Kate
It’s been two weeks and not one word from Max. It’s as if he disappeared off the face of the world. I get that it may be too much for him, but Finn needs him. My hands have been tied after being written up and put on probation by the school board. Someone reported seeing Max and me together at the local coffee shop.
It’s all bullshit, and I know it. It’s a good old small town, and all of its politics it keeps locked away in the depths, the narrow-minded school board members doing their best to brush everything under the carpet. They have no intention of helping Finn. Instead, they are more worried about looking good from the street.
My phone pings in my pocket. I pull it out to see a text from Mr. Gilly. Steven is relentless in his efforts. His actions become less subtle each time I turn him down. He claims he’s on my side and he couldn’t help me with being written up. It’s all bullshit, and the longer time goes on, the more livid I become.
Gilly: Just checking in on you. I have an extra ticket to the movies if you want to join me.
I ignore it, but before I can tuck my phone away into my pocket and go back to scanning the shelves of the local hardware store, the tiny bubbles begin popping up and down.
Gilly: And dinner of course.
It’s the final nail in his coffin. I’m fed up with his attempts and no action when it comes to doing the right thing. The letter on my computer to the state Board of Education will be sent tomorrow.
Me: No.
Me: Actually, I’d appreciate if you’d quit asking me out. It’s never going to happen. I have no interest. And this is quickly approaching harassment.
The bubbles dance again, but I’m faster this time, powering off my phone and putting it back in my pocket. I glance back to the shelf, scanning for the can of Gloss Ocean Blue spray paint. I scored three chairs at a yard sale and ran out of paint. A smile graces my face, knowing my students will love their new reading chairs.
“Shit,” I hiss to myself, spotting it on the top shelf and way to the back. “Are you serious?”
I glance around seeing a five-gallon bucket with a lid and grab it. Not the smartest idea, but right now my patience has run thin, and I know it will take forever for Old Man Pete to help me. He moves about as fast as thick tar and will want to talk for thirty minutes about the weather.
I snag the bucket and place it right in front of the wall of spray paint. I test it out and make sure it’s sturdy enough. Even with the extra height from standing on the bucket, I’m still forced to go up on the tips of my toes. I grab a can of another color, reaching with everything I have to scoot the damn blue my way.
Right when my fingers wrap around the top of the can, the bucket pitches, sending me forward into the shelves. My hand gets caught between an open space in the shelf and doesn’t give.
“Shit,” I hiss out, cringing in pain as something in my wrist pops and I sail towards the harsh tile floor.
It never comes. Instead, I’m wrapped in strong arms.
“Not a smart idea, Kate.” A voice vibrates against my neck.
The pain throbbing in my wrist dulls as Max’s scent wraps me in a gentle hug. I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. He sets me on the ground, and I adjust my shirt down around my middle. Max extends his hand out toward me.
“Is this what you were going for?”
I nod. Not only did he catch me from a major crash, but also managed to grab the can of spray paint. I reach out to grab it and wince in pain, unable to hold it.
“Jesus, Kate, your wrist.” Max grabs my upper arm, bringing it closer to him.
I realize it’s already swollen at least double in size.
“It got caught,” I squeak out.
“You probably broke it.” He begins guiding me to the front. There’s a harshness in his tone that makes me stop and stiffen my spine.
“I’m fine.” I pull back.
“Bullshit. You need to go to the hospital now.” He begins walking again. “Pete, put this on my account.”
I’m outside and being lifted into Max’s truck. He jogs around the front of it. I can’t help but notice the resemblance to Finn, even in their simple gestures. His jaw is clenched as he fires up the truck and backs out of the local hardware store parking lot.
“You don’t have to do this. It’s clear you’re not impressed.” I turn to him. “Just let me out. I can drive one-handed.”
The pain doesn’t even register with the mystery of this man sitting next to me. Talk about one screwed-up puzzle.
“You’re right.” He glances over at me, searing me with those rich chocolate eyes. “I’m not impressed. I’m pissed off.”
“You’re an ass. Let me out,” I demand again.
He chuckles. The man actually has the nerve to laugh right now.
“I take that back. You’re a major asshole.”
He shakes his head as he turns into the small hospital. Nothing like living in a small town where everything is located on the main road. He kills the engine and turns toward me, piercing me with his damn good looks.
“I’m pissed over the fact you couldn’t ask for help.” He reaches over and squeezes the top of my thigh. “I can’t stand seeing people in pain or hurt.”
