Chapter 9

Parks

I walked into the hospital the next morning eager to figure out what the fuck was going on with Aiden's sister. I'd almost called him that morning at home, but I used the time to talk to my dad instead. He wasn't doing much better, but at least there were people in place to help him, and pick up after him. That gave me a small sense of peace. It wasn't going to work long-term, but until I could get back to New York and think clearly, it was all I had.

"Parks!" Terrance jogged down the hallway toward me. "You want to grab a cup of coffee before the work day begins?"

"Aren't you on night shift?" I smiled and nodded. "Coffee sounds good. I wanted to pick your brain anyway."

"Oh yeah? On what?" He pulled out his wallet as we approached the cafeteria. "This is on me."

"It's seventy cents, cheapo. I'm totally paying for this. You can get the lobster for dinner when we go out sometime soon."

He laughed. "Alright man. You got it."

We grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down across from each other. "Tell me what the fuck is up with Nolan and Ansley."

He lifted an eyebrow. "They were married, but they're now divorced?"

"Nope. Not enough. I want to know why."

"Awww, man. Ask her." He took a sip of his coffee.

"You respect her."

"We all do, Parks. She's a baller around here. She's brilliant and has persevered through so much shit to still be at the top of her game. How could we not respect the fuck outta her?"

"What happened with her and Nolan, Terrance? Come on, man. She hates my fucking guts, and she doesn't even know me."

He smiled. "Maybe she doesn't like your kind."

"White guys with good teeth and great hair?" I gave him a toothy grin and ran my fingers through my hair. "I don't want to fuck things up with her any more than I already have. Tell my why she divorced the big guy. It's obvious that they still have feelings for each other."

"Feelings is a strong word." He took another sip of his coffee before glancing around. "I don't know the true reason. None of us do, but word on the street is that she wanted kids and he didn't, so he fucked it up for her."

"Fucked it up how?"

He gave me a look like I'd already borrowed his car and fucked his sister for the night. "Really?"

"Yes, really. I want the scoop. I need this woman to like me. At least in a platonic work way. She hates me, and I did nothing. I don't want that shit getting back to Aiden. He'll be pissed at me or think she's bat-shit crazy. Neither option works in my book. Help a brother out."

He rolled his eyes. "I think he got a vasectomy and didn't tell her. She wanted kids, man. She's like thirty-five now."

"And?" I picked up my coffee and leaned back as something inside of me loosened a little. She was hurting, and it wasn't about me. Thank God. It had everything to do with what she felt like she missed out on. What a crock of shit. "Women have kids in their fifties. She's in amazing shape. She can still have kids."

"She's not married anymore, Parks. She'd have to find someone and fall in love. That shit takes time."

"She doesn't need a man." I took a long drink of my coffee. "She needs sperm."

"Dude. Don't suggest that shit."

"So why do you think she has this hate Parks thing going on?"

"Because you are young and vital? Maybe she feels like it's not fair because you fuck around and if she were given the chance to be your age again, she would do things differently? Maybe you represent what she can't have."

I leaned across the table and lowered my voice. "She could have me any night of the week. Hear me? Hook me up."

"What? No. Not a chance in hell." He stood up. "I love you like a brother, but my family ain't that close. Figure that shit out on your own, and I'm telling you that if this was me, and I was you, I'd leave it alone. Do what you came to do and get the fuck outta here. She's in a lot of pain and not at all the woman I started working with five years ago."

I stood up too and glanced toward the back of the cafeteria to see her walk in. Her head was down as if she were studying something on the floor while she walked. My heart ached to figure out a way to heal her, but why? Because she was Aiden's sister. That was the only reason I was putting up with her shit. Fear of being fired or reprimanded wasn't something that kept me up at night.

Fucking things up with Aiden, who I respected and cared about? Absolutely.

"Alright. Thanks, man." I patted his shoulder and walked toward her.

"Don't do it, Parks."

I lifted my hand and waved. I did what I wanted to do. Everyone who knew me knew that all too well. "Thanks for the advice."

She turned and lifted her chin a little as I walked toward her.

"Morning, Doctor Parks." She averted her eyes and turned back to the packaged muffins she seemed to be interested in all of a sudden. Something was off, but what?

"Morning." I moved up beside her and took a long drink of my coffee. "I wanted to apologize."

"For what?" She glanced my way but quickly turned back to her breakfast choices. Had something happened last night? Did she and Aiden talk about me?

That I cared was fucked up enough. Combine that with the fact that my dick was twitching and thickening because of her nearness, and I was fucked before I even got started.

"For being in your space yesterday." I wanted to reach out and touch her, but I forced myself not to. We didn't know each other, and no matter how much I thought I wanted to change that, it was for the better that I didn't. I wasn't looking for a relationship, but instead a long night of hearing her scream my name.

"Apology not accepted." She picked up a muffin and turned, walking to the register. My eyes moved down the sensual curve of her ass. How beautiful she must have been bare and spread out on a bed. I couldn't imagine the things Nolan had done to her, the way he'd made her come a million times. Jealousy raged through me, which shocked me a little.

Oh hell no. It was time to tuck tail and run like a scalded little bitch.

"Come on, Ans. Don't be so hard on me, hm?" I moved up beside her and offered the cashier a warm smile. "I'm here to help."

"Good, then get up to the residence welcome on the fourth floor. You should have already been there." She walked away from me, and I should have let it go, but I couldn't.

I moved in front of her and pressed my fingers under her chin, forcing her to look up at me. "What's going on with you? This can't be about me."

"Get your hands off of me and back up."

"Step back, and my hands won't be on you." I lowered my chin a little, looking into her eyes and trying to find the real her. There was something beautiful behind the hurt. I wanted access to it. "What are you doing right now? Did something happen last night?"

"Resident's welcome. Now, Jacob." She narrowed her eyes. She knew I didn't want to be called by my first name, and yet she did it anyway. If she knew the scars it pressed against; she might be alive enough not to hurt me so badly. I was a stranger, and yet the high level of emotion flowing between us had me believing that I wouldn't be for long if she would let her guard down.

It was better that she didn't. Neither of us would have survived the love affair we might could have had.

"It's Parks, but you knew that." I moved back and slipped my hand into my pocket. "I want my procedure reviewed from the surgery today. Let me know when it's done." I turned and walked toward the elevator, a torrent of various indecisions tearing me up inside.

She needed a friend, but that couldn't be me. I wanted more, and I didn't even know the woman.

Maybe it was time to call Aiden and figure out what the fuck was happening. Maybe he could shed some light on the situation.

Soon. Not yet. I'd use him as a last resort and nothing else.

I wasn't a teenage boy with my dick caught in a window. I was a grown ass man with the respect of my peers and the brightest career of anyone I knew. Whatever was going on with Ansley Crawford was none of my fucking business.

Too bad I didn't believe a bit of that bullshit.