his tail. We each snagged a piece of pizza out of the first box, our bodies delighted by the intake of warm food.
Misty rubbed her belly as she started a second slice. “This is making the baby so happy.”
“Him and me both, sister.” Nate finished his first slice, diving in for seconds. “Not that I’m not grateful, but which one of you ordered pizza.”
“My friend ordered it,” I answered.
Nate’s head snapped in my direction so fast, I feared his spine would snap. “Is this the guy who had takeout from Monteverde sent here a few weeks ago?”
“Yeah.”
Misty’s eyes widened in surprise. “I worked that night! The takeout was amazing.”
“He’s just my friend, I promise.”
“If a man sends food to your work at one in the morning, call him what he is . . . he’s a boyfriend,” Nate said, his voice filled with sass.
I rolled my eyes, staring at the speckled tiles covering the ceiling. “Whatever.”
The following two nights that I worked were actually an improvement from the first, but when Nate and I set foot in the unit for our fourth night in a row, we got our asses handed to us. We had not one but two patients withdrawing from alcohol. Thankfully, both were started on Precedex the moment they started to get wild, but they still gave us a run for our money. Every now and then, I considered switching professions. Sure, I got into this gig to help people, but on nights like tonight, I felt more like a cattle roper than a registered nurse. Seven in the morning couldn’t come soon enough, and as soon as Nate and I finished giving our reports, we bailed.
I collapsed in the seat across from Nate. There were only a few other souls in the cafeteria this early. “That was a night from hell.”
“You’re telling me. I thought those twelve hours would never end. 26 wouldn’t stay in the bed for anything, even after you tied his ass down.”
“I know. Thank God for Precedex and hot carbs,” I replied. I was so hungry I shoved several fries into my mouth at once. The only things that registered on my to-do list were food and sleep.
“This place is so depressing. Look at her plate! Eating a breakfast like that is just asking for high cholesterol.”
I took a long gulp of sweet tea. “We’re not exactly pictures of health this morning,” I countered, pointing to our identical mounds of fries.
“Yeah, but we had a shit night, and we look good.”
“You’re terrible.”
“Shut it. You know you love me,” Nate declared confidently.
“Is that why I hang out with you?”
He leaned forward, snagging a sip of my tea. “You know it’s true.”
“I’m just glad I’ve got four days off after this. I couldn’t do another shift after last night,” I whined.
I watched Nate’s fork slip out of his hands. “Holy hot sex on a stick,” he muttered.
“What did you just say?”
“Shh!”
“What is wrong with you?” I asked, confused.
“Wren, shut that gorgeous mouth of yours.”
“Are you having a stroke?”
“No,” he sighed loudly, clearly exasperated with me, “but the hottest thing I’ve ever seen on two legs is checking out at the cafeteria register. And now he’s headed this way. Damn, I’d take it from that sexy ass man.”
“What are you talking about?”
Before I could turn in my seat, I heard a familiar voice in my ear. “Good morning, Wren.”
“Jacks?” Now, Nate and I were both staring at him in bewilderment. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d surprise you. Monday night was the last time we talked. Usually, I’d call, but I wanted to see you,” Jacks confessed.
“Oh, yeah. I just got off a four-night stretch.”
“I know.” He picked up a fry off my plate. “Fries for breakfast?”
“I don’t want to hear any judgment from you. My shoes got pissed on last night, so I think that entitles me to a full plate of fried goodness,” I snapped.
“I’d say it does.” He stretched his hand across the table toward Nate. “I’m Jackson Carmichael, by the way.”
Nate took the offered hand, never breaking his stare. “Nate Hardwick. I work in the ICU with Wren.”
“Nice to meet you,” Jacks replied.
“Likewise.”
“I’m glad I found you down here. I went up to the floor you work on, but one of the nurses told me to come down here,” Jacks began.
I rolled my eyes at Jacks, unable to keep myself from smiling. “Stalking is illegal in all states.”
“Wait, you’re the guy who sent the pizza Monday night!” Nate exclaimed.
Jacks nodded in reply to Nate’s question. “That’s me. I hope you guys enjoyed it.”
“It was a lifesaver! I’ve never been so happy to see food in my life,” Nate replied.
“Glad I could be of service.” Jacks took a long drink of coffee. “Shit, I forgot to grab a coffee sleeve. I’ll be right back.”
Once Jacks was out of earshot, Nate leaned in close. “Please tell me you’re fucking him,” he whispered.
I glared at him. “Keep your voice down!”
“What? You have slept with him, right?” Nate asked.
“No! We’re just friends.”
Nate shook his head dramatically. “Honey, there is no being just friends with that.”
“He is Ryan’s friend, the one that’s a notorious bachelor. He does open relationships and one-night stands.”
“You’re telling me with complete honesty you don’t need a one-night stand?”
“I despise everything about you,” I spat through gritted teeth.
