Secluded Nature

by Lindsey Brewster

  “Why the hell did you run, Abbey?”

  “No, darling, I think the correct question is why did you leave?” I know I’m being a smart ass, but I don’t care.

  “I didn’t want to yell at you anymore. I just needed to get away and calm down. I didn’t leave with the intention of getting drunk and bringing some girl back.”

  “But you did.”

  He shrugs, “I did. And yes, Abbey, I do regret it, but you know what? You did push me away. Why did you care?”

  “Manners. You don’t bring some girl back to your hostess’s house.”

  “Bullshit, Abbey.” He growls. again. “Yes, you’re right, but give me the real reason. If it was manners, you would’ve just kicked us out.”

  “Because I had feelings for you! I didn’t even notice them until then, and you know what? It hurt me. I don’t cry often, but when I’m with you it seems to happen a lot. So I ran. I ran to keep myself from getting more hurt, because I will not go through that again.”

  “What happened? Why won’t you tell me about this stuff? It’s like pulling teeth. Do you think I would purposely hurt you?”

  I cross my arms, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Too damn bad, honey.”

  This is my house. I do not have to listen to him. I move to walk past, but he easily moves in front of me.

  “How about we sit down,” he tries again.

  “How about you move, Roberts?”

  “Not happening, so take a seat and tell me.”

  “No, I don’t trust you.”

  “You’re just looking for an excuse.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.”

  “Fine.” I huff. “What happened was that I was in a relationship with a guy who happened to push me past all limits. He was abusive, though I didn’t want to admit it at the time. That scar that’s on my thigh is because he was mad, and he pushed me up against a table so hard and held me there that it cut me. Does that help? Or maybe the part where I stayed with him because I wanted to keep my dad happy. What about where I severed all ties with my father? Or I had to take care of myself during college and med school? Or maybe, just maybe, where I care about you enough that I’m afraid I’m going to get hurt? Which part, exactly, are you needing me to tell you?”

  I push past him and go into my room, ready to change out of the scrubs I’ve been in all day.

  There’s a knock at my door, “Abbey, can I come in?”

  I sigh. “No, I’ll be out in a second.”

  Once I am in some sweat pants and a loose t-shirt, I walk back out to the living room and sit down on the recliner.

  “Abbey, I didn’t know. I wouldn’t hurt you like that. If you would’ve just told me…”

  “No. No, because it didn’t concern you then, and it still doesn’t, Luke.”

  He is quiet for a minute, looking down at the ground between us. When he speaks, his voice is quiet, like it pains him to have to ask. “Are you ever going to give me a chance, or do I just need to leave?”

  “Luke…” I honestly don’t know what to say to him, but I don’t want him to go.

  “What, Abbey?”

  “I-I don’t know what to say. I’m s-sorry.”

  He sighs and paces the floor. “How about, for once, you answer my question?”

  “I do…”

  “No, you don’t, Abbey. You run around it or you give the vaguest answer you can. Abbey… are you even willing to give me a chance, or do I just need to go?”

  “I… I don’t want you to leave. It’s not just you I have to worry about, it’s Mason, too. He might be okay with it now, but what would happen when we ended it or got into a huge fight? He will be torn, and I don’t want to put him through that. I have a job that takes up most of my time, even though I absolutely love it. I travel with it and don’t have much down time. It’s not that I’m saying we couldn’t work, there’s just so many other factors.”

  “Abbey, I’m an architect. I work normal hours but my work does come home with me. I have weekends off and my traveling is limited to just project sites. One of my bases is here in the city, actually, and most of the time I’m here. I think we could figure this out if you’d actually try and not let everything worry you. And just for the record, it’s not ‘when’, it’s ‘if’.”

  “What?”

  “You said when we ended it. Let’s make that an if. Are you’re always so pessimistic, or is it just with me?”

  “Might be just you.”

  “So what do you say; is it worth a shot?”

  Is it worth it? I allow myself to smile, “Go big or go home right?”

