by Kris Bryant
“Crap. I made you spill your coffee. Here, at least let me buy you another one.” Logically, I know she probably doesn’t want me to take her up on her offer, or maybe she does, but I find myself nodding at her. “You got it next door, didn’t you? Are you in a hurry? Do you have somewhere to be?” She is nice and I find myself smiling at her even though my sleeve is drenched.
“I’m just shopping this afternoon so I’m in no rush at all.” She holds the door open for me and I take a deep breath as I enter the shop. I love the smell of fresh roasted coffee, more than the taste of it.
“I’m Rachel, by the way. Are you from here?”
I shake my head. “Hi, I’m Hayley. I wish I lived here, but no. I do try to get down as often as I can though. It’s hard to beat this city’s excitement,” I say. I order a coffee with soy milk. She orders a mocha and we find a cute two person table open in the corner.
“I used to live in midtown, but now I live in Jersey. It’s closer to my work,” Rachel says.
I like to try and guess what people do for a living. She’s wearing black pants, a black sweater, a wool hat, and a lightweight jacket. Her boots are fashionable and expensive, so she must have money. I decide she must be around my age and is in the medical field, probably a pharmaceutical representative. She is personable and friendly. She isn’t in a rush like most New Yorkers.
“What do you do for a living, when you aren’t running into tourists in New York City?”
She laughs at me. “Gah, I’m so sorry about that. I work for Pyramid Satellite Radio. I’m one of their advertising executives. They moved the business from Manhattan to Hoboken so I decided to move, too. It’s amazing how much money I save in rent alone. What do you do when you aren’t running into New Jerseyites?”
I was completely wrong about her. “I’m a pediatric physical therapist.”
She smiles at me. “That must be a rewarding job,” she says. It seems like she genuinely means it.
We spend the next two hours talking about our lives and I find myself having a great conversation with her. It’s refreshing to talk to somebody about my life who isn’t deeply embedded in it. It isn’t until my phone dings that I realize so much time has passed and my parents are starting to worry about my safety.
“What are you doing tonight? Do you have plans?” I ask.
“I was just going to hang out in the city for a bit, shop, and then go home.”
“I’ve an extra ticket to the play, if you are interested in going.” She already knows I have a fiancée so she knows it’s not a date.
“Really? Are you sure? I mean, isn’t this kind of your weekend with your parents?”
“No, I welcome the company. As my new friend, just say yes.” She really is adorable. We have already become fast friends.
“Okay, sure. That would be great, as long as you are okay with me tagging along.” I shoot my parents a text that I’ve got somebody joining us this evening and we agree to meet in the hotel lobby. They keep Rachel entertained while I get cleaned up for the play. I rush for no reason and am back in the lobby within fifteen minutes. They are deep in conversation about radio as my father was a disc jockey in college. Even my mom seems taken with her.
“Have we decided on a place to eat?” I sit on the couch next to Rachel.
“Well, I was just telling your parents about a little Italian restaurant within walking distance of the theatre. I know the owners and they have reserved us a table if you’re interested.”
“Of course. I love Italian food. Pasta and bread.” My phone buzzes and it’s a message from Alison.
Have fun tonight. Miss you all.
I’m quick to answer. We will. How was your day? I wait for her response, but she is quiet. I want to know if she is thinking about me, or if she had a good day, or how her speech went. I follow up with a final message that also goes unanswered. Sleep well. Call me tomorrow if you can.
* * *
“Do you want to go out for a bit?” Rachel asks. The play is over and we stand around waiting for a cab. I know my parents want to get back to the hotel. They bow out immediately.
“Have fun, girls. Be careful and we’ll see you tomorrow at breakfast, Hayley.” They kiss and hug me goodbye.
“What do you have in mind?” I turn to Rachel, the excitement of the city coursing through me.
“Well, do you want live music, or do you want to go dancing, go to a bar? The possibilities are endless,” she says.
