Jason
My knees bounce and I impatiently wait for Mallory to answer my text. I haven’t seen her in months, and it’s driving me crazy. I miss her more than I thought possible. Her laugh, her smile, her falling asleep sitting next to me.
After Christmas, the decision was made—she was what I wanted. I just had to be cautious in my pursuit. I’m a very intense guy. Before Todd, it never would have bothered her, but now, I’m afraid I’ll scare her off. I’ve never dreaded being on tour more than now. It’s never really bothered me. New places, new faces. There was no one waiting for me at home. My sister and niece are the only family I have left, but I don’t see them in person that often.
Mallory and I have been texting back and forth. In the beginning, I was taking more and more chances with what I was sending to her, but she was hitting me back with the same stuff. Flirty texts. Double entendres. Working toward her getting comfortable with me and the idea of us together. And it seemed to be going well. Until Brett. That cheating, motherfucking cock sucker. It was then that she started backing off. I started getting one-word replies and knew Kristen had run right to her after it happened. I’m not sure what’s going on in her head, but she shut me down cold, and I’m back at square one.
Me: What’s up?
Me: You working today?
Mal: Not today
Me: Then whatcha doing?
Mal: Getting a pedicure
Me: Got any plans for your day off?
It seems like an eternity before she answers me back.
Mal: I have a date.
With that one sentence, my stomach drops. She has a date? What the fuck?
Me: With who?
Mal: Daniel.
Why the hell does that name sound familiar? My phone makes a cracking sound from my grip.
Mal: You met him. He was my physical therapist.
Oh, him. The one who looks like that guy on Outlander. I knew he didn’t want to have just a professional relationship with her. He looked at her like her wanted to eat her up. Just like me.
Me: Did you have to go back for more therapy? I thought your ankle was ok.
Mal: The ankle’s fine. I ran into him at the hospital.
Me: What are y’all going to do?
Mal: Movie, I think.
A dark ass movie theater where he can try to make a move on my girl. I don’t like the sound of that. Red colors my vision.
Me: Which movie?
Mal: Furious 7.
Mal: We’re going to one of those places where you have dinner during the movie.
At least his fucking hands will be occupied with eating and not groping her. And it’s not some chick flick where he can play on her emotions with all the sappy, love story shit.
Me: Have a good time.
Me: Let me know when you make it home, ok?
Mal: I will. Have fun at your concert tonight. Don’t get too crazy.
Mal: I have to get my hands back in the water to soak.
Movement out the corner of my eye startles me as Derek slides into the chair opposite me. I have no idea how long I’ve been leaning with my arms on the table staring at the screen of my phone.
“What’s with the long face?” he asks before taking a drink of his Dr. Pepper.
“Huh?”
“You look like someone just kicked your puppy.”
“Oh…oh, it’s nothing. Just some news I was surprised to hear.”
“What news?”
“It’s not a big deal.” The arching of his brow tells me he doesn’t believe a word coming out of my mouth.
“You sure? Because from the look on your face, I call bullshit.”
“Did you need something, or are you just here to bust my balls?’
“It’s time for soundcheck.”
“Then let’s blow this popsicle stand.”
He raises his brown eyes to mine with a questioning look.
“You know I’m here if you need to talk. It stays between us.”
“When there’s something to talk about, I will. Right now, I need to decide my next move.”
Do I let go of the dream of Mallory and me—the girl who fits me perfectly, heart and soul? Or do I ride this out and see where it goes? Deep down, I know we belong together, but she’s scared. At least, I hope that’s all it is. I’ll bide my time. I can be patient.
Mallory
Laying my phone back down on the little piece of plastic that’s supposed to be a table, I stick my hands back in the water to soak. He wants me to let him know when I get home? What, like he’s my dad? From what he texts, it makes me a little sad to know he doesn’t care that I’m going out on a date. Maybe I was reading too much into what was going on, that he doesn’t feel for me what I feel for him. At least I know it now and I didn’t make a fool of myself—like literally throwing myself at him, which I’ve been tempted to do on several occasions. Other times, I’ve wanted to climb him like a tree.
“Ma’am?”
“What—oh, sorry. What did you say?”
“Is this the color you picked out?”
He holds up the little bottle of the most god awful green I have ever seen. If that were on my toes, it would look like fungus. Glancing at his little cart, I spy the neon pink I had picked out.
“No. That pink one, please,” I say, pointing.
“That’s much better.”
“Do people actually pick that green to put on their feet?”
“You’d be surprised,” he replies with a smile.
“Do they realize it just makes them look like they have a toenail fungus?”
Busting a gut laughing, the poor guy nearly falls off the rolling stool.
“I never thought about that. Jesus. Do you want the pink on your fingernails too?”
“No, I just want them clear. I can’t have polish for work.”
“What kind of work do you do?” he inquires.
“I’m an ER nurse.” When his eyes light up, I can tell it’s the last thing I should have said. He starts asking me about a spot on his back and lifts his shirt to show me this quarter size mole with wiry black hair growing out of it. After telling him he needs to have it evaluated, the young lady next to us starts asking about the signs of an STD—for a friend, of course. Pulling up a website on my phone, I show it to her and tell her that her friend would need to see her gynecologist for testing. The younger guy working on the other side wants to know about the grossest things I have ever seen, so I tell him about the time a man who came in with a compound fracture in his leg, both of the bones poking through his skin. You’ve got to love being a nurse.
