Chapter 11
Wren
“You did what?” Sally’s voice rises an octave, drawing looks from the two patients waiting in reception.
I wince and lean closer to her desk, lowering my voice. “I said no. I told him I had to work on those files.”
“Wren.” Sally drops her face into her hands and groans. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m not joking.” I shift my weight, already feeling defensive. “I committed to getting those files done by today. They’re paying me really well for the overtime, and I couldn’t just—”
“Yes, you could have.” Sally lifts her head, her expression somewhere between exasperated and amused. “You absolutely should have gone and had coffee with him. Those files aren’t going anywhere. They’ve been sitting in storage for years. A few more days won’t kill anyone.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “That’s not the point. I made a commitment.”
“And Grim made an effort.” Sally leans back in her chair, studying me. “Do you have any idea how big a deal that is? The guy doesn’t talk to anyone. He barely grunts most of the time. And he asked you out for coffee.”
“A friendly coffee,” I correct. “He said friendly. That’s very different from an actual date.”
Sally rolls her eyes. “Semantics.”
“It’s not semantics. It’s an important distinction.” I glance toward the hallway, making sure no one can hear us. “He’s trying to be nicer to everyone because of that complaint. That’s all this is. He probably felt obligated to ask me, since we ran into each other.”
“At a park,” Sally says slowly, “near your house.”
“Yes, near my house. He said that he had an errand in the area.”
Sally gives me a look. “Wren. Come on. Use that brain of yours. What are the odds that Grim just happens to be at a park near your house on a Saturday afternoon?”
I open my mouth to argue, then close it again.
I shake my head. “He said he goes there to relax. To be in nature. It makes perfect sense. Otherwise, it means he was waiting there for me. That’s a bit… I don’t know…creepy. He isn’t like that.”
“Okay, fine. He happened to be there, but he also happened to ask you out for coffee.” She points at me. “That man likes you, Wren. And you turned him down to sit at home with a bunch of files.”
“I would never have finished my work if I’d gone,” I repeat. “I had only gotten through one and a half boxes when I ran into him. Look, it’s better this way. My feelings for Grim are very different from his feelings for me. He sees me as a colleague. Maybe a potential friend, at best. That’s it.”
Sally opens her mouth to argue, but I hold up a hand.
“Even if he did see me as more, we work together. Soon I’ll have enough money to buy my dream home on the Mainland, and then I’ll leave. It’s no use starting something. Not now.”
“You know what your problem is?” Sally leans forward, her expression serious. “You’re so busy planning for this future life on the Mainland that you’re not actually living your life right now.”
“I am.”
“Are you really? You only live once, Wren.” Sally’s voice softens. “Work isn’t that important. Money isn’t that important either. Not when compared to actually experiencing things and connecting with people. You should have gone with him.”
For just a moment, doubt creeps in. Maybe Sally is right. Maybe I’m being too rigid, too focused on my plans and my rules and my commitments.
Nope, I was right.
“I’m fine with my decision,” I tell Sally. “Really. It’s better this way.”
Sally looks like she wants to argue more, but the door chimes and a patient walks in.
“Good morning, ladies. I’m Ruby,” she says. “I have an appointment at ten-thirty.”
“Perfect timing.” Sally types something into her computer. “You’re all set. Wren will take you back to her consulting room.”
I gesture for Ruby to follow me, grateful for the interruption. “Right this way.”
The vaccination takes less than five minutes. Ruby is an easy patient, chatting pleasantly about her daughter’s upcoming birthday party.
“All done,” I tell her. “You’re good for another year.”
“Thank you.” She hops down from the exam table.
I smile and walk her back out to reception, then return to my office to update my records.
The rest of the morning passes in a blur of routine appointments.
Three more patients, all straightforward vaccinations with no complications.
By the time I finish with the last one, my stomach is growling, and I’m more than ready for lunch.
We’re excited to try the new place that opened up down the road.
I head out to reception to find Sally. “Ready to go?”
She looks up from her computer and grins. “Absolutely. I’m starving.”
“Hi.”
We both turn.
Grim walks into the reception area. He’s wearing dark jeans and his work T-shirt. It stretches across his broad chest. His long dark hair is pulled back in a half-knot that somehow makes him look even better.
He nods at me and then turns his attention to Sally.
“Hey, Grim.” Her smile widens. “Are you here for the next printout?”
“No runners, I take it?” He almost looks disappointed when Sally shakes her head.
“Nope, maybe later.”
He moves closer to the desk. As always, I’m aware of how big he is. How he seems to take up all the space in the room.
“I wanted to check the schedule for this week and make sure I have the right addresses for the home visits this afternoon.”