“How about I leave it up to you.” I’m in my favorite city. Unsupervised. I watch her while she thinks about how she’s going to entertain us. When her face lights up with an idea, I smile along with her. She could take me to an abandoned warehouse where they kidnap women and sell them. I’m completely trusting a stranger and I’m not worried in the least.
“I have an idea.” She grabs my hand and waves down a taxi. “We’re going to do all of those things.” I like that she is holding my hand still. She drops it to open the door when the cab pulls up. “The C on Tenth and Bleecker. Let’s make this a night you won’t forget, okay?” When the cab turns down an alley, I get a little nervous until I see a door with the letter ‘C’ above it. There are several women hanging around the door, smoking and laughing. “Don’t be afraid. This is the back entrance. The front is far more civilized.” I wipe pretend sweat from my brow. She squeezes my arm. “Ready?” She pays for the cab, citing her treat, and pushes me toward the door. I can feel the bass and immediately feel my inhibitions leave. The large, muscular bouncer sitting at the entrance takes her money and lets us pass. She clutches my hand and drags me past two dance floors, three bars, and into a quieter section where we can actually hear one another. A waitress finds us immediately.
“Rachel. Haven’t seen you in months. What can I get you to drink?” she asks.
Rachel turns to me, her eyes bright and devilish. “What’s your poison, bachelorette for another few weeks?”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Are you throwing me a bachelorette party?”
She nods and winks. “A party for two. Maybe more if we play our cards right.”
“Are you going to take care of me if I get out of control?” She lifts her eyebrow at me. “Let me rephrase that. Will you hold my hair back if I get sick in the bathroom?”
She laughs. “Of course. Tonight will be about you. Do you want to start off with shots?” At my nod, she orders two Fireballs. When they arrive, she hands me one. The sharp smell of cinnamon makes my mouth water. “Here’s to new friends and fun Saturday nights.”
“I’ll drink to that,” I say. She clinks her shot glass to mine and we both tip them back. She orders us round two. Oh, boy. “Wait. Shouldn’t we be drinking and toasting my upcoming nuptials? I mean it is my impromptu bachelorette party and all.”
“Fair enough. Here’s to a life of nothing but love, desire, and passion. May you have all three every day with your lovely bride-to-be.” Meh. I’ll still drink to that. It sounds like a great plan even if Alison and I are struggling with two out of the three.
I stop Rachel after the third shot. “Let’s just slow it down a bit.” I’m starting to feel wobbly. “Want to dance?” That probably won’t help my legs, but what the hell. Now that it’s well after midnight, the club picks up and the dance floor is packed. In thirty minutes, an all-girl band is taking the stage, but until then, the DJ is playing great dance music. Rachel leaves for a moment and returns without her hat and sweater. Her black camisole leaves very little to the imagination.
“I was getting hot.” She hands me a fresh drink and fans herself with her hand. Letting lose with Rachel is exactly what I need. I’m flirty and dangerous. Women are everywhere and we’re dancing and grinding. Rachel’s a great dance partner. She fits me well. When the band takes the stage, the crowd goes wild. I don’t know this band at all, but the energy from the music and the crowd of women is off the chart. I miss being a part of something like this even for a few hours. Not that I break out like this all of the t
ime, but it’s just a side of myself that I miss. When the night finally comes to an end, I feel rejuvenated. Unstoppable. Alive. Rachel and I grab our stuff and head out.
“This has been one of the best nights of my life. Thank you for taking me out for my only bachelorette party,” I say.
Rachel leans forward and kisses me right on the lips. It’s a hard, full of life kiss, not a passionate one. “Hayley, you and I are going to be great friends. Thank you for hanging with me tonight.” She flags me down a cab and helps me inside. “You’re fantastic and don’t ever forget it.” She closes the door and disappears into the crowd. When I crawl into my hotel bed, a cheesy smile is still plastered on my face.
Chapter Nine
Stone’s at the pool already, waiting on me and Brittney, my eight-year-old patient who had the cast removed from her arm last week. Stone is in a chair reading something on her phone. I take a moment to study her. Her brace, substantially smaller than the one from last week, is still on. She’s wearing blue board shorts and a T-shirt and I’m disappointed at the amount of clothes she is wearing. She looks up at us and smiles.
