by Krista Lakes
“Sure thing,” Ollie said, with a grin for her.
Elsie stood in Oliver's gym, holding her clipboard. She needed to evaluate him to see how far along his progress was. He looked like he was healing pretty well overall, but there were things she needed to see him do in order to drop her physical training sessions down to one visit per week. She watched as Oliver walked across the room. His stride looked fairly normal. In fact, to the untrained eye, it would have appeared that he'd never had an injury in his life. But Elsie saw something.
“You're still favoring your good leg, Ollie,” she said, jotting it down in her notes. “I can tell.”
He made it to the other side of the room and turned around. “You can see that?”
“I can see everything,” she said, with a smirk. “Now run back to me.”
Oliver drew in a breath and brought one foot forward, getting ready to sprint the length of the room. He looked at Elsie and then took off, running quickly toward her. In about ten steps he was there and slid to a stop just inches from her feet.
“How was that?” he asked.
“It was fine, but I'm not convinced that you're ready for once-per-week sessions,” she said. “I think we need to keep up the training until you can run and walk without favoring your good knee at all. I can see it in your step. You put more weight on your other leg. It's not a huge deal, but if you're wanting to play at a professional level, then we need to make sure that the strength in both limbs are equal.”
Ollie ran his fingers through his blonde hair, keeping his gaze locked with Elsie. She wasn't lying to him. She really did see him favoring one of his legs while walking and running. But there was a part of her that wondered if her real intention of wanting him do more sessions was so that she could continue seeing him.
“Unfortunately, I don't think I can do any more training with you after today,” he said, with a sigh.
Elsie's eyes widened. “What?”
“Do you remember, Nikki?” he asked, leaning against a piece of exercise equipment and crossing his arms. “The one who interviewed you.”
“Yes, how could I forget?”
“She stopped by this morning,” he said, his eyes watching her.
“And?” Elsie asked, urging him to continue.
“She came by to tell me that I have to go back to California,” he replied. Elsie felt like she might be sick.
“When?” Elsie took a seat on the weight bench and Ollie sat next to her.
“She wanted me to leave today, but I told her there was no way I could do that,” he explained, and Elsie could see sadness in his eyes. “But Coach wants me back by next week. I have to go home.”
Elsie's heart sank. She knew it was coming, but she didn't think it would be here so soon. She had always realized that her time with Oliver would be coming to an end at some point, but didn't think it would be so soon and happen so suddenly. She still needed a few more weeks with him. She wanted months.
“I'm not done with your recovery work, though,” she said. “I had more things planned for you.”
Oliver shrugged. “I'm not sure that I have much of a choice. Coach needs me and so does my team. They've been without me for months and they want me back. Nikki said that if I'm not able to start training with the team next week, then Coach may not want to put me in as a starting quarterback. If that happens, I can be pretty sure that I'll lose most of my endorsements.”
She was silent as she listened to him. It was tough news to hear. Oliver going home was heart breaking. It wasn't just the loss of a good patient either. It was the loss of a very good friend. He'd become her confidant. In just a handful of weeks, she grown more fond of him than she was of most people.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You're not saying anything.”
“Yeah, I'm fine.” Elsie nodded, swallowing down her emotion. “I just didn't expect to hear this today. Kind of caught me off guard is all.”
Oliver placed his hand onto the top of her knee. His touch send a pleasurable tingle through her body, causing her to take a quick breath. She was going to miss that.
“It took me off guard as well,” he told her, his voice soft. “I had no clue that Nikki was going to show up today.”
“So, that's that then?” Elsie asked. She sighed looking around the gym where they'd spent so many hours together. “I guess we're done with therapy?”
Oliver nodded. “I guess so. I've got to be honest, I didn't think I'd fear leaving this town as much as I do now. When I got here, I thought it was the last place on earth I'd ever like. But I was wrong. It's grown on me quite a bit.”
“It's the Thai chili pizza, isn't it?” Elsie said, with a wink. “It does that to everyone.”
Oliver laughed. “Yeah, that might be part of it. But it's certainly not all of it.”
His gaze was locked with hers and she knew what he meant. She knew that there was mutual attraction between them. That had been confirmed when he had tried to kiss her that night she'd come over to his place, the same night she'd dyed his hair.
She'd made sure to stay as professional as possible for the weeks after that. No touching unless it was clinically needed. They'd still talked, though. She knew him better than she knew several of her closest friends.
But there was still that physical connection that thrummed through her bones whenever he looked at her. He made her vibrate with just a simple touch and she found herself dreaming of him nearly every night and waking up in a pleasant sweat.
Is it possible that he wants this as badly as I do? She asked herself.
It was as if Ollie had heard her thoughts. He scooted close, bringing his hand to the side of her face. His fingers gently touched her cheek as he gazed at her. His beautiful blue eyes caused her to melt into the weight bench.
He's going to try to kiss me again. I want this, but I shouldn't. I shouldn't... her thoughts trailed off as Oliver leaned in. He brought his lips to hers, before she could even consider turning away. There was a brief moment of hesitation, where Elsie wondered if she should allow this to happen.