“All I’m saying is you need a little D in your snatch.”
“Sometimes, I still don’t believe the shit that comes out of your mouth. Besides, Jackson is about as interested in me sexually as you are,” I stated.
“That’s not what it looks like to me. And if I were into girls, I’d totally sleep with you.”
“You’re so sweet when you want to be, and I highly doubt Jackson is into me. He’s the one who set up our friend arrangement in the first place.”
“Interesting.”
“Either way, shut up because he’s headed back this way,” I ordered in a hushed tone.
“How long have you been a nurse, Nate?” Jacks asked.
“About three years. I’ve worked in the intensive care unit for the last two.”
Jackson nodded his head. “That’s very hard work.”
“Yeah, some nights are tough, but that’s with any job. Well, I better get going. Unlike this beautiful creature, some of us actually have to work tonight,” Nate stated.
“You haven’t finished your breakfast.” I stuck out my bottom lip, pouting as Nate stood from the table.
“I’ll finish it on the way home. If I don’t leave now, I’ll be too tired to drive.”
“You want me to drive you?” I asked.
“Nah, I’ll be fine.”
I waved to Nate. “Have fun without me tonight, and change your schedule next week so you can work with me!”
>
“Yes, ma’am.” Nate performed a mock salute as he made his way to the cafeteria door.
“Bye, Nate. I’ll see you next week! Love you, mean it!”
“Love you, mean it!” he called out.
Jacks’s eyebrows lifted as he stared at me. “What was all that about?”
“What?”
“Love you, mean it?” he questioned uncertainly.
“Oh! That’s just something we say. You realize Nate is gay, right?”
“I thought so, but I wasn’t completely sure.”
“Yeah.”
“He seems really nice,” Jacks added.
“He’s the best! He has absolutely no filter, and it’s hilarious.”
“Can’t imagine why you’d find that appealing.”
“Hey!” I smacked his arm lightly.
“Wren . . . you know why I came here today.”
“I do?” I was trying to play dumb, even though I knew it wouldn’t work with Jacks. He knew good, and well I was too smart for my own good.
“You’re not working tonight, and we need to talk.”
“Um . . . ”
“You can’t avoid me forever.”
“I’m not avoiding you.” He raised his eyebrows, staring at me in disbelief. “Okay, so maybe I am, but only a little bit,” I replied, biting my lip nervously.
“And why are you avoiding me?” he asked.
“You tell me.”
“I plan to at my place tonight.”
“Fine. What time?”
“Seven. I’ll order us some takeout.”
“Alright, you win. I’ll be there.”
“Good!” I watched as he stood from the table, smiling. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Jacks?” I wasn’t sure why I called out his name. I was trying to be strong and independent, but I’d been both of those things for way too long, and I was beyond the point of being exhausted.
“Yeah?”
I didn’t utter a word as I rounded the table and wrapped my arms around his waist. At my touch, his arms enveloped me, forcing our bodies as close to one another as possible. Seconds passed, minutes too, but it didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was the way his body folded into mine. His touch was comfort in its purest form, and I was soaking up every bit of it. “Sorry. I just needed that.”
His thumb traced the line of my jaw as he lifted my chin, forcing our gazes to meet. “I did too.” The faint feeling of his lips touching my forehead stole my breath away. “Until tonight.”
“Bye.” I waved goodbye, watching as he exited the cafeteria.
We were going to talk tonight, and I knew we needed to, but the second our embrace ended, my nerves kicked in. I downed the rest of my tea and my fries before running out to my car. With any luck, Terayn would still be at the townhouse by the time I got home.
Harlow and I sped through the city, a copper glint against a backdrop of gray. I took the longer route as I drove, but it proved to be a wise decision. I missed all the red lights on my way back, and it wasn’t long before I was parking Harlow on the street outside our home. I dashed up the steps, bursting through the front door as I called out Terayn’s name.
“Ter!” I dropped my belongings on the counter, immediately stripping off my scrubs to throw in the washer. Ryan’s car was already gone, so it was just Terayn and me. “Ter!”
I kicked off my shoes, tossing them into the washer along with my scrubs. Like my uniform, my sneakers needed to be cleaned.
“What?” She opened the door to her and Ryan’s bedroom, dregs of sleep still clinging to her features.
“Did I wake you?”
“Yeah. I don’t have to be at the gallery till noon,” she mumbled.
“Oh, shit! I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. What’s up?”
“Jacks stopped by my work this morning.”
In an instant, her doe eyes popped open. She was fully awake now. “He did?”
“Yeah. He invited me to his place tonight for takeout. He said he wants to talk.”
“Oh my God! He’s totally going to confess his love for you and do nasty, amazing things to your body!” she squealed.
“Ter—”
“I don’t want to hear it! I know I’m right, so you can just shut your pretty little mouth.”
“Actually, I was going to agree with you.”