  He chuckles, “I believe I said that under very different circumstances.”

  “And these are different for me.”

  “Is that a yes?”

  I grin, “Yeah, why not?”

  He picks me up in a hug. “How about we not focus on coming up with answers of ‘why not,’ okay?”

  “Sure. So are we going to let Mason back in considering he’s been waiting outside my door for the past hour and a half?”

  “You knew?”

  “He left his keys on the kitchen counter. He wasn’t going anywhere.”

  “It’s about damn time, Abbey,” Mason says as he walks back in.

  Luke steps into the other room to answer a phone call while Mason comes and sits down by me on the couch. I rest my legs on him.

  "So, gorgeous, you're giving it a shot?"

  "I guess..."

  "I'm only going to tell you this once: Luke is not like your dad nor is he like Tyler. I know for a fact that he's not. That guy has been my friend since high school, and not once has he treated a girl horribly. And don't play your work schedule; you have more time than you say you do.” He pauses, raising his eyebrows at me. “Close your mouth, I'm not done talking. You two will figure it out, and I'm sure he will be willing to 'experiment' if you know what I mean." He winks at me and I cover my face.

  "Mason!"

  He throws his head back, laughing at my embarrassment.

  "What's so funny?" Luke has just walked back in and looks at us, amused. I just shake my head.

  "Oh, I was just telling Abbey that---"

  I kick him.

  "Ow! Dammit, Abbey, that hurt."

  I laugh, "Well, quit talking."

  He raises an eyebrow and he grabs my legs, holding on to them. I try to kick myself loose, but it's not working. I go to sit up so I can hit him, but he pulls my legs and I fall back down.

  "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I was telling Abbey that you'd be more than willing to-"

  "Mason Caleb Cartwright, shut your mouth before I actually do hurt you."

  He smirks and just shakes his head, "We both know I'd win."

  I growl and Luke snorts. "Are you an animal now?"

  "I'm about to be."

  He grins, "Mason, do you care to finish?"

  Mason looks at me, basking in my embarrassment. "It would be my pleasure."

  He clears his throat, and I lay back and cover my face with a pillow.

  "For the third time, I was telling Abbey that you would be more than willing to experiment, if you know what I mean."

  I groan into the pillow.

  Mason's body is shaking with laughter and under the pillow, my face has turned bright red.

  I hear Luke chuckle and footsteps moving towards me.

  "Abbey, can you take the pillow away from your face?”

  Shaking my head, I hold on to the pillow tighter.

  Luke grabs the pillow, but I won't let it go.

  "Help me out here, man."

  I feel Mason let go of my legs, so I bring my leg up and drop it down on his causing him to curse and jerk the pillow away.

  "Abbey, why are you hiding? You have to know by now that Mason has no shame."

  I sigh, "I know, he's just a pain in the ass and enjoys embarrassing me."

  Mason is rubbing his leg, "Could you refrain
from kicking me?"

  "Nope, but I am kicking you out. I have to work tomorrow."

  He raises his eyebrows, "Just me?"

  "Yep, Now leave so I can go make myself some dinner."

  "Only if you give me a hug."

  I hug him and he whispers in my ear, "Take the chance. It's gonna be hard, but it's worth it."

  He pulls away and looks to Luke and I, "I'm heading back to Detroit the day after tomorrow, so we are having dinner tomorrow night. Bye, you guys."

  I wave and head towards the kitchen to find us something to eat.

  "Are you hungry?"

  Luke shakes his head, "Nope, we grabbed dinner before we came over here."

  I nod and rummage through the fridge, hoping I can find something quick and easy.

  I settle for making a hot ham and cheese sandwich and eating it with some leftover soup from yesterday. I put the soup on the stove to warm up while I make the sandwich. I look up to see that Luke has turned on a football game. I grab a spoon to stir the soup with and turn back to the flip my sandwich over when I feel two hands wrap around me, resting on my middle.

  "How's it going?"

  "About as well as cooking can go."

  He kisses my neck and brings me further back against him.

