Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Carly
Bray is acting so weird. He’s barely texted me back today, which is unlike him.
Last night, he texted to say he needed to do some laundry before work, so he would have to see me tonight.
And five seconds ago, he texted to say that the hospital is short-staffed, so he’s going in early for his shift.
While that does happen from time to time, it doesn’t explain the strange feeling I have. Is he regretting our relationship?
Roxy told me that he let the cat out of the bag with the guys. So, everyone knows now. Maybe that makes it all too real for him. He’d mentioned wanting to try therapy. I really thought this was going to work. Perhaps I was just hoping for something that was never meant to be.
I lie down in bed and try to read, but my mind keeps drifting back to Bray. Can we even go back to being just friends? Probably not. I put a pillow over my face and scream. Then I let the tears fall, and finally, sleep takes over.
The bed dipping and a hand stroking my leg wake me. I stir, thinking it’s a dream, but then I feel a warm, familiar hand push my panties to the side. Strong fingers stroke me, and I arch into them.
Bray’s lips trail a line from the top of my breast to my cheek.
“What time is it?” I whisper.
“Late…early,” he says.
“Why are you home early?” I reply, my voice breathy with need as he continues to lazily stroke me.
“It got quiet, and Dr. Chang came in a little early, so I left,” he says.
“Having seniority has its perks, huh?” I sigh as he slides two fingers inside me.
“It does,” he replies as he presses his lips to mine while sliding my shorts and panties down my legs. He pulls away for a moment to finish undressing me before settling himself between my legs.
“I missed you,” he whispers as he slides inside me. We both exhale, our bodies reconnecting. My head is spinning as he begins to move. Did I have it all wrong? Was I overthinking everything? He’s hot one minute and cold the next. This isn’t like him.
He hits my G-spot, and my brain stops thinking as he runs the tip of his cock against it, again and again.
We both get lost in each other as our bodies move as if they’ve known the other for a lifetime.
The telltale twitch of his dick inside me sets off my own release, and we come together with his face buried in my neck, his teeth clamping down on my skin.
Neither one of us moves as he softens inside me.
“You missed me, huh?” I tease, trying to lighten the mood, well, mostly my mood.
He kisses my neck once more and rolls off me, pulling me snug against him. I place my head on his chest in a move that’s become a ritual for the past two weeks.
“Yeah, I did,” he says with a kiss to my forehead.
“How was work?” I ask.
Sighing, he runs his hand through his hair. “Two codes and a kid with a penny up his nose so far, we had to call the ENT for a surgery consult.”
“Did you get it out?” I ask as I turn to look up at him.
“Yeah, Dr. Greene managed to pluck it free eventually after we gave the kiddo a mild sedative to calm him down and numbed up his nostril,” he explains.
“You have the weirdest job,” I state as I think of a bad day teaching compared to what Bray sees every day.
“You literally have hormonal little beings imprisoned in your room for an hour plus each day, and then you have to hope they listen to a fraction of what you say,” he scoffs.
I shrug. “But I’ve only had to deal with one kid sticking something up his nose,” I point out with a laugh.
“Well, I bet you he never attempted to stick his pencil eraser up his nose again after that,” Bray says with a chuckle.
I grimace just thinking about my student, who two years ago stuck his pencil eraser up his nose on a dare and then couldn’t get it back out. He did have to be sedated and, boy oh boy, were his parents mad.
“Yeah, that was, uh, an interesting day,” I manage. We’re quiet for a few minutes as our hands trace the lines of each other’s bodies.
“I should get up,” I state as I notice the sky outside beginning to lighten. I go to get out of bed, but Bray holds me tightly. I giggle and push at him.
“Let me up,” I protest.
“Fine, but let’s get coffee,” he says.
I frown and look at him. “But, aren’t you going to sleep?” I ask.
“I’ll get a decaf,” he says. I give him a pointed look. He huffs as he lets me go and we get out of bed, throwing on clothes.
“I just want to spend a few minutes with you,” he says softly as he reaches over and pulls me against him for a quick kiss. Seriously, it’s like he hasn’t ghosted me at all. What the hell is going on with him?
