“Linus,” I reply, taking Todd’s hand as he offers it to me. “You had a question about the electrical system?”
They wave me in and start rattling off details of their refurb strategy, but my mind is momentarily pulled elsewhere. I can’t help feeling the slightest bit disappointed when we stroll past Kenna’s office. The door is shut and the lights are out, like she isn’t even at work.
Half an hour later, Todd, Greg and I are standing around a set of lockers in the break room at the back of the pharmacy, talking logistics. “You’re a handy guy to have around, Linus,” says Todd, clapping me on the back in a way that’s charmingly avuncular.
I start to respond, but a beep from my radio cuts through our conversation, followed by the squawk of static. Whipping it off its holster, I bring the radio close to my mouth and press the button to respond. “Yeah?” I say, wondering whether someone was trying to get ahold of me. More static. A second later the little red light next to the antenna goes out.
“Shit,” I mutter. “Guys, I’m sorry, I just need to run grab a spare battery for my radio here. Back in five, okay?”
“Take your time,” says Todd.
I weave back through the pharmacy, nearly tripping over a stack of plastic crates on my way out. It’s clear the department has outgrown its space. Judging from the crammed aisles and overflowing corridors, this renovation business is long overdue.
The quickest place to find four AAAs is the maintenance closet I took Kenna to a couple of days ago. When I unlock the door and flick on the light, my gaze immediately settles on the bucket she’d used as a stool. I don’t linger, however. I snatch a pack of batteries from a drawer against the back wall and let the door shut and lock behind me. I’m till busy trying to fit them in the back of my radio when I walk back into the pharmacy and overhear Kenna’s name.
“Did you try that cake Kenna brought yesterday?” The question comes from a beefy guy with a blond buzz cut. The badge affixed to the pocket of his blue scrubs says “Scott, Pharmacy Technician.”
“Oh my God, yes,” replies another technician named Sandy. “The chocolate pound cake? Isn’t it amazing?”
I loiter inside the door, pretending to tinker with my radio as I strain to hear.
“Best I’ve ever had,” Scott gushes. “I think Barbie almost cried tears of joy when she brought it in. She’d been having a really shitty birthday.”
“Aww, bless her heart,” says Sandy. “Kenna’s such a sweetheart. I hope she’s okay. Elaine said she had some kind of family emergency.”
“Maybe we should make her a cake for when she gets back.”
“Or at least get her a card,” Sandy agrees.
I snap the back on my radio and drop the dead batteries in a nearby garbage can, then walk around the gossiping technicians to rejoin Todd and Greg. I’ll admit I’m confused by what I just heard. I’m having a hard time reconciling “sweetheart Kenna” with the cynical bitch I’ve come to know. Not that baking her co-worker a birthday cake puts her in the running for sainthood all on its own… Still, it’s nice to know there’s some warmth beneath that chilly exterior she seems to wear like a second skin.
I wonder why she isn’t at work. What’s up with her family?
“I think we’re all done here, Linus,” says Todd. It occurs to me I haven’t heard a word he or Greg have said in the past five minutes. Thankfully, they don’t seem to have noticed.
“Give us a call if you need anything else,” I say, recovering quickly enough to shake his extended hand. “We’re happy to help.”
Christ, Linus. FOCUS.
A WATER MAIN burst up on the sixth floor. The alert came in at five, just as I was heading home. Big Mike had no choice but to call for all hands on deck.
That’s why it’s 8:45 and I’m just now leaving. We got the worst of it stopped, but we’re all on call tonight just in case. I’m soaked with water and sweat, and my stomach is growling. The only silver lining is that the sixth floor is no longer used for patient care, so there wasn’t any significant collateral damage. Still, tomorrow morning will be tough – we have a massive cleanup job ahead of us.
My car is just feet away, and with it the promise of a hot shower and some food. I’m working to unclip my car keys from a sodden belt loop when I almost plow into someone I hadn’t even seen – Kenna Aldridge. What is it with these weird chance meetings?
She’s dressed totally differently from the way I’m used to seeing her. For one thing, she’s in shoes that look like moccasins, which might explain why I didn’t hear her coming – no clicking of heels to tip me off. She’s also wearing jeans and a soft-looking t-shirt that has CAROLINA screen-printed across the front of it. I think this is the first time I’ve seen her with her hair down, instead of slicked back in a ponytail or a bun. It’s parted on the side and flows in loose, flaxen waves around her shoulders.
It’s a good look for her.
“Maintenance Guy,” she says, clearly mystified. I try my hardest to stand still as she takes me in from head to toe. “You’re…wet.”
