“Can we come in?” Molly asked tentatively. Ben waited with her.
I made myself smile at her. “Yeah, definitely.”
“Why don’t we let you all talk? We’ll be in the waiting room.” Mom patted my hand before getting up. Dad gave me a small smile and followed her out.
I waited until my parents disappeared through the doorway. “I really fucked up this time, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, you did.” Ben pulled a chair over, gesturing for Molly to take the one Mom had been using.
“I’m sorry.”
Ben leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “For scaring the hell out of us? Mom probably lost ten years off her life.”
“For this and the other stuff.”
“Am I pissed you tried to wreck my relationship with Molly? Yeah, but it doesn’t matter anymore.”
“That was ages ago, Jake. We were kids.” Molly touched my arm gently. I wasn’t used to her talking to me nicely.
“You really don’t care?” I’d spent the last six years worried that Ben would find out. What kind of guy tries to screw his brother over like that? It had to have been my low point. It didn’t help that Daniela suggested it right after we’d hooked up. We were both using each other. I was the closest thing she could get to Ben, and she gave me sex without asking for anything more.
Ben straightened. His expression told me he wished he was anywhere but there. He wasn’t the only one. “I already told you I was annoyed, but it’s over. Let’s stop talking about it.”
Molly looked like she wanted to say something but closed her mouth.
“Just say it.”
She studied her lap. “Did you really have a thing for me?”
I smiled, waiting for her to look at me. “Yes, as misguided as it was.”
She laughed. “I had a crush on you once too.”
“You did?” Ben and I said at the same time.
“For over a year, actually. I thought I’d lost my mind. I was supposed to hate you.”
“What changed your mind?” I asked.
“I fell for Ben in eighth grade.”
“Your crush was in middle school? That doesn’t count.”
“What did you expect? Ben and I started dating when I was fifteen.” She rolled her eyes. Usually it annoyed me when she did that, but I liked it this time.
“It’s good to have the real Molly back.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know how to deal with you when you’re nice.” I smirked. Smirking always pissed her off.
“Like you should talk? Are you ever nice?”
“Just like old times.” Ben put an arm around Molly’s shoulders.
That conversation went better than I expected. Somehow I knew I wouldn’t be able to fix the DUI problem as easily.
Chapter Four
Emily
“You came back.” Jake grinned when I came in that night. He was sitting up in bed, and he looked ten times better than the night before. He set aside a magazine. He moved it too quickly for me to see which one it was.
“I told you I would.” I picked up his arm and put the blood pressure cuff on.
“Yeah, but I was kind of afraid you’d switch patients at the last minute.”
“Nope. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me tonight.” I pressed start on the monitor.
“I don’t think ‘stuck with’ is the right choice of words. More like, I’m the luckiest patient on the floor.”
“I’m also seeing another patient next door…but he’s unconscious.” I removed the cuff, and took his hand so I could get a pulse ox on his finger.
“So I’m okay as long as you don’t get any ideas when he wakes up.”
“He’s eighty-six.”
Jake smiled this breathtaking grin. “I think I got this one then.”
I laughed. “I need to take your temperature.”
“Please do.”
I put the thermometer under his tongue, and he watched me intently the whole time. Had he been an old man, I would have called it gross. Coming from an attractive twenty-three year old, it didn’t bother me.
The thermometer beeped, and I removed it from his mouth.
“How did it go with your family?” I probably shouldn’t have asked, but he’d seemed so nervous about it.
“Better than expected in some ways, and worse in others.” He struggled to sit up more.
I helped him with his pillows and his hand brushed against mine. The brief contact was comforting, and I wanted more of it. “Isn’t that how most things usually go?”
“That’s very true. Can I ask you something now?”
“Sure, but I might not answer.” Talking about him was one thing, but I didn’t particularly want to talk about myself.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m your nurse. Or have you forgotten?”
“I just mean why would a girl like you be working nights like this? Wouldn’t you rather be out?”
“We don’t all have that option,” I said bitterly.
“Hey, I didn’t mean anything by it. I guess this is just my backwards way of asking if there’s a guy waiting for you at home.”
“Shouldn’t you have asked that question before trying to get my number?”
He grinned again. “I figured that might have been your hesitation.”
I could have lied and told him I had a boyfriend, but what was the point? “No. There’s no guy waiting at home.”
“It’s not like me to risk getting rejected twice, but it’s worth it this time. Can I get your number?”
“That would be pretty unprofessional of me.”
“I won’t call until I’m out of here. I won’t be your patient anymore.”
I bit back a smile. “You know, you can be pretty persuasive.”
“So I haven’t completely lost my touch?”
“No.” I made my decision and scrawled my number on a scrap of paper. I went over to where his personal belongings sat, and grabbed his brown, leather wallet.
“What? Are you taking payment for the number? Because I think that might be considered unprofessional.”
“Nothing that extreme.” I folded up the paper and slipped it into his wallet. “If you still want to call after everything, it’s in there.”