“Well, you’re always welcome to wake me like that any day,” I say lightheartedly.
He keeps me in an embrace and looks down at me, letting out a long breath. “I…I’m trying, Carly. This is hard for me,” he admits in a low voice.
I swallow. Shit. My instincts were right. He’s having cold feet.
“No, I’m not quitting on us. I just…I need some time to adjust my thinking. This”—he motions between us—“is all new to me.”
“OK,” I whisper, trying not to sound upset.
“Let’s get coffee,” he says as he releases me with a final peck on my lips.
I peek in on Ava as we walk to the door. She’s still fast asleep. I swear that kid would sleep through anything. I stick the baby monitor in my pocket, and we head downstairs and across the street. I periodically grab the monitor as we walk.
Bray squeezes my hand. “You are a good mom. She can see you from her window.” He points up at the building.
“I know, but I shouldn’t leave her for long,” I explain.
He nods. “I should have let you stay and just gotten this for us,” he says. “I’m being selfish. I wanted a few extra minutes with you.”
We are the first customers here.
“Hey, you two,” Cam says cheerily as she wipes her hands on her apron. “The usual?”
“Yes, please. And a hot chocolate for the princess,” Bray says as he points toward Ava’s window.
“Of course,” she replies with a laugh.
I’m waiting and staring out the window as Cam tells us about her latest cupcake idea. All of a sudden, Roxy and Gray’s cat, Licorice, sprints out the shop door as Jocelyn opens it. I can see her yell and start running after the cat.
“Oh, no. I think Joc needs help,” I say as I open the door and head toward the park bench.
“You got her?” I call out to Jocelyn.
“Thanks, and no,” Jocelyn replies. “Cliff is out.”
“Oh, shit,” I mutter as the two of us sprint to the bench. We look around for Licorice and then Jocelyn gasps.
“What?” I ask as she points. I follow her finger and put a hand over my mouth.
Licorice is rubbing against Cliff’s back, and they are essentially murmuring to each other in raccoon and cat language.
“Uh, is that like, normal?” I ask.
Jocelyn shrugs. “I have no idea. You know, I just read that raccoons are self-domesticating. You think Cliff is going to try to move into the apartment building?”
I laugh. “Uh, I hope not.”
All of a sudden, Hutch appears from behind us. “Since when did Licorice and Cliff become besties?”
Jocelyn turns to look up at Hutch. “You’re the one with the camera here. Shouldn’t you be able to answer that question?”
“What’s going on?” Bray asks as he walks up to join us. He freezes, and we all watch as Licorice and Cliff cuddle. “That’s…weird,” Bray adds, while handing me a coffee.
“You don’t say,” Jocelyn replies.
“Please tell me Licorice is vaccinated for rabies,” Hutch says.
“Oh, uh, duh. Of course she is,” Jocelyn says. “Roxy took her right before our trip to Italy. Licorice was pissed to be put in her carrier. She may be the worst cat patient ever.”
I snap a photo. “Ava’s never going to believe this.”
“Well, I’m going to…should I grab her?” Jocelyn asks as she steps forward, but then Hutch pulls her back against him.
“Like the fuck you are. She’ll come back on her own. I love Cliff, but she’s definitely not a domesticated animal,” Hutch growls.
Jocelyn snuggles back against Hutch. “Fine,” she grumbles.
He kisses the top of her head. “Come on, let’s get coffee.”
“See you guys,” I say.
Bray reaches out for the flowers and passes them to me.
“For you,” he says.
I grin. “I guess I could use some flowers,” I state as I link arms with him and head back upstairs.
“Let’s wake the princess,” Bray says as he unlocks my door and walks inside, ready to start our day.
“You wake her,” I say as I motion to her door. “She’ll want to see you before school.”
He nods and then leans in and gives me a kiss that quickly deepens.
He sets our coffees down and pulls me against him.
Now, this side of Bray, I could get used to.
I just hope he’s able to battle whatever inner demons he still has about being serious with someone, because I don’t think I can go back to being just his friend, not now that I know there’s so much more between us.