  "Need some help?"

  "No, just for you to let me go so I can finish cooking."

  He chuckles, "But I don't want to… "

  "Too damn bad."

  I step forward out of his grasp and plate my food, heading to the couch to finally eat.

  "Want some?"

  He smiles, "No, thanks. When was the last time you ate?"

  "I ate a muffin at, like, ten this morning."

  "Ten? You do realize its seven o'clock at night right?"

  "Uh yeah, it's pretty normal. My lunch is when I have a break in between patients. Sometimes it’s ten minutes, sometimes it’s thirty. It all depends on how busy we are."

  "So there’s no set time?"

  "No. I do get hungry, but it's manageable if I snack off and on all day."

  He nods and flips the channels to find something, finally settling for a rerun of White Collar.

  Just as I finish my meal, my phone rings. I hardly have to wonder who is calling me-- it’s always the hospital. As I answer the phone, I take my plate and bowl to the kitchen to clean out later.

  "Hello?"

  "Hi, Dr. Cartwright, this is Lily, the head resident tonight and I have a question about a patient."

  "Sure, but where’s the on-call anesthesiologist?"

  "Dr. Joyner is in the OR with an emergency."

  "Okay, what's up?"

  I proceed to listen to a very long winded resident give me the details of the case. I spot Luke in the kitchen, rinsing my dishes and loading them in the dishwasher while I talk. How lucky am I to have a man who cleans? By the time she’s done with the details, I'm ready to get off the phone. Luke is now sitting beside me on a stool and pulls me down onto his lap. I finally finish answering Lily's questions and hang up.

  "Was it that bad?"

  I lean back against him and sigh. "No, it's just that she was long winded and never got to the point. To be honest, it could've waited until morning, and trying to keep up with what she was saying was a task in itself."

  He rests his head on my shoulder, "So, what are we going to do tonight?"

  "Hmm, sleep? I really am worn out. Today was a long day, and I have had way too many emergencies."

  "Sleep it is. So, uh, am I staying in a guestroom or… "

  It was my turn to laugh at him, "I really don't think that's necessary."

  "Good, because I didn't want to, and I have work tomorrow, too."

  "Where at?"

  "The office."

  "Oh really, I thought on the moon. Where’s your office?"

  He tells me the address, and I realize it's a couple miles away from the hospital.

  "So, not that far off?"

  "Nope. Now, where's that bedroom of yours?"

  I show him the bedroom and go into the bathroom to brush my teeth.

  Luke walks in, "Uh, do you have toothbrush I can borrow, and maybe drop me off at my apartment in the morning?"

  "Toothbrush is under the sink, and sure."

  I walk back out to the living room to make sure the house is locked up. As I get to the back door, I'm lifted up and spun around, being pressed back against the door. "You can't just keep leaving me alone in a bedroom."

  I push away from him hiding a smile, "So damn clingy, man. This isn't going to work… "

  He barks out a laugh, "I'm sorry; the last time you left me alone in a bedroom you turned on me, and the relationship that wasn't even started imploded. You think too much."

  I freeze, not knowing what to say because it's true, and I hurt him. Arms wrap around my waist.

  "Quit thinking, babe. Stop it. It always gets you into trouble."

  I shake my head and turn towards him.

  I rest my head on his chest and his arms tighten around me.

  "I'm sorry."

  "It's okay. I just wish I understood what made you run."

  I shake my head against him, "Maybe another time."

  He sighs and releases me, grabbing my hand and leading me back to the bedroom. He lets me go once we are inside and starts undressing.

  Noticing me staring at him, he asks, "You like what you see?"

  I lick my lips, "More than like, actually."

  He climbs onto the bed to join me, leaning down to kiss me. I wrap my arms around his neck, bringing him closer but he pulls back.

  "Sleep. We both have to be up early and no, I'm not having sex with you until we talk some more."

  "God, what is it with you and talking? You do realize that most guys go straight to the ‘let's get naked and have sex.’"