“Oh, sure.” Sally pulls up something on her computer. “Let me just…”
I should probably go back to my office. Give them space to talk. I don’t. I stand there, staring at him.
“Here we go.” Sally spins her monitor so Grim can see. “You’ve got four scheduled for later, three so far for tomorrow morning.”
They talk through the schedule, and I try to focus on something else. But I can’t help noticing the way Grim’s voice rumbles when he speaks. The way his shoulders shift under his shirt when he leans forward to look at the screen.
“Thanks, Sally.” Grim straightens, and for a second, I think he’s going to leave. But then he glances between us and clears his throat. “Are you heading out for lunch?”
“We were just about to,” Sally says.
“There’s a place not too far from here that makes great burgers,” Grim says. “They also do a mean cheesesteak hoagie… Oh, and wings. It’s called The Fire Pit. It only just opened. Have you tried it?”
“We were talking about it earlier,” Sally says, her voice animated.
“I was just headed over there if you want to join me.” Then Grim’s eyes shift to me. “You should come too,” he tells me before he looks back at Sally.
He probably feels obligated to include me since I’m standing right here. It would be rude not to invite me.
“I would love to,” Sally says.
I instantly feel like the third wheel. It’s silly of me, but I can’t help but feel like Grim only asked me because he felt like he had to.
“I’m fine,” I tell them. “You two should go. I brought something from home,” I lie through my teeth.
“Wren.” Sally’s voice takes on a warning tone.
“Really, it’s okay.” I take a step backward. “I’m good.”
“Are you sure?” Grim asks, and there’s something in his voice that makes me pause. “I promise to have you back before the end of your lunch break.”
He’s being so nice about it. So polite. And that somehow makes it worse, because I know it’s just him trying to be friendly. Just him making an effort because of that stupid complaint.
“I’m sure,” I tell him, forcing a smile. “But thank you for the invitation.”
“You know what? I’ll stay too,” Sally says. “Thanks so much for the invitation, Grim.”
“You should go,” I tell her.
“I’ll hang out with you, Wren.”
“Okay. Well, I have something I need to do in the storeroom.” Grim points behind him. “I’ll come back through here in a few minutes. If either of you changes your mind, you’re welcome to join me.”
He walks past us toward the back of the clinic, and I wait until he’s out of earshot before turning to Sally.
“Don’t even start,” I warn her.
“Why didn’t you say yes?” She sounds exasperated. “He asked you to lunch, Wren.”
“He asked you to lunch. I was just a polite add-on.”
“Are you serious right now?” Sally actually laughs. “You really think that’s what just happened?”
“Yes.” I cross my arms. “He asked you first. Then he invited me as an afterthought.”
Sally shakes her head, still smiling. “Oh, honey. You have no idea, do you?”
“No idea about what?”
“He only asked me because he thought it would make you more comfortable.” She leans back in her chair, looking far too amused. “He didn’t want to put pressure on you by asking you directly.”
I blink at her. “That’s not… You’re reading too much into this.”
“I’m really not.” She stands up and comes around the desk.
“Grim keeps to himself. He doesn’t make small talk.
He definitely doesn’t invite people to lunch.
But he invited us. Moreover, he invited you.
He wants to spend time with you. He most certainly does not want to spend time with a forty-something-year-old married woman, I assure you. ”
“Why not? You’re fun to be with. Besides, you said it right the first time; he invited us. He wants to be friendlier to everyone. Not just me,” I correct. “This isn’t about me.”
“You’re stubborn.” Sally grabs my shoulders. “Listen to me. I think he likes you. At the very least, he wants to be friends with you.”
I want to believe her. But the idea seems…wrong.
“Even if that were true – which it’s not – I already told you, we work together. I don’t date people I work with.” I keep my voice low.
“You’re going to lunch, not eloping.” Sally’s grip on my shoulders tightens. “It’s one meal. One hour of lunch with friends. I’ll go if you do too.”
“Sally, I—”
“Think about it,” she interrupts. “When was the last time you did something spontaneous? Something just for fun?”
I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out. Because I can’t remember. It was that long ago.
We turn to the sound of Grim returning.
He appears at the end of the hallway, heading toward us. My pulse kicks up, and I suddenly feel like I can’t breathe.
He stops a few feet away. “Did either of you change your mind?” He looks from Sally to me and back again.
Sally and I look at each other. She raises her eyebrows at me, a clear challenge in her expression.
I think about all the reasons I should say no.
“You know what?” Sally says, grinning. “You only live once, right?” She grins at me. “Why not? I’m going with you, Grim, and you should join us, Wren.”
They both turn to look at me.
Grim’s dark eyes are steady on mine, and I can see the question in them.
Sally gives me the smallest nod, her smile encouraging.