Chapter 7
Sarah
The clinic is so busy, there’s not a single spare seat in the waiting room. I hurry between one examination room and the next. It’s well into the afternoon before I can take my first break.
I’m in the small breakroom pouring myself a coffee when Jill comes in to join me.
“Crazy day today, huh.” She starts to refill her own mug once I go over to the fridge to retrieve my lunch. “What’s going on out there?”
“No idea,” I say around a mouthful. I’m eating as fast as I can. There’s not much time. Jill sits down across from me, setting her own lunch down on the table between us.
“It hasn’t been this crazy in months.” She takes a long swallow of her own coffee, and makes a face. “This is awful.” She pushes her mug away as if it’s poisonous. “How can you drink something this vile?”
I add even more sugar to my half-full cup. “I don’t care that much. I need the caffeine. Or else I’ll fall asleep on my feet.”
Jill gazes at me as she takes a bite of her sandwich. “Really. You didn’t get much sleep last night, huh?”
“I didn’t say that.” But I can’t keep a huge grin from spreading across my face. There’s no way she could miss it.
“Oh, you don’t have to say it. I can see it. I can tell. You went out with Cory last night, didn’t you?”
I nod around a mouthful. I’ve been thinking about him non-stop. He texted me this morning and he wants to see me again.
“So, I take it your night with The Core went really, really well?” Jill’s smiling at me as she eats. “You know I want details. Come on, Sarah. Spill it. If I can’t date him myself, I want to live through you.”
I nearly choke on my coffee as I laugh at her. “Jealous of my dating life? You? No way, Jill.”
She shakes her head. “This is different. This is Cory Reynolds. I’ve had a celebrity crush on him for awhile now. Ever since he joined the pros. So come on. Don’t leave me hanging. Besides, you know my imagination is probably going to come up with something even crazier than what actually happened. So you can tell me how the night went, or I can go on and fill in the gaps myself instead.”
“Okay, okay. I’m not giving you all the details. But it was a great night. He’s really nice, and smart. And funny. We talked for ages. It was one of the best first dates I’ve ever been on.” I take another sip of coffee, trying not to taste it too much. “No. The very best ever.”
Jill cocks her eyebrow at me. “You like him.”
I shoot her a quizzical look. “Of course I like him. I wouldn’t have gone out with him otherwise.”
“No, I mean you really like him. I thought you’d be telling me all about the sex. And I want you to. But you’re falling for him, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. We went out one time. That’s all.” Even as I turn back to my lunch, I can feel a blush rising to my cheeks.
“But you’re going to see him again. Right?”
“Yes. I want to go out with him again.”
I check the time. I have to get back. Even though technically my break could go on for longer, it’s not one of those days where that’s going to happen.
“Good for you, Sarah. I’m happy for you. I thought you were going to be into some casual thing with him. But you’re falling for him. That’s great.”
“ Is it? We’ve been out one time. It’s way too soon to be falling for a guy I barely know. Even if we did sleep together on the first date.”
“Ha. I knew it. I knew you did. You know what? Yes, it’s soon. But sometimes, you just know. When it’s the right one, I think you know it.”
“Is that how it was with your husband?
“Yes. Pretty much. It took probably two or three dates. But it was right at the beginning. I knew. He was the one for me.”
I collect my empty mug and dishes. “I’m not saying Cory’s the one for me. It’s way too early to know that.”
Jill gets up too, grabbing her empty sandwich wrapper.
“Okay, if you say so. But don’t think you can get out of telling me everything about spending the night with The Core. I want details. When we have more time, I want to know everything.”
I turn to Jill. “Okay.” I give her a grin. “But there’s a lot to tell. Quite a lot to talk about.” I give her a knowing look. She gets my meaning right away.
“I knew it. I knew he’d have a big cock.”
We’re coming out of the breakroom when she says that. Jill’s voice is never quiet. That wouldn’t matter normally, since we’re in the back of the clinic. Far away from where any patient could hear anything we say. But instead of a patient overhearing her, someone else has.
It’s Dr. Ash. Chart in hand, he’s coming out of his office. And there’s no way he didn’t hear what Jill said.
His eyebrows fly up. But he doesn’t say anything. Jill walks away without another word and I’m about to head off in the opposite direction when Ash stops me.
“Sarah.” His voice is firm.
“I’m sorry,” I begin.
He gives his head a slight shake. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
“Yes Dr. Ash?” I hope there’s nothing wrong with my paperwork. I’ve gotten a little bit behind on it, I know. I was already planning to stay late tonight to catch up. I’m about to start explaining that to Ash when he continues.
“Sarah, will you go out with me tomorrow night?”