“How was New York?” She puts her phone down and starts loosening the brace.
“What happened to your leg?” Brittney asks Stone. Kids. They don’t care about interrupting people. It makes me smile.
“I was driving and I swerved to miss something in the road and hit a tree instead,” she says. At her puzzled look, Stone simplifies her explanation. “I got in a car wreck.”
“Can you walk?”
Stone looks up at me. “My doctor won’t let me without this boot on, but I get to take it off to go swimming. That’s why I’m here with you and Miss Hayley.”
“Stone, why don’t you do some stretches while I get Brittney in the water.”
“No massage, Doc?”
“Maybe later.” I turn back to Brittney when I realize how suggestive that sounds. I don’t dare turn back around. Instead, I help Brittney get undressed and into the water. Like Stone, I have shorts on, but I’m wearing a one-piece, purely professional swimsuit. When I turn around to get into the pool, I see Stone taking off her T-shirt to reveal a blue racerback bikini top that looks like a sports bra. Her board shorts are low on her hips and there is a hint of a tattoo peeking out by her hip bone. She is sexy as hell. Our eyes meet and neither of us looks away or smiles. When she bends over to remove her brace, I can see cleavage and I have to look away. Thankfully, Brittney is excited to swim and I have to keep my attention on her.
“Miss Hayley, can I let go of the side of the pool yet?” We’re in the shallow end and Brittney is holding onto the side of the pool, kicking her feet behind her. This exercise will strengthen her arm without it even feeling like she’s in PT. I will myself to stay focused and turn my attention back to Brittney.
“I want you to kick ten more times with both feet behind you, okay?” She nods and starts counting as she kicks. Back in doctor mode, I motion for Stone to get into the swimming lane and swim laps. She slips into the pool in the deep end and starts moving effortlessly in the water. She’s such an incredible athlete. Fast, sleek, and determined.
“Okay, Brittney. Are you a good swimmer?” I already know that she is, but I want her to be excited about swimming and show me how good she is.
“Watch me.” She doggie paddles over and I catch her.
“Can you swim like Stone?” We turn and both watch Stone freestyle swim, her arms cutting the water with little effort, her legs splashing behind her. Brittney nods and swims a few strokes but stops.
“That still hurts my arm.”
“Okay. We won’t do that again. Here, hold this under your tummy.” I hand her a purple water noodle that she balances on. We practice a few different exercises including one where we slow motion sword fight with water noodles. She’s working her entire arm, but only in a strengthening way.
“Stone. Hey, Stone. Come here,” Brittney calls out. Stone swims over to us and I feel my breath hitch in my throat. I’ve never been this close to her with so few clothes on. She disappears beneath the surface to pop up right in front of Brittney. “You’re silly.”
“You’re on fire today, Brittney. I saw how great you’re swimming. Want to race?”
“That would be a no,” I say. Both of them pout at me. “How about throwing around a beach ball instead. Stone, can you stand up on your foot instead of walking on your knees? I don’t want your ankle to bend that way just yet.” We are in the shallow end of the pool. When Stone stands, I watch the water pour down the front of her stomach and pull her shorts down even lower on her hips, exposing more of the tattoo. “Well, now that’s not very fair. Stone might be too tall to play with us.”
“I can just sit on the steps and move my ankle back and forth. There’s good resistance in the water.” It’s like I’ve forgotten how to be a doctor. I nod, thankful that her body is covered by the water again. I can focus on why we are in the pool and not on her abs. We toss the ball around for a few minutes until Brittney’s mom shows up. Once Brittney is gone, I focus my attention back on Stone.
“Are you getting tired?” I ask. We are the only ones in the pool.
“Not really. My body is humming again. I love that all of me is getting a workout. I’ve missed this.”