  "Yeah, and the last time I didn't talk to you about anything but Mason, you walked away."

  I just shake my head and roll over on my side.

  "Nuh uh, baby girl, come here."

  I refuse to move and he tugs at my arm. I snatch it away. He sighs and flips me around.

  "Stop."

  I roll my eyes and he pulls me over to him, my head rested on his shoulder. He pulls my arm across his abs.

  "Since you like them so much..."

  I laugh and curl up closer to him.

  "Sweet dreams, beautiful."

  Chapter 9

  I wake up the next morning to the most dreadful alarm known to man. I push on Luke, but he is sleeping like a rock.

  I smack his chest, "Turn off that damn alarm."

  He just groans and pulls the covers over his head. I roll off the bed and scour the floor to find his pants. Before I can reach them, I slip on his shirt and land on my ass. I grab his phone out of his pocket and hit a button to shut it the hell up. Hearing him chuckle, I turn to scowl at him.

  "I hate you."

  He bursts out laughing. I get up and lock myself in the bathroom.

  "Baby… "

  He’s going to regret laughing at me.

  I ignore him and get in the shower. Lucky for me, my closet is a walk-in attached to the bathroom. I'm changed and ready for work when I walk out of the bathroom to find Luke sitting on the bed, messing with his phone.

  "Ready?” My tone is still short with him.

  "I can make you some breakfast," he offers.

  "I have a breakfast meeting, but thanks." I easily brush him off with my disdain, even though, in truth, he’s already forgiven.

  "So, how long is this going to last?"

  "I don't know; I have quite a list, so who knows."

  I lock the door to my apartment and head to the car with him hot on my heels

  "What, per se, have I done?"

  "You don't wanna know. Where's your apartment?"

  "Two streets over. Winterhill apartments."

  "Fancy. Anyway, do you know where we are meeting for dinner tonight?"

  "Nope, but I'm sure Mason will get in touch with
one of us at some point."

  I sigh and shake my head. "I'll see you later."

  "Abbey?"

  "Hmm?"

  I turn to face him and before I can stop him, he captures my lips with his and he's pulling away just as I start to respond. He grins at me.

  "I want that list later."

  Being a doctor is not always fun, especially when there are problems in surgery. I sigh as I get into my car and head back to my apartment. My phone rings; it’s Mason, so I hit the Bluetooth.

  “Yes?”

  “You sound like you’ve been through hell.”

  “Today was hell. I just need an hour or so to wind down, then I’ll be good.”

  “Sounds good. So dinner tonight at seven sound good?”

  “Sure, where?”

  “Bacaro.”

  “Sounds amazing. I just pulled in the driveway, I’ll see you in a little bit.”

  “Alright, love ya.”

  “Love ya, too.”

  At least I get Italian tonight. I drop my stuff on the floor and fix myself a glass of wine. Once I sit down on the couch, I turn on the TV to the local news and drift off.

  I wake up about thirty minutes later feeling a little better. I head to my room to change, choosing a red dress with lace sleeves. I grab some black heels and my jacket before I head to the restaurant. I give my keys to the valet and walk inside, where I check my coat and am escorted back to the table where Mason smiles at me. Luke is already seated with his back towards me.

  “It’s about time you got here.”

  “Hey, loser, nice to see you, too.”

  Luke stands up to pull out my chair.

  “You look beautiful, Abbey.”

  I smile. “Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.”

  We order our food and talk. I’m sure we would’ve been asked to keep it down if it wasn’t for Mason being here. He always has connections, and the waitress thinks he’s cute.

  “I’m heading back to Detroit tomorrow. We have contracts to negotiate and trade deals happening.”

  “You think you’re going to be traded?”

  Mason sighs. “You never know. Baseball can be tricky sometimes.”

  I nod, hoping that he doesn’t end up going to California.

  Luke looks at me, “How was work?”

  I shake my head, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  He sends me a half smile and starts talking about baseball with Mason. It’s hard to believe he actually made it to the major leagues.