Sitting in my car later that night, all I can think about is how this is the way my relationship with Todd started. My hands are sweaty and my heart feels like it’s about to beat out of my chest. Taking some deep breaths, I try to control my breathing and regulate my heart rate. It’s not Todd out there. I’m meeting Daniel. Daniel is not Todd.
A knock on my window has me letting out a shriek and clasping a hand to my chest. Daniel’s smiling face is what I see, but it quickly morphs into a frown when he sees my face.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice muffled by the glass.
Turning off the car, I nod to the affirmative and open the door as he moves back to give me space. He holds his hand out to help me out of the car, and I grip it for a second before dropping it as if it burns.
“You okay?” he asks, his brows creased in worry.
“Honestly?” At his nod, I continue. “I’m not sure. But I’m going to work through it.”
“If tonight’s not a good night, we can do this some other time, Mallory. No rush.”
“I’m afraid it’s going to happen period. Whether it’s tonight or another night. It has nothing to do with you. I just had a little freakout. Maybe I should be asking you if you still want to do this tonight,” I say with a small smile.
“You having a little freak out isn’t going to scare me away. From what I’ve seen, I like you. I’m willing to go at your pace. I just want to spend time with you.”
Throughout the night, Daniel was very careful to keep a certain distance from me. Like I’m a frightened deer and any sudden move would send me fleeing into the night. As uncomfortable as I am with it, I’m also comforted by it. I like that he is giving me space, letting me breathe.
Dinner was nice, and the movie freaking rocked. How could it not with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker? All that male hotness. And fast cars. And The Rock. Jason Statham as the bad guy. I’ll be storing those images up in my Jill Till for a while.
“I’m glad I let you pick out the movie, Mallory. Even though I was prepared to sit through a chick flick.” He chuckles.
“I’d much rather watch an action or horror movie. I’ve never been a chick flick kinda girl. Now, when me and the girls get together, we’ll throw some chick flicks in there. Usually just for the eye candy,” I reply with a flirty wink.
He keeps a respectable distance from me as he walks me to my car, but places himself between me and the cars passing us. His hands stay in his pockets, but every once in a while, he’ll remove the one closest to me and reach out for mine, catching himself at the last minute before running it through his hair and then placing it back in his pocket. I kind of like that he has to fight to keep his hands off me. It makes me feel wanted.
“When do you work next?”
“I’m not on the schedule until Monday. My supervisor wanted me to take a break before I came back.”
“Three day weekend, huh?”
“Since I started working in the ER, I’ve only had one day off at a time.”
“He’s worried about you getting burned out?”
“That’s what he said. I don’t see it happening, though. I love my job.”
“Maybe he’s worried about physically and mentally. Working in the ER for twelve hours a day is hard on the body. The trauma, the life and death decisions you have to make, are tough on the heart and soul.”
“I guess,” I agree reluctantly. Why does he have to make sense?
“From what I hear, you’re one of the best nurses they have. Cool, calm, and collected. They look to you in a crisis. Of course, he doesn’t want you to burn out. You’re too valuable.”
“You been asking about me?” I ask with a smile.
“You may have come up in conversation with one of the surgeons.” He grins sheepishly.
“Uh huh.”
“Okay. Yes, I asked after I found out you were working there.”
Blushing, I duck my head and fiddle with my hair. As we reach my car, he halts near the trunk while I continue to the door.
“How about going to the zoo with me on Sunday?”
“I haven’t been to the zoo in years. Not since the last time my dad took me.” Just thinking of my dad makes my heart hurt.
“Bad memories?”
“Huh?”
“The look on your face when you said that was sad. I was just wondering if I brought up bad memories?”
“No, good ones. I lost my dad a few years ago. Sometimes I get a little teary when I think about him.”
“So, the zoo’s a no go?”
“I’d love to go. It was one of my favorite places. It’s just the first time since he died.”
“Oh-kay?” The uneasiness in his voice makes my wonder if he thinks this is a good idea anymore.
“I told you I was a mess, Daniel. If you want to get out now, that’s fine. No one wants to be in the middle of a disaster.”
“I do. You’re a beautiful disaster. And if I can be the one to help put the pieces back together, I want to.”
“You might be biting off more than you can chew. You know that, right?” I ask, my eyes falling to the pavement as I fiddle with my purse strap.
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take. You’re a risk I’m willing to take.”
That has me looking up at him, the seriousness in his voice ringing with truth. “That may be the sweetest thing I have ever heard.”
“I’ll text you Sunday morning. The zoo won’t open until lunch time.”
“Sounds good. Drive home safely.”
“You too. Will you text me when you get there? I just want to make sure you get home okay.”
Nodding, I climb into my car, then watch as he gets into a maroon Toyota Tundra parked three spaces down from mine. I smile to myself. I knew it, a truck man all the way. There’s just something sexy about a man driving a big ass truck. Rolling down the window, he gives me a little wave. I wave back, crank up the radio, and pull out of my space.