Before the Storm

Chapter 8

I hate Mondays. My manager is stupid, and I’ve been yelled at by four patients already today, and it’s only eleven in the morning. I still have five hours to go; I am going to need a lot more coffee to deal with this bullshit. I really would love to find a job that excites me but, for now, I am stuck sitting at a desk, answering phone calls and checking in patients. A woman walks up to my window to check in. “Hi, may I get your name and date of birth please?”

“Samantha Heart, date of birth is March 4, 1962.”

“Alright, Samantha, it looks like your appointment is at noon, and you’re here an hour early. I see you are here for your annual physical exam.”

“Yes, I am never late to an appointment, and since I am early, the doctor can take me in, right?”

“I understand you’re early, but the doctor is completely booked up today. You are welcome to wait in the lobby until you’re called by one of the nurses. In the meantime, I need you to sign here if everything looks correct on the paper regarding your address and insurance information.”

“Bless your heart. I wasn’t asking if he could take me; I was telling you that he will see me. I know him personally. Once he sees that I am here, he will take me early, I assure you.”

“Ma’am he will not be able to see you any earlier. He is actually running a little behind today and won’t be able to see you before noon. I am sorry, but you can have a seat in the waiting room.”

Samantha huffs, and she walks away. I take a deep breath and finish her check-in. My co-worker starts to laugh at me, so I turn toward her and ask, “What is with patients today? I feel like everyone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”

“I don’t know, girl, but listening to you getting yelled at all day is hysterical. I may go into the break room and grab popcorn to watch the rest of your shit-show of a day.”

I roll my eyes at her. “You know you can step in at any time; there are two of us here. Why am I always the one getting shit on by our patients.” My coworkers are completely useless. My manager yelled at me for her mistake but wanted to blame me for not giving her the proper documentation, even though the paper was on her desk, and she covered it with other shit.

A few hours later, I finally checked in the last patient of the day and started my closing tasks. I can’t wait to crawl into bed tonight, but I have to go and wait for Skylar at the coffee shop. Once my closing tasks are done, I head outside to my Honda and drive over to the shop. I find a decent parking spot and head inside. Skylar is behind the counter, helping a customer, so I head straight toward my favorite comfy chair in the corner next to the fake fireplace. I grab my book, find the spot where I left off last, and get lost between the pages. I see someone approaching and look up to find Skylar coming over with a coffee in her hand before she takes the seat next to me.

“You’re a goddess, thank you. I saw you were busy, so I was waiting, and I guess I zoned out,” I tell Sky.

“You’re welcome. How was work?” Sky asks.

“Ugh, don’t get me started with work. I wanted to walk out and never look back. I don’t understand how old people can be so mean. I was yelled at seven times today, SEVEN, and each time was worse than the last. I can’t wait for your shift to be done, so I can head home and crawl into bed.”

“Only a few hours, and then I can close up shop, so just go back to reading. Relax and enjoy your white chocolate mocha. I have to get back to work.”

As she returns to her station, I immerse myself in the fantasy world of Jane and her harem. I hear the bell that signals the door is opening, and the hairs on my arms rise as if someone is watching me. I look up and my gaze locks onto a pair of cerulean blue eyes that make me shiver. Realizing I am just staring at his face, I look around and notice a bandage on his thigh. What the fuck did Phoenix do in the short amount of time since I last saw him? As I finish taking in Phoenix, I notice Knox and Aidan right behind him. Fuck me, I don’t have the energy to deal with these three after the shit day I have had. I drop my head back and look up, silently screaming at the universe for having them walk into the shop today of all days.