This kiss was definitely crossing the patient barrier, but the feelings it filled her with seemed to trump all of her doubt about the situation. Still, though, she only allowed herself a moment to enjoy it before she pulled away.
Wide eyed and trying not to smile, she gently pushed her hand against Ollie's shoulder. “You can't do that. I'm your provider and you're my patient!”
Oliver simply shrugged and flashed a relaxed smile. “Technically, not any more. As of now, we are just two regular people. I'm not a patient at all.”
Elsie's heart was thumping loudly inside her rib cage. Her mind whirled. The kiss had sent a tidal wave of emotion inside of her. It was exciting and made her feel young. It reminded her of her first kiss, or at least the way her first kiss had made her feel.
“I guess you're technically right,” she said, nervously fidgeting her hands.
“Look, Elsie, I know that we both feel something for each other, and it's more than just friendship,” Oliver said. “I felt drawn to you from the moment I met you.”
“I know, Ollie. I feel the same way,” she said. “It's just horrible timing. For the last few months you've been my patient, so I haven't been able to express my feelings. But now that you're not my patient and I finally can express how I feel, you're leaving to go home. I like you a lot. I really do. There's nobody else who I feel I can talk to the way I talk to you. But you're not going to be here for very much longer. And after that, then what?”
“Elsie, if I learned anything from that car accident, it was that life can change suddenly and when you least expect it,” he said, pushing a strand of her hair off of her forehead. “I don't know what tomorrow will bring and either do you. Nobody does. But I do know how you make me feel and that's something that's not up for debate. I'm happiest when I'm with you. I may only have a week left here, but I want to make it the best week ever. I don't want to hold back any more. There's something special between
us and I want to explore that. As far as the future, why not just let the chips fall as they may? Because regardless, none of it is guaranteed.”
“I had no idea you were so deep,” she said, smirking. “Seriously, Ollie. I've never heard you say anything so poetic.”
He smiled. “I was lucky enough to get a few smarts from my brother. He didn't take all of the intelligence.”
Maybe he's right. Maybe there's something to be said for just letting go and having fun. The future is never certain. Uncle Frank's cancer has taught me that. But still, I don't want to get hurt. I don't want to just be another fling or a notch in Ollie's bed post, she thought.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, his blue eyes on her face.
“How do you know I'm thinking something?” she replied.
“I can just tell. You do this thing with your eyes when you're deep in thought,” he said, placing his hand on top of hers. “You squint ever so slightly and look up. You do it all the time.”
“I'd be a horrible poker player, wouldn't I?” Elsie giggled, feeling embarrassed about how obvious she was.
“Horrible,” he agreed, with a smile. “So what were you thinking?”
Elsie sighed. “I was thinking that I really like you and have since our first session.”
“Is that all?” Ollie asked. His thumb made small circles on her hand, creating warmth that coiled in her belly and begged for more.
“No, there's more,” she said. “I was thinking about how badly I wanted you that time you took your shirt off for your massage and how much will power it took for me to maintain self-control. I was also thinking about how nice it was to have you there to talk to when my uncle was diagnosed with cancer. But that's still not all.”
Oliver raised his eyebrows, waiting for her to finish.
“It's just that... I don't want to end up being some statistic for Oliver Lance's scoreboard,” she confessed. “I don't want to be someone you just have fun with and then go home, never to think about again. I've been that girl before and it hurts. It hurts bad. I can't do that again.”
“I'd never hurt you,” he said, with deep sincerity. “Besides, all I'm asking is if I can take you out on one date this weekend. A real date. Not just having you come over so we can watch TV, but a legitimate date. If you don't want to, I understand. But I have to ask, because if I don't, I'll kick myself for the rest of my life.”
She narrowed her eyes, evaluating him for a moment. How can I possibly turn that down? Plus, it's just a date. A casual, fun date. And anyway, it might be nice to get to spend a little bit of relaxing time with him before he goes on his way.
“Okay. Yeah. I'd love to go on a date with you, Ollie,” she finally said. “That sounds fun.”
“Really?” he asked, his eyes widening. “You will?”
Elsie nodded. “Yes, of course I will. Besides, it's like you said, I'm not your doctor any more.”
“I can still call you 'Doc' though, right?” he asked, chuckling. “I'll plan the whole thing. All you have to do is be ready by six o'clock Saturday evening. I'll pick you up.”
Elsie looked confused. “Pick me up? How? You don't have a car and any rental place is sure to recognize you.”
Ollie stood up from the weight bench and proudly put his hands onto his hips. “Hey, just because I've been slightly disabled over the past few months, doesn't mean I haven't made any friends. The nice farmer who lives next door stopped by a week or so ago and we chatted. He offered up his mode of transportation and I told him I might take him up on it if an opportunity arose. Well, here's the opportunity.”
“Neighbor? There aren't any neighbors around here,” Elsie said.
“By neighbor, I guess I mean the neighboring farm,” he explained. “Johnny Jones was his name, I believe. He lives a few miles from here.”
Elsie smiled while she watched Oliver's excitement. Somehow, he'd managed to make a connection in her small town. Apparently, it was a connection that offered him transportation too. He was nothing if not resourceful.
