Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology

by Anthony, Jane

  “Can I come in?”

  Cassidy looked up from her desk and Jess was standing there with a bakery box and two forks. “As long as that’s cheesecake in the box.”

  “I figured with what was going on that you’d be in need of some cheesecake about now.”

  “Going on?”

  “Uhh…have you not been on social media?”

  Cassidy closed her eyes. “No.”

  “Cass, there’s videos of you and Grady fighting posted everywhere.”

  “Oh my God. Do you think…”

  “No, and even if he did, he’s probably moved on to another victim.”

  Cassidy placed her hand onto her cheek. “Will I ever be able to move on?”

  Jess crossed the room and hugged Cassidy. “Not unless you’re willing.”

  “I want to.”

  “Do you? Because it seems to me that you are still allowing him to control you. Please, let him go.”

  “How can I when I’m constantly reminded of him?”

  “Don’t think of it as a reminder of him but a reminder that you are a survivor, Cass.”

  “Maybe we need something stronger than cheesecake.”

  Jess giggled. “That sounds good to me. Come on, I’m buying.”

  17

  Two weeks later…

  Grady was woken from his sleep by crashing thunder that sent him into a panic. He sat up and pulled his pillow against his chest. Memories of the crash were flashing through his head. He started to shake but then he could hear Cassidy’s voice in the back of his mind telling him to breathe.

  “I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.” Grady started to relax.

  After a few minutes he made his way to the bathroom to get a glass of water. He turned on the faucet, grabbed his glass, filled it, and chugged the water down. As he leaned forward to put down the glass, he saw his reflection in the mirror. He dropped the glass and it shattered around his feet. “ANNIE! ANNIE!”

  “GRADY WHERE ARE YOU?”

  “IN MY BATHROOM.” Grady turned on the light.

  Annie ran into his room and came to a screeching halt when she found him in the bathroom with glass and blood surrounding his feet. “OH MY GOD! GRADY, WHAT HAPPENED?”

  Grady raised up his trembling hands and placed them onto Annie’s cheeks. He had tears in his eyes. “I can see you! I can see you!”

  Annie grabbed Grady, hugged him, and burst into tears. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “The storm woke me, and I came into the bathroom for some water. There was a flash of lightning and I saw my reflection. Shit, I look awful.” Grady laughed.

  “Your feet look worse.”

  Grady looked down. “Oh! I was so excited I could see that I forgot I dropped the glass.”

  “Can you pull yourself up onto the counter?”

  Grady lifted himself up onto the counter and Annie assessed the damage. “You’re not going to like this, but I think you may need a few stitches in your right foot.”

  “I don’t like it but right now I’m so happy I don’t care.”

  “So, you want to hop to the car, or should I call an ambulance?”

  “I’ll hop.”

  Cassidy grabbed her briefcase; it had been a long night with a suicidal patient. She was walking out her door when Jake passed by. “Heading out to see Grady?”

  “I haven’t spoken to him for two weeks. Why would you think that?”

  “Because he’s down in the ER.”

  “The ER! What happened to him?”

  “Nothing serious just some stitches.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  “Cassidy, are you ok?”

  “Me, yeah, it’s just been a long day and night.”

  “I meant about Grady. I didn’t know that you two weren’t speaking.”

  “No worries. You have a good night.”

  “You too, get some rest.”

  Cassidy got into the elevator and instead of pushing the button for the parking garage she opted for the ER.

  “I called the family and gave them the good and bad news. Mom wants you to call her when we get out of here.”

  “I can’t wait to go home and call West and my coach.”

  “Mr. O’Malley, I’m going to have the nurse numb up that foot and I will be back in a few minutes to stitch it up.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Do you think that I should see if your doctor is here? I mean maybe he should check you over?”

  “You can ask at the nurse’s station if he happens to be on duty or I can call the office tomorrow.”

  The nurse came in and smiled at Grady. “This may hurt a bit.” She picked up a needle from the tray.

  “I think that’s my cue to go and see if Dr. Martin is here.” Annie waved and darted out the door.

  “Ok. All done. The doctor will be back in to stitch you up in a few minutes.”

  Grady looked down at his bloody foot. He still couldn’t believe that his sight could return without as much as a warning, but he would be forever grateful that it did.

  Cassidy stepped off the elevator as Annie walked toward her. “I heard Grady is here. Is he ok?”

  “He’s fine.”

  “Thank goodness. You know he was the one who canceled his sessions. I never would have…”

  “I know. He couldn’t handle his feelings.”

  “I wish that I could have helped him.”

  “I know you did but none of that matters now because he got his sight back tonight.”

  “He did!” Cassidy smiled. “Thank God.”

  “He got so excited he dropped his glass. That is why he is here getting his foot stitched up.”

  Cassidy couldn’t hold back the tears. “Please tell him that I’m so happy for him.”

  “Why don’t you come and tell him yourself.”

  “I’m probably the last person he wants to see.”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. He hasn’t been himself since you left.”

