10. Cora
ten
cora
T his is not a date. In fact, it’s a not-date. At least that’s what I keep telling myself as I check my hair in the mirror for the thousandth time today. We are just two consenting adults having lunch at a diner. Nothing more.
When I enter the crowded diner, I spot Nash waiting by the hostess stand. He flashes a megawatt smile when he spots me.
“Wow, you look beautiful today.” Am I seeing things or is there heat in his eyes? “You know, in a purely platonic and friendly way, of course,” he adds with a wink.
The hostess seats us at a booth and hands us our menus. Nash thankfully doesn’t question me when I insist that I sit facing the front door to the diner.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Nash says to the hostess.
It’s such a turn on when someone has good manners.
We make small talk until our waitress takes our drink orders. It doesn’t take long for her to drop them on the table, and a thick chocolate milkshake with a mound of whipped cream calls my name.
Nash leans one of his strong arms against the table as she walks away. “So, tell me about yourself.”
I sigh, detesting having to share my life story with someone else.
“There isn’t much to tell,” I say, trying to avoid the question by taking a long sip of my shake.
Nash inches closer. “I seriously doubt that.”
I adjust my glasses on my nose. “Well, there isn’t. Life was great until my dad died. Then I had a long string of bad relationships before deciding to pick up everything and move here.”
Suddenly, Nash’s hand is on top of mine. “I’m sorry to hear you lost your father. Were you two close?”
I should pull away, but the warmth from his calloused hand feels too good. “Yeah, we were best friends and did everything together. I miss him every day. At least I still have my mom, even if she’s busy traveling the world in her retirement.” I shrug. “What about you? Are you close with your family?”
A content smile that softens his eyes spreads across his face. “You might say that I’m a little too close to my family. Don’t get me wrong,” he continues. “I love them to death, but they can be overly involved in my love life.”
My eyebrows shoot up. Now, this is a topic I’m definitely interested in hearing about. “Really? Okay, spill,” I say, gesturing with my hands for him to bring it.
“They’re constantly reminding me that I turn 40 soon and that I’m still single. My parents and sister are like dogs after a bone, never letting up with their questioning, or trying to set me up with anyone they cross paths with that is also single.”
“I was just talking with Bethany about how freaking painful blind dates are. Keep in mind that I’ve only been on a few, but they were the worst.” I gesture between the two of us. “This is not a date by the way.”
Nash laughs at my bluntness. “Okay, I can respect that, but I should warn you. I’ve been told that I’m pretty damn lovable.”
I roll my eyes, but know that he is absolutely correct. He would be very easy to love. Just not by someone like me.
Our waitress drops off our food. Nash’s plate is filled with fried eggs, crispy bacon, thick toast, and a mountain of hashbrowns. My mouth waters at my own plate: a massive stack of fluffy waffles topped with whipped butter, maple syrup, and fresh strawberries.
I’m raising a bite to my lips when Nash announces, “How about we share our worst dating stories. Then we can commiserate together.”
“Game on, but I should probably warn you,” I say, taking a long sip of my shake, “I’ve been through some real train wrecks.”
“Then this is going to be good.” He chuckles, adding strawberry jam to a piece of toast and taking a bite. “Ladies first. How about you get us started?”
“Oh, which one should I share first?” I bite my lip, thinking. Nash’s gaze zeroes in on my mouth. Friendly and platonic my ass. “Okay, so I’m bisexual, but didn’t come out to my family and friends until I was in my late twenties. One of my coworkers decided that I just had to meet her cousin and that she and I would be a perfect match.”
I pause to take a sip of my shake, and Nash waits patiently, holding on to my every word.
“So I show up to the restaurant early, checking the photo that my coworker had given me of my date so that I would recognize her. I was looking at everyone in the restaurant to see if she’d already arrived. That’s when I spotted her at one of the tables, already on a date.”
The look of pure shock on Nash’s face makes me burst out laughing.
“No fucking way!” he says, mind blown. “What did you do?”
“I walked over to the table and introduced myself. She and I were never going out at this point, but I wasn’t going to leave without having some fun. My date looked ready to bolt once she figured out who I was. Turns out, she frequently scheduled dates back to back in the same restaurant for ‘efficiency.’” I make air quotes with my fingers.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but that’s both awful and hilarious.”
“Right? I was more impressed than anything that she was able to balance that many people at once.” I finally take a bite of my waffles and release a little moan when the sweet flavors hit my tongue.
“That’s a sound I could get used to hearing,” Nash adds casually, holding up a piece of bacon to his lips and taking a bite. “My turn. This one I’m not proud of, but I’ll chalk it up to being young and dumb.”
As if I’m supposed to just ignore the fact that he said that he wants to hear me moan. I mean, would I be opposed to it? Hell no. Is it a good idea? Also hell no.
It’s too soon for another relationship , I remind myself.
“It must’ve been about five years ago. My sister decided to set me up with one of her friends’ sisters for a double date with her and her husband.”
“A blind date and a double date?” I interrupt. “You are one brave man.”
“Tell me about it. The entire evening was one awkward moment after another. My date refused to speak to me throughout dinner. I mean, even basic questions, like what she did for fun. Then, because I’m apparently a masochist, I agreed to continue the night with an escape room.”