“I think that’s my line,” I reply, taking a step back since I’m pretty positive I smell. She lifts an eyebrow, and I chuckle. “And it’s Linus by the way,” I add. “I have a name.”
“Linus. Right.”
“What brings you here at this hour?” I ask, leaning against the back bumper of my car.
“Just picking up some things from my office,” she replies absently, gazing off in the direction of the hospital.
“You didn’t work today?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.
“No.” She looks down and scuffs her toe against the pavement. A part of me wants to reach out and touch her face, lift her chin so she’ll be forced to look at me. She seems upset, and for some reason I find that troubling. I want to know why.
“How’s your ankle?” I ask, dodging the more important question. I know I should get in my car and drive away, but I’m not ready to let her go just yet. I kick one foot up on the rear bumper of my car and lean back against the trunk. She notices.
“It’s fine,” she says curtly. Then, “Is this your car?”
I glance back at my old, dinged-up Metro and nod, wondering what her reaction will be. “Yep,” I reply, laying a hand on the trunk lid as if I’m staking ownership. I look over my shoulder at the only other car parked in this vicinity of the employee parking lot. It’s some kind of hatchback with a glossy black paint job. “That yours?” I ask.
She nods dismissively, not bothering to look up from her unhurried inspection of the Metro. I observe warily as she steps to the side, her eyes riveted to the back of my car. She’s sort of fascinating to watch.
Suddenly she snorts. “Nice vanity plate,” she says derisively. I follow her gaze to my rear plate, whose bold blue letters spell out F OPEC. “Fuck OPEC,” she reads. It’s weird and strangely thrilling to hear her say the F word. “You get good gas mileage or something?”
Her eyes are back on me now, the low light of evening dancing in her light blue irises. I swallow as I nod. “Forty-two, sometimes forty-five miles to the gallon. I averaged fifty once on a road trip to Boise.”
She lets out a low whistle. “Well. You and my dad would get along.” She clears her throat and lifts her head, squinting toward the hospital against the orange light of the sun. “Bye, Maintenance Guy.”
My gaze lingers on her retreating back as she abruptly turns to walk away. This chick is just full of surprises.
Table of Contents
Part 1
Chapter 1 – Frank’s
Chapter 2 – All Nighter
Chapter 3 – Moving Day
Chapter 4 – Mixer
Chapter 5 – Open Up
Chapter 6 – Oreos
Chapter 7 – Meaningless
Chapter 8 – Getting Educated
Chapter 9 – Two Truths
Chapter 10 – Decision
Part 2
Chapter 11 – Tubing
Chapter 12
– The Barn
Chapter 13 – Feel It All
Chapter 14 – Presto
Chapter 15 – Diagnosis
Chapter 16 – Shots
Chapter 17 – Record
Chapter 18 – Macary
Part 3
Chapter 19 – Distance
Chapter 20 – Contest
Chapter 21 – Dating You
Chapter 22 – Holiday
Chapter 23 – Super Bowl Sunday
Chapter 24 – Chance Meeting
Chapter 25 – Fill In
Part 4
Chapter 26 – Flights
Chapter 27 – Cabo San Lucas
Chapter 28 – Bottle Cap
Chapter 29 – The Sighting
Chapter 30 – Violated
Chapter 31 – Girls’ Day
Chapter 32 – Back to Reality
Chapter 33 – Tip-Off
Chapter 34 – Wedding Bells
Epilogue – Please
Table of Contents
Part 1
Chapter 1 – Frank’s
Chapter 2 – All Nighter
Chapter 3 – Moving Day
Chapter 4 – Mixer
Chapter 5 – Open Up
Chapter 6 – Oreos
Chapter 7 – Meaningless
Chapter 8 – Getting Educated
Chapter 9 – Two Truths
Chapter 10 – Decision
Part 2
Chapter 11 – Tubing
Chapter 12 – The Barn
Chapter 13 – Feel It All
Chapter 14 – Presto
Chapter 15 – Diagnosis
Chapter 16 – Shots
Chapter 17 – Record
Chapter 18 – Macary
Part 3
Chapter 19 – Distance
Chapter 20 – Contest
Chapter 21 – Dating You
Chapter 22 – Holiday
Chapter 23 – Super Bowl Sunday
Chapter 24 – Chance Meeting
Chapter 25 – Fill In
Part 4
Chapter 26 – Flights
Chapter 27 – Cabo San Lucas
Chapter 28 – Bottle Cap
Chapter 29 – The Sighting
Chapter 30 – Violated
Chapter 31 – Girls’ Day
Chapter 32 – Back to Reality
Chapter 33 – Tip-Off
Chapter 34 – Wedding Bells
Epilogue – Please
Forever With You (Silver State Series) Page 35