And with that, he’s out of the truck and making his way to my side. He’s all gentleman opening the door for me and ushering me inside. I don’t get a chance to speak at all. Max takes it upon himself to get me checked in. There’s a presence about him that no one can deny. I don’t miss the way the young nurse drinks him in. And just like that, I find myself in an emergency room.
Once Samantha, the overly flirty nurse, leaves the room, the silence is thick, threatening to smother me. The throbbing pain in my wrist begins to radiate up my arm. The patience that was running thin before has now blown. I rip off the Band-Aid.
“Finn goes back to his mom next week.” I stare him down. “CPS has claimed her reformed and capable of caring for him. It’s bullshit.”
Max doesn’t say a word, so I take it upon myself to push forward.
“He’s been doing so well with this set of foster parents. It’s going to break my heart when it happens. I swear, why doesn’t she just give him away? And why in the hell are you back here? I thought you left, fleeing from your problems and not facing them just like everyone else in Finn’s life.”
My rant is cut off when the door to the stale room opens.
“Hi, Miss Valent…”
“Yes, that’s me.” I wave from the table, the paper crunching underneath me, saving the man from butchering my last name.
“I’m here to take you for x-rays.” The gentle giant approaches me. “Any chance you’re pregnant or could be?”
I snort then burst into laughter. I slap my hand over my mouth. My sex life is non-existent and has been since forever. Yeah, I’m that girl who is okay dying a sex-starved woman, just not an old cat lady.
“I’ll take that as a no,” he responds.
I’m ushered down a long hall then go through the process of getting my arm x-rayed. I stay quiet through it all but learn everything about Hank, from how he married his high school sweetheart to the names of his six dogs.
“The doctor will be in shortly. You want some more ice for your wrist?” Hank asks.
“No, thanks.”
“Yes, she does.” Max kicks his legs out in front of him.
“All righty then. I’ll be right back.”
“Ass,” I mumble as Hank closes the door.
“Thought I was a major asshole.” Max crooks up a smile, putting his perfect, white teeth on display, making me angrier that I find him so damn good looking.
“You are, and quit treating me like a damn child.”
I scoot back on the table as Max stands to full height and stretches his arms over his head. I keep my focus on the watercolor painting on the wall and not his torso.
“I’m a concerned friend. If I’m treating you like a child, I’m sorry. I played football for years and know ice is crucial to help with swelling.”
Hank walks back in and hands the ice to Max, who takes it upon himself to walk over to me and place it on my wrist.
“And to answer your question, I’m back here because I now live here.”
I whip my head his direction, my jaw slack in shock. “You what?”
Max places his hand on the top of my thigh. The heat from his skin burns me from the inside. “I grew up in Boone. Went home that day to my parents’ house and made a plan.”
“I thought you left,” I whisper.
“Yeah, I was sensing that from your attitude toward me.”
Max goes on to fill me in on the fact he hired a lawyer and is remodeling a house. He makes it clear he’s not about to share the entire process with me. From college and studying the law on my own, I know it’s going to be a daunting procedure with lots of hoops to jump through. We are cut off when a young and very good-looking doctor steps in. And I mean this man could take out McDreamy from Grey’s easily.
“Kate Wilson-Valentukonis, I’m Doctor Ash.” He extends his hand. Mine trembles in his large one. “I see you had an accident.”
“Yeah,” I stutter out. “You actually pronounced my last name right. That’s rare.”
Max steps back, taking his seat and giving the handsome doctor some room.
“Well, the x-ray shows a hairline fracture.” He points it out on the picture. “We are going to have to wait for the swelling to go down before we can cast it.”
I groan. “Not a cast. I don’t have time for that.”
“Shouldn’t have been standing on a damn bucket then,” Max adds from the corner.
“Yeah, your boyfriend is right,” Doctor Ash says as he places a metal piece under my hand and begins wrapping it with a bandage.
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Really?” Ash freezes and looks at me, shooting up an eyebrow.
“I’m her fiancé.” Max stands, taking my side.
“Well, congratulations. Good thing you weren’t wearing your ring. We may have had to cut it off.”
My cheeks burn with fiery flames of embarrassment. This day can’t get over soon enough.
“I’ll write a script for pain pills.” Dr. Hot Pants goes on about care, then gives us our goodbyes.
As soon as the door shuts, I hop off the table and shoot daggers at Max. “What was that about?”
“He was hitting on you. I’m no fool, Kate.”
“And so what if he was?” I strike back.
“It’s unprofessional as hell.” He shrugs.
“God, you’re irritating.”