  “I’m sure now that he has regained his sight he will bounce back to his old self.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Why did you tell Grady that it was best for him that you left?”

  “Because it was.”

  “But why? It’s so obvious that you two have feelings for one another.”

  “I’m not his type of woman. I was someone who filled a void after Rylan left. Now that he’s regained his sight he will move on and not even give me another thought.” Cassidy wiped her eyes.

  Annie grabbed Cassidy and hugged her. “I don’t believe that.”

  Cassidy pulled away. “Take care of him for me.”

  “Thank you for everything you’ve done for my brother.”

  Cassidy couldn’t respond she was too choked up. She nodded and stepped back onto the elevator.

  “Don’t get it wet and follow up with my office in the morning. Tell them you need an appointment in a week.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.”

  “Excuse me, Mr. O’Malley, but can I have your autograph?”

  The doctor shook his head and smiled at the young nurse.

  Grady smiled. “Sure thing.” Grady took the notepad and pen. “Your name?”

  “Sarah.”

  “Does your name end in a h?”

  “Yes, Sarah with a h.”

  Grady wrote her a little note and then signed it. “Here you go, Sarah with a h.”

  “Thank you so much, Mr. O’Malley, feel better soon.”

  “Call me Grady and thank you.”

  “Did someone order a wheelchair?”

  Sarah turned toward the orderly. “Yes, Grady has been discharged and needs an escort out.”

  “Have a seat, Sir.”

  Grady moved to the wheelchair and off he went.

  Annie waited until she had Grady buckled inside the car to tell him that she ran into Cassidy. She had no idea how he would react and didn’t want him to cause a scen
e.

  “I saw Dr. Scott at the hospital.”

  Grady continued to stare out the window. “Oh.”

  “She was concerned when she found out that you were in the ER.”

  “Yeah, I bet.”

  “Yes, she was, and then when I told her that you regained your sight, she was so happy for you that she cried.”

  “Then why didn’t she come to see me?”

  “She said that she was probably the last person that you’d want to see. She asked me to let you know that she was happy for you.”

  “Sis, how can she claim to care about me and then not want to be with me?”

  “Honestly, I think she is intimidated by you.”

  “She didn’t seem intimidated when I was slamming my cock inside her.”

  “EWWW, GRADY!”

  “It doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that I can see again.”

  “If you say so. Now call mom.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  Weston was sound asleep when his phone started ringing. He ignored it the first and second time but by the third time he decided that maybe it was an emergency, so he reached over and answered it.

  “This better be good.”

  “West, I can see!”

  Weston sprung up from his bed. “Seriously, that’s epic, Grady!”

  “I know. I almost can’t believe it.”

  “How long before you can come back to the team?”

  “At least a week because I have stitches in my foot.”

  “What the hell did you do?”

  “I freaked out when I realized I could see and dropped the glass I was holding.”

  “Jackass!”

  “I can’t wait to call Coach Harvey and tell him.”

  “Please wait until morning, if you wake him, he will be cranky all day and take it out on the team.”

  “Ok, I’ll wait until morning.”

  “Thanks, Buddy.”

  “Why don’t you get back to bed. Call me tomorrow.”

  “We can plan the return of Greedy Grady.”

  “Yeah, we can.”

  “Nite!”

  “Nite!”

  Grady shut off the light and climbed into bed. He laid down and then sat back up and turned the light on. He’d been in the dark so long that he had a new love for light.

  Annie poked her head inside Grady’s room. “How’s the pain?”

  “I’m fine. Nothing could put a damper on the high I’m riding tonight.”

  “Good, then I’m going to bed because I am exhausted.”

  “Good night, Sis.”

  “Good night, Little Brother.”

  Grady rolled over, closed his eyes and like every night for the last few months he thought about Cassidy. Could there really be any truth in what Annie said to him? Maybe he should try to talk to Cassidy.

  18

  “Is that bacon I smell?”

  Grady turned toward his sister and smiled. “I figured I could at least cook you breakfast before you moved back home.”

  Annie hugged Grady. “I’m going to miss hanging out with you, but I miss my bed.” Annie giggled.

  “I love you so much, Sis. Thank you for taking care of me.”

  “I regret not coming back as soon as I heard.”

  “Don’t, I’m the one who told you not to. I had West and then…Doc.” Grady pulled away. “So, you still like your eggs scrambled?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Rye, white or wheat?”

  “I’ll make the toast.”

  Grady scrambled the eggs. “Do you really think that I intimidate her?”

  “I do.”

  “I think I’m going to stop by her office later.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  “No, but I want to look into her eyes so badly, Sis.”

  “I know you do but she may not want that.”

  “I know.”

  “Promise you will call me after you see her.”

  Grady handed his sister a plate of bacon and eggs. “I promise.”

  Cassidy picked up her phone and then put it down. She stood and began to pace.

  “Here.” Sheila extended a cup of coffee to Cassidy. “Maybe this will calm you down.”