My eyes practically pop out of my head. “You volunteered to be locked in a room for an hour with her?”
He nods his head. “Not just her, but my sister and brother-in-law as well. Let’s just say that I broke some kind of record for fastest time solving an escape room so I could get out of there. Clearly, we were not a match.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing. “Is it mean to say that I wish I could have been there to watch it? There are certain moments that need to be captured on camera.”
“Yes, very mean, but you can make it up to me by letting me have some of your shake.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me.
“Deal. I think you’ve earned it after that story,” I say, sliding the chilled glass towards him.
I’m struck by how easy things are between us. As we continue talking, Nash goes out of his way to include me in every topic. He listens to every word when I speak, and is effortlessly kind to not only myself but everyone I’ve seen him interact with.
After we’ve finished our meals, Nash insists on paying since he was the one that invited me out. Even though I know I can pay my own way, it does warm me inside to have someone treat me. Ryan rarely did.
Nash stops me outside of the diner with a hand on my shoulder. “I had a great time today, Cora. Am I testing my luck thinking you might let me take you out again?”
I should say no, that this was a one time thing. That sure, while our lunch was easy and fun, I’m still learning to trust myself and my decision making when it comes to men.
But when my mouth opens to say no, my heart simply won’t let me. “You might be able to convince me to do this again, but only if I can make time in my busy schedule.”
“Hmm, sounds like a challenge to me, and I’m always up for a challenge.”
We’re standing so close that I can make out the hint of smile lines by his eyes, and the sinfully sexy touch of gray hairs at his temples. This could be the moment in a romantic comedy when the hero would kiss the heroine and they’d live happily ever after. However, I’m not the kind of woman that things like that happen to.
Nash searches my eyes. “Would it be okay to ask you to message me when you get back to the clinic so I know you got there safely?” he asks.
His concern for my wellbeing makes my knees weak. Fuck, my standards must be low if a man being kind to me has me ready to stick my tongue in his mouth.
No, that isn’t it. It’s all Nash. There’s something about him that disarms me, that makes me consider tearing down the carefully constructed walls around my heart. It feels dangerous and scary.
“I can do that. Thank you for lunch today. I had a good time.” I check my phone. “Crap, I better get going. Bethany will need me to set up the exam rooms for her afternoon appointments.”
“Goodbye, Cora.”
Nash’s deep timbre makes me want to do dirty, dirty things.
When we part, I already feel the loss of his company. Butterflies decide to throw a dance party in my stomach as I replay our last few moments together. For a split second there, I was overcome with the intense desire for him to kiss me. I immediately cast that feeling away.
It’s too soon .
Back at the clinic, I find myself face to face with a black and golden brown ball python named Barnabas. His owner reports that he has a respiratory infection. A petite older woman covered in tattoos, she coos at the snake like it’s a baby.
“My poor little snookums has been sneezing since yesterday morning.” The owner gently rubs under the snake’s neck. “Haven’t you, my handsome boy?” On cue, Barnabas releases an adorable sneeze before poking his little tongue out. “When will Bethany be able to see him?”
“Dr. Tomlinson is finishing up with another patient, and then she’ll be right with you. How about I bring you and Barnabas back to Exam Room Three to get settled?”
“Thank you, dear. I must seem silly getting all worked up like this, but Barnabas is my baby, and I just don’t know what I’d do without him,” the kind woman explains.
She and I walk back to the exam room where I let her take a seat and comfort her scaly little boy. “It doesn’t seem silly at all. Pets become members of our family and give us unconditional love. He’s in very good hands here.”
Bethany exits the room next door, followed by a mother and a young girl holding a fish bowl in her hands. Addressing the little girl, Bethany says, “Okay, now make sure you give your fish Bubbles his medicine once a day, and he should be good as new in a week.”
The child nods her head enthusiastically.
“Thank you so much, Dr. Tomlinson.” The mother wraps her arm around her daughter and leads her out through the lobby.
“Awe, that was the cutest thing I’ve seen all day,” I say as I hand Barnabas’ patient file to Bethany.
She flips through, reading his chart. “It’s one of the perks of the job. It’s awesome to see parents including their children in the care of family pets.”
Just as she turns to leave, Bethany stops abruptly. “Oh, someone called looking for you while you were out. He didn’t leave a name, but he honestly sounded like a weirdo, so I hung up.”
My smile fades as the wheels turn in my mind. My heart pounds in my chest, and I can feel myself becoming lightheaded. There’s no way that Ryan could know that I work here now. Right ? The urge to run and hide is almost too overwhelming to bear, but I shove those feelings back down. Maybe I’m just being paranoid and it wasn’t him.
Bethany interrupts my train of thought before I can continue to spiral.
“Also, before I forget, do you have any plans after work? I’m having a friend over for dinner and would love for you to meet her. She’s incredible, and you two will get along so well, I just know it.”
I shake my head, coming back to reality. A reality free of Ryan’s control. A chance to make a new friend? I’m sold. “Count me in. I could use some girl time.”
“Perfect!” Bethany winks at me before entering the exam room. “Barnabas! How’s my favorite reptile today?”