“Wait.” She left her room behind, following me through the hallway to the bathroom. I removed my bra and panties before hopping into the shower. “What did you say?”
Hot water poured over my aching muscles, washing away the stress of the past thirteen hours. “I agree with you. I went to see Jacks’s grandpa the other day before work. He told me Jacks was in love with me.”
Her resounding shriek was so loud, it nearly shattered the bathroom mirror. “I knew it!”
“I mean, David wouldn’t tell me something like that unless it was true, right?” I asked.
“I don’t think so. From what Ryan has told me, Jacks and David are really close. He tells his grandpa everything.”
“I know. I’m still nervous though.”
“That is totally understandable. You’ve been burned in the past and putting yourself out there again is terrifying.”
“I just feel so wishy-washy. One second, I believe what David told me completely. The next, I doubt everything Jacks has ever told me.”
“I know exactly how that feels. They don’t call it lovers leap for nothing.”
“What should I do when I go over to Jacks’s place tonight?”
“Be a fucking sexual force of nature. Girl, I’ve seen you dance. Be who you are when you’re dancing.”
“I think I can do that.”
chapter seventeen
breaking down the door
EXCITEMENT FIZZLED THROUGH MY veins as I got ready to go to Jacks’s place. I took extra care with my hair and makeup, wanting to look as sexy as possible. My goal was to make sure there was no way he could end the night without expressing his true feelings for me. He’d been broken before, a plight I could certainly empathize with since I’d suffered a similar fate. From the first time we met, we’d taken comfort in one another’s presence, and I wasn’t about to let that change.
I curled my hair, tousling the long locks over one shoulder. After applying smoky eyeshadow and painting my lips red, I was almost ready to see him. Heading back to my room, I put on my pearls and braided, silver bangle. As far as clothes went, I had the perfect outfit to wear. I pulled on a maroon sweater dress that hung low off my shoulders, exposing my collarbone. The garment hugged my body like a glove, and the finishing touch to my outfit was a pair of black heels.
When I met Terayn in the living room, she whistled loudly. “Damn, girl.”
“Just following your advice.” I rifled through my purse, picking out my wallet, lipstick, and some gum to switch to my black clutch.
“I think it’s going to work! Besides, if he doesn’t alter your friendship agreement, I’m leaving Ryan, and we’re becoming lesbians.”
I laughed at her, shaking my head. “Sounds fine to me.”
“Go get ‘em!” she yelled.
“Will do. Love ya!”
“Love you!”
I grabbed my purse and phone, heading out to Harlow. She looked as sexy as I felt, and I smiled to myself, knowing, however the night went, I was finally going to get some answers.
Butterflies fluttered around inside my rib cage. The closer I got to Jacks’s apartment, the more I felt like I was pulled there by an invisible tether. I sucked in a deep breath and twisted my hair over my shoulder before knocking on his door.
All my preparations seemed useless when Jacks opened the door. I wanted to be in control, but such a thing was easier said than done. He was still dressed in a charcoal suit from work, but he’d shed his usual tie, and the first three buttons of his shirt were undone.
“Wow.”
“Hey.”
His eyes raked ov
er me slowly as he took note of every inch of my body. “You look . . . ”
I laughed slightly, stepping past him into the apartment. “Use your words, Jacks.”
“I’m trying.”
“Are you?”
“More than you know.” He snapped out of whatever daze he’d surrendered to and rounded the large kitchen island. Popping the cork out of a bottle of wine, he filled two glasses to the brim, handing one to me.
I accepted the glass, instantly taking a drink. The wine slid over my tongue, igniting my taste buds. “This is really good.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
I smiled at him, making my way over to the couch. He followed my lead, keeping as much space between us as possible. “So, how was work today?” I asked.
“Really good.”
“That’s it?” He nodded, taking another long drink of wine. I bit my lip, praying I had enough courage to go through with Ter’s advice. “Why don’t you try to finish your sentence from earlier?”
“My sentence?”
I crossed my legs, leaning forward as I placed my clutch on the coffee table. “How do I look?”
He set down his glass, his hands rubbing the fabric covering his legs. “Like the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“That’s a good answer,” I said, smiling.
“Wren?” he asked, his voice cracking slightly.
“Yeah?”
“Fuck.” His hands balled into fists, his knuckles turning white. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?”
“What do you want from me, Jacks?” I tried to meet his gaze, but his eyes were still glued to the wine glass he’d just set on the table.
“I keep thinking about the other night. I haven’t been able to get it off my mind,” he confessed. I reached over to him, sliding my hand around his. At my touch, it was like a switch flipped. Suddenly, his gaze lifted, meeting mine. “Can I ask you something personal?”
“You can ask me anything.”
“Did you ever get turned on while you were dancing at The Peel?”’
Part of me wanted to lie. But in a split second, honesty prevailed. “Yes.” It was a word I uttered every single day, but at this moment, it seemed like the most profound confession I’d ever made.