“I think that’s probably enough for today. Dry off and head for the locker room. I definitely want to make sure you get a massage after today’s PT.” I casually walk out of the pool and grab my towel to cover myself. I feel so exposed around Stone. While she gathers up her belongings and slips her brace back on, I head into the locker room and quickly change into dry clothes. She’s sitting on the locker room examination table by the time I’m done.
“Do you want me to change? I think I’m getting the table all wet,” she says.
“You don’t have to unless you’re uncomfortable. Here, put this towel underneath you.” I hand her a fluffy white towel and she scoots it beneath her shorts after she removes her brace. I take a deep breath and start the massage. This time I hear a few moans escape. I press harder. This isn’t supposed to feel good. This is just supposed to keep her loose. “So tell me the story about your tattoo.” She opens her eyes and looks at me.
“You saw it, huh?” I nod. “A bunch of us were getting tattoos of creatures and animals that best resemble us and somebody said I should get a fire-breathing dragon because I’m such a beast out on the ice.”
I laugh. “You’re kidding, right? Please tell me you did it when you were very young.”
“We were eighteen, so yes. My parents wanted to kill me. I like it though.” She shrugs and lowers the side of her shorts to reveal most of the dragon. It’s a cool tattoo, but instead of looking at the artwork like she wants me to, I focus on the sharpness of her pelvic bone and the curve of her waist instead. Hot.
I clear my throat. “It’s definitely intricate.”
“Do you have any tats, Doc?” She is still pulling down the side of her shorts and I swear she is moving them even lower. I finally look away and move back to her leg and ankle.
“No. I’ve always wanted one though. I just wouldn’t know what to get,” I say.
“Are you passionate about anything?” Stone asks. Our eyes meet again and I look away first. This massage needs to get over with quickly or I will never survive this closeness. I’m trying not to look at her nipples which are threatening to push through her tight, wet top. She apparently knows they are erect, but doesn’t care. As a matter of fact, I think she evens brushes her hands over them. She’s so good at being a tease. Not that I want anything else because I’ll be married soon. Soon, but not soon enough.
“Not really. I don’t have any hobbies.”
“Come on, Hayley. There has to be something you enjoy.” Her voice is low and smooth and her eyes are almost closed.
“Sadly, no. I work and don’t play.”
She’s quiet for a bit. “You like the theatre. You like to bake. You like kids. Or how about something to do with
your marriage? Maybe initials or interlocking rings.”
“No. Alison doesn’t like tattoos.” I don’t have to look at Stone to know she just rolled her eyes.
“What about you? It’s your body. You can do what you want.”
“I know.” We are quiet for the rest of the massage. I end it early and Stone doesn’t complain. “Are you going to change your clothes?”
“Nah. I’ll be fine.” She rubs the towel I gave her over her head and puts her T-shirt back on. She wraps her ankle and puts the brace on.
“Pretty soon you won’t have to worry about a brace at all. You’re healing nicely. Later this week, we will get you on the weights and try to build up your calf muscles.”
“Good. I can’t wait to get back out on the ice. I’m bored. It’s driving me crazy. At least now I can drive. But going to practices just makes me want to get out on the ice faster.”
“I know. Soon, Stone. Just a little bit longer. Go home and ice your ankle if it starts swelling. We’ll do the same thing tomorrow,” I say. She nods and slides off the bench.
“Doc? You never told me about New York. How was it?”
“It was the best time ever.”
“Even without the fiancée?”
I nod. “I spent the weekend indulging myself.”
“Good. I love that you made it about you. See you tomorrow, Doc.” She slips off of the table and heads out of the locker room. For the first time since we got down here, I take a deep breath to steady myself. Being around Stone is getting harder and harder. Not only is she stirring the unfamiliar feeling of lust inside of me, but she is starting to get inside of my head. I’m starting to think about her as an available woman instead of a patient.
Chapter Ten
“What’s going on, Hayley?” Alison and I are sitting in my car. We were supposed to go grocery shopping, but only made it as far as the car when Alison spotted the box of invitations that I never mailed out.
“I don’t know.” I can’t look at her. My hands grip the steering wheel, my knuckles white and bloodless.