  Cassidy took the coffee and smiled at Sheila. “Thank you.”

  “Would it help to talk about it?”

  Cassidy shrugged. “Probably not.”

  “This wouldn’t have anything to do with America’s Golden Boy would it?” Sheila giggled.

  “Not anything…everything.”

  “I crossed the line between professional and personal and now I have to live with the fallout.”

  “I don’t know exactly what happened but Cassidy, it takes two to tango.”

  “It does but he was in a very fragile state, his girlfriend left him, and I was there…”

  “Did you initiate whatever it was that happened?”

  “No.”

  “And you’re to blame how?”

  “I said no, but then when he pursued it I…”

  “Let me get this straight…he not only initiated it but then pursued it, yet you think that you’re at fault?”

  “I should have left after the first time and assigned a new doctor to him.”

  “HELLO!” Dr. Keene poked his head inside Cassidy’s door.

  Sheila looked at Cassidy. “This conversation is not over.” Then she smiled and walked out.

  “Come in.”

  “I wanted to thank you for covering for me last night.”

  “No worries.”

  “Are you alright?”

  “I will be once I finish this coffee.” Cassidy smiled.

  “Speaking of coffee, I should go grab a cup before my patients start rolling in. Thank you again.”

  “Anytime.” Cassidy smiled until he was out the door and then she plopped down onto the couch. She was far from alright, if only coffee really could help.

  Grady exhaled before he opened the door. He was both excited and nervous. “Hello, I’d like to see Dr. Scott.”

  Sheila looked up and Grady was standing there with a bouquet of flowers. “She’s with a patient right now.”

  “Ok.” Grady extended the flowers to Sheila. “Would you let her know that I stopped by and give her these.”

  Sheila took the flowers. “I will as soon as she is available.”

  “I have to see Dr. Martin but then I will stop back up. Maybe she’ll be free then.”

  Sheila smiled at Grady. “I hope so.”

  Grady gave Sheila a wave and walked out.

  “Mr. O’Malley, I heard that you regained your sight. That’s great news.”

  “I have.”

  “How are you feeling aside from the obvious?”

  “Obvious?”

  “I also heard that you visited the ER last night.”

  “Oh, yeah, that. Wearing a shoe isn’t the most comfortable but it’s fine.”

  “And everything else?”

  “Good.”

  “So, then you’re just here for medical clearance?”

  Grady nodded. “I want to rejoin my team.”

  “Ok, I want to send you for an MRI before I sign off on anything.”

  “Whatever I have to do.”

  “I’ll call upstairs and let them know I’m sending you.”

  “If the MRI is clear can I compete?”

  “I don’t see why you shouldn’t be able to once those stitches are removed.”

  “Thank you.”

  Cassidy walked her patient out and then turned to Sheila. “Flowers! Who is he and how come I’ve never heard you mention him?”

  Sheila picked them up and handed then the Cassidy. “That’s because they’re yours.”

  “Mine?”

  “Grady was here.”

  Cassidy looked at the flowers. “These are from Grady?”

  “Yes. He wanted to see you, but I explained that you were in with a patient.”

  “Thank
God.”

  “He said he would come back…”

  “When?”

  “After his appointment with Dr. Martin.”

  “Cancel my appointments. I have to get out of here.” Cassidy ran into her office.

  “Is she still here?”

  Sheila looked up at Jess. “Did you fly here?”

  “I was literally a block away when you called.”

  “She’s in her office.”

  “I can’t believe she is freaking out so badly.”

  “You better get in there.”

  Jess knocked and then opened the door. “Hey!”

  Cassidy was sitting at her desk holding the flowers with tears rolling down her cheeks. “Grady left these for me.”

  Jess’ heart broke when she looked at her friend. “Oh, Cass, he really cares about you. Why can’t you accept that?”

  “Look at me. Once he sees me…” Cassidy broke down.

  “Oh, Sweetie.” Jess comforted her friend.

  “I need to get out of here before he comes back.” Cassidy pulled away and wiped her eyes.

  “Cass, you need to stop running from your past and confront it head on.”

  “Jess, I need a friend not a lecture.”

  “Fine. Grab your things and…”

  Cassidy’s phone buzzed. “Oh God! What if it’s him?”

  “Don’t answer it. I will go out there.”

  Grady stood there waiting and hoping that Cassidy would be willing to see him.

  “She’s not picking up. I’m sorry.”

  Grady’s stomach knotted. It was over. Maybe she never really did care about him. “Ok. Thank you for trying.”

  “Grady!” Jess came walking toward him.

  “Doc?” Grady gave Jess a confused look. She didn’t look anything like what he imagined Cassidy would look like.

  “No, it’s me, Jess.”

  “Oh, hi!”

  “Can we talk for a minute?”

  “No need, tell Doc that I won’t bother her again.” Grady exited the office.

  Jess took off after him. “Grady, wait.”

  Grady turned around. “Why? Is she going to talk to me?”