His face lit up. “I’m sure that was a pity number, but I don’t care. I’m going to heal better now that I know I’ll see you again.”
“I thought you healed quickly anyway.”
“Yeah, but you can never heal fast enough.”
I laughed. “Take care of yourself, Jake.”
I resisted the urge to look back when I left the room. I wasn’t sure I could handle another one of those grins.
Chapter Five
Emily
“I may have done something crazy.” I took a sip of my lemonade.
“Define crazy?” Mel looked at me over her sunglasses. We were at an outdoor table at one of our favorite lunch spots.
“I gave my number to a patient.” I concentrated on my chicken salad rather than on her face.
“One of your patients? Aren’t they all old?”
“Not all.” Mel was a nurse at a pediatrician’s office and always viewed my job as intense. Her job sounded great—but it didn’t pay nearly enough. I was saving up to go back for my nurse anesthesia certificate. It paid well and had great hours—both things I needed.
She laughed. “Is he at least cute?”
“Very. And in my defense, he knows you.”
“He knows me?” She pointed at her chest.
“He’s from Clayton Falls. Jake Mathews.”
She dropped a strawberry from her fruit salad back onto her plate. “Jake Mathews? Are you serious?”
“I take it you remember him?”
“Of course, I remember him. He was the star quarterback.”
I poured a little bit more dressing on my salad. “Again with football? Is that all he did?”
“Did he win you
over by reminiscing about his glory days?” She laughed.
“Not exactly. It just came up when we were discussing how fast he heals.”
“How fast he heals? Did he also ask you to kiss him and make him better?”
I crossed my arms. “It wasn’t like that. I don’t know why I did it. I just found myself giving my number to him.”
She took a bite of her club sandwich. “Weirdness that you like my old high school heartthrob aside, maybe you’re finally ready to get back out there.”
“Maybe. I doubt he’ll even call. I know it was all a macho act anyway.”
“Yeah, because that’s the only reason a guy would ask for your number.” She rolled her eyes. “Why was he in the ICU? I guess that should have been my first question…but the romance was more interesting.”
“Car accident… DUI.”
“What? A DUI? Aren’t you the most anti-drinking and driving person?”
“I know, I know. I just keep thinking there’s a reason for it.”
“You know what you’re doing. Don’t use him as a project. Not everyone needs saving…”
“I know.”
“I still can’t believe you gave your number to Jake Mathews… it’s a small world.”
“I bet you he won’t call.” I put my fork down. I wasn’t hungry anymore.
“You never make bets.”
“There’s always an exception.”
“Wow…next you’re going to tell me you want to go out tonight.” She tied up her long, brown hair.
“I would if I didn’t have to work, but maybe tomorrow night.”
Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. I think I’m finally ready.”
“Hallelujah. Now we just have to get you something to wear.”
“I have plenty of clothes.”
“Not to go out in.”
“Says who?” I took another sip of lemonade.
“Me. We’re going shopping.”
“Now?”
“As soon as you finish that salad.”
“All right, I’m in.”
***
It had been ages since I’d been out. Free time wasn’t a luxury I’d had since high school, and it had been over two years since I’d graduated. I checked my reflection in the mirror for the millionth time. Mel had assured me that I looked hot in the short, black dress, but I wasn’t sure if hot was what I was going for. I glanced at my watch—Mel was going to be there to pick me up any minute. I didn’t have time to change.
“Hey, hot stuff.” Mel grinned as I slid into the passenger seat of her Camaro. She was an adolescent boy’s—or, okay, most men’s—wet dream perched behind the wheel. Her short skirt left little to the imagination. Neither did her top.
“Hey, yourself. I can’t believe I let you talk me into wearing this.”
“Come on, Em. It’s time you learned to dress and act your age. No one needs you tonight. You can have fun. I’m the designated driver.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind driving you home.”
“Which one of us can have more fun sober?”
I laughed. “Okay, good point.”
Mel parked a few blocks from a club she’d been raving about for weeks. She’d been twenty-one for only a few months, and was still enjoying the freedom. I’d only been twenty-one a few weeks, but it wasn’t as big a deal to me.
We showed our IDs to the bouncer and walked in. I had to steady myself for a second—slightly overwhelmed by the crowd and the pulsating music.
“What should we get to drink?” Mel took my hand and led me over to the bar. If she hadn’t, I might have bolted.
“I thought you weren’t drinking?”
“I’m having one. Just one.”
“Okay. Maybe a Malibu and pineapple.”
“Good.” She pushed her way to the front of the bar, and got the male bartenders attention quickly.
She handed me my drink and raised hers in a toast. “To Em’s reentry into the world.”
I laughed. “I’ve been living in the world this whole time.”
“But never having fun. Living means fun.” She nodded toward a couple of guys who were obviously checking us out. “They look like fun. Which one do you want?”
I sipped my drink. “Neither. I’m not hooking up with some random guy.”