“I actually know Johnny,” she said, standing up from her seat. “He's the old farmer who always has a piece of grass sticking out of his mouth, lodged between his front two teeth. I used to see him around town once in a while. He's a bit of a trickster.”
“He seemed nice enough,” Ollie said with a shrug. “He stopped by a while back to see if I needed anything. I was a little nervous answering the door, because I was afraid he might recognize me. But when he walked up, he saw me through the window of the living room, so I couldn't just hide. Funny enough, though, he didn't seem to have any clue who I was. I introduced myself as Oliver and he just shook my hand as though he were meeting anybody else. Didn't seem too impressed by much.”
Elsie laughed, shaking her head. “Johnny is definitely not impressed by much. And he also doesn't believe in television, so I doubt he's ever even heard of your football team. Anyway, that's really nice of him that he said you could use his car.”
“It's awesome, because it wouldn't feel much like a date if you had to come pick me up for it,” Ollie said. “And I want it to be perfect. I was willing to risk having someone deliver one, but this is easier. Johnny assures me that she's 'a beauty.'”
There was no denying that Elsie's crush on Oliver was shifting into high gear. She decided that she'd just relax and go with the flow with him, see where things went.
A date does sound like so much fun, she thought. It's been a while since I've had that happen.
“So Saturday, then?” Elsie asked, as the two of them walked toward the front door.
“Yep. Text me your address and I'll be there at seven,” he said, as he opened the door for her.
“I live above above the physical therapy clinic at the edge of town,” Elsie said. “You can't miss it.”
“Perfect. I'll be there.” Ollie took Elsie's hands in his. She stood in front of him, feeling butterflies fill her belly. The ice had been broken since they'd kissed, but there was still that fun tension between them.
“I guess I'll see you then,” Elsie said, before gently biting her lower lip.
“I can't wait,” Ollie said.
Then he leaned in and kissed her again. It took Elsie's breath away, but this time, she didn't hesitate. She pressed into him, letting their lips collide with a kind of need that could only be present after months of suppressing their true feelings. It was electric. Sparks flew around them and her body burst into flames. She brought her hands to his chest, enjoying the sensation of his firm muscles. His taste, his smell, everything about him turned her on and made this the best kiss she'd ever had in her life. It had been a long time coming.
The two of them stayed embraced in the doorway. Their hands drifted over each other as their tongues danced. Elsie's knees turned to jello, her legs trembling beneath her. Outside, the sun poured down onto the farm. The warmth of spring was on its way, and the bitter winter was coming to an end. She couldn't say for sure, but it was quite possible that this was the most perfect moment she'd ever experienced. She savored it for as long as she could.
Elsie slowly broke the kiss. The two of them gazed and each other. She smiled. It was as though she was seeing Oliver for the first time. No longer was he a patient. The stigma that had held her from expressing her feelings was gone, finally. Now, he was officially a crush. And in the back of her mind, she knew it was even more than that.
Chapter 14
Elsie
Elsie stood in her bedroom, surrounded by a hundred outfits that she'd tried on. It looked like a clothes bomb had gone off. Shirts, blouses, dresses and pants were strewn about, covering nearly every possible surface. It was Saturday afternoon and she was trying desperately to find the perfect thing to wear for her date with Oliver.
Why am I nervous right now? She asked herself. It's not like I'm going on a blind date or something. It's just Oliver. I've known him for months.
She couldn't shake the nerves, though. The excitement of going on an actual date a
nd with a very gorgeous man made her heart beat quickly and her palms sweaty. It reminded her of when she was getting ready for senior prom in high school. But at least then, she'd had a dress picked out and knew exactly where she'd be going. Now she had no clue. It had been some time since she'd gone out on a date and felt very ill prepared.
“I wish I knew where he was taking me,” she said to herself, standing nearly naked in front of the mirror. She was only wearing black panties and a black bra. “If he had told me where we were going, that would have at least helped narrow down the options for what I should wear.”
With only a half an hour left until Oliver picked her up, she didn't have time to dilly dally any longer.
It's not like there are any fancy restaurants in town, so that rules out the little black dress, she thought, sifting through her closet. And I certainly don't need to dress really nice if we're going to the diner. That would be awkward to go there wearing anything more than ripped jeans and a t-shirt.
It took a while longer, but she finally settled on something. She slipped on her nicest pair of jeans, which were dark enough to be considered dressy, but light enough in case they did something casual. The weather, though nicer than it had been in months, was still breezy and cool. So she wore a light blue sweater, which she knew would have looked good regardless of the setting of the date. And for shoes, she wore black pumps. When she gazed into the mirror again, a satisfied grin crossed her face.
That should work, she thought. Finally. Geez.
She quickly brushed out her hair. For the first time ever, she would be around Oliver with her hair down. It was so rare that she'd almost forgotten what she looked like. Her chocolate curls looked great, though, better than she remembered. And after a few sprays of her favorite perfume, she was ready to go.
I still can't believe I'm about to go on a real date, she thought, gathering her cell phone and lipstick to put into her purse. And with an ex-patient of mine, of all people. Who'd have thought?