“Who said anything about hooking up? You’re not ready for that yet. Let’s start with flirting.” She took my hand and pulled me along again. “Come on.”
We didn’t make it as far as the guys. “Melanie? Is that you?” A dark haired girl with heavy makeup yelled out, grabbing hold of Mel’s arm.
“Katie?” Mel smiled.
“Yeah!” The girl pulled Mel into a hug.
“Katie, this is my best friend Emily. Emily, this is Katie. We were on the soccer team together in high school.”
“Oh, cool.” I held out a hand to shake hers. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“Are you here alone?” Mel could be pretty blunt sometimes.
“Nope. My boyfriend’s just grabbing us drinks.” Katie gestured to the bar.
“So, how have you been?” Mel asked. “Are you still bartending at Gill’s?”
“Yeah, I’m still there.”
Mel nudged me. “That’s a local bar in Clayton Falls.”
I nodded.
“It’s been okay, but this week was rough.”
“Yeah? Any particular reason?” Mel pressed.
“I served a friend, and he got in a pretty nasty wreck.”
“Jake?” Mel asked. I glared at her. I already violated patient confidentiality by telling her.
“Yeah. You heard?”
“Uh huh. Crazy.”
“I know. But did you hear about Daniela too?”
Mel’s eyes widened. “Daniela? No.”
“Yeah. I guess they had some big fight or something, and she blames herself.”
“Is that his girlfriend?” I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth. So dumb.
“No…” Katie looked toward me. “You know Jake?”
“Yeah, she knows him.” Mel rescued me.
“Oh. She’s not his girlfriend. But they hooked up in high school and stuff. I think the fight had something to do with Ben, but I have no clue.”
Mel quickly changed the subject before Katie could ask me more about how I knew Jake. “I feel like I haven’t been back to town in forever.”
“Your parents moved, right?”
“Yeah. They’re in Raleigh with my sister.”
“I remember hearing that. Well, if you’re ever in town, give me a call. It was great seeing you. Nice meeting you, Emily.”
“Yeah same to you.” I waved as she caught up with her boyfriend and kissed him on the lips.
“Okay, now I’ve got to see this town. I thought my town was small, but we definitely didn’t know everybody.”
Mel laughed. “Maybe Jake will take you home sometime soon.”
I pushed her arm. “Don’t start.”
“Hey, I saved you. What the hell was that? Jealous much?”
“I was just curious.” I denied it, but I definitely didn’t like thinking there was someone else.
“Seriously? Is my entire town here tonight?” Mel paled. I’d never seen her pale.
“What’s wrong?”
“See that guy over there?” She nodded toward a couple of guys standing at the bar.
“Which one?”
“Light brown hair. Kind of shaggy.” My first thought was that he must use the same hair stylist as Jake. Who knew the shaggy surfer look was so popular.
“I see him.”
“That’s my ‘what if’ boy.”
“‘What if’ boy?”
“You know, the one you always wonder what could have been?”
“I guess. So what’s the story?”
“We hooked up after homecoming when I was a junior. He probably doesn’t even remember.”
“I doubt
that. Any guy would remember spending a night with you.”
She ignored my comment. “He was on the football team with Jake, he was the tight end. The two were pretty close. I haven’t seen him in years.”
“What’s his name?”
“Cole.” She looked back over at him.
“Want to go over and talk?”
“No. Definitely not.”
“Seriously? This guy really got under your skin, huh?” I’d expected Mel to want to rub how gorgeous she was in his face.
“Yeah. You know what? Let’s get out of here.”
“Okay…”
She grabbed my hand, and we left. I didn’t mind—going out in the first place was a big step. It was plenty enough for me.
Chapter Six
Jake
“Do I really have to wear a suit?” I probably shouldn’t have complained. My dad was mad enough, but I could count on one hand the number of times I’d worn a suit in my life.
“Yes. You need to wear a suit.” We were meeting with our attorney, Jim Morgan. I didn’t know him well, but he’d been my dad’s attorney forever. He always seemed all right, although his son could be a piece of work. “If you want the judge to take you seriously, you have to dress seriously.”
“All right. I’ll wear a suit.”
“It’s your first offense, and there’s no reason to doubt we’ll get you a good deal, but it’s going to be more than a slap on the wrist.”
“I understand.” I still couldn’t believe I was actually in this situation.
“All right. I’ll see you at the court house at nine a.m. tomorrow. Don’t be late.” Jim scowled. I had a feeling I wasn’t his favorite client.
I nodded. “I’ll be there.”
Normally I would have disappeared as soon as possible, but my license had already been revoked. I waited for my dad by his car, just anxious to get home and crash. I was feeling better, but I still got tired all the time.
You’d think after the whole “I’m an alcoholic” admission Dad would have been sympathetic, but he was still spitting mad. We rode in silence till we reached my place.
“I’ll pick you up at eight thirty tomorrow.”
“Great.” I got out of the car, resisting the urge to slam the door.
Wrecked (Clayton Falls) Page 3