CHAPTER 12
Claire
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Harvey lately,” Harvey’s brother tells me on Tuesday.
“I work here,” I reply.
“I know.”
I stare at him as if he’s bothering my note-writing time. Well, I mean, he is, but seriously, I don’t think Henrik likes me very much, and I’ve done nothing to him. In the same way that I’ve done nothing to Harvey, yet some days he treats me like a squashed insect.
“So are you single?”
“Seriously?” I throw back.
He smirks. “Just making sure you understand Harvey’s taken.”
“Unbelievable.” I shake my head, yet my throat swallows at his words, at his realization. “There’s nothing going on between us.”
He pops his purple gum. “Sure.” He taps his fingers on his cell phone. “Let’s keep it that way.”
Luckily, he doesn’t push further.
“You know, since you’ve never asked, he’s doing much better.”
“Oh, I know. I leave the questions to Gemma. It’s pretty obvious—so are other things .”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He shrugs like I’ve bothered him enough for one day.
Eventually, Harvey wheels out of his room, and I’m unsure if we’ll even train today with his brother here.
“Alright, let’s do this,” Harvey answers my query.
I nod, giving him a small smile, and I’m sure he notices my sour mood because his head turns toward Henrik a second later.
I’m utterly nervous with Henrik around, his comments swarming my mind. Maybe Harvey and I both are being completely naive at this point, and it’s obvious to everyone else but us. Maybe everyone thinks I’m pining for Harv.
“Ready?” I ask, clearing my throat, Harvey’s eyes following the movement.
He nods, an unreadable expression appearing on his handsome face . “Yeah, I’m ready.”
I can’t help noticing Henrik’s eyes quickly flashing to Harv at his reply. “I’ll be in your room,” he tells him.
I sigh in relief, finally able to focus without interference. Harv seems less tense too as he starts walking along the railing.
“Claire…it’s getting much easier.” He looks down, and for the love of God, I have this urge to grab his face in my hands and soothe his soul.
I want to tell him that one day it’ll get even easier, but I don’t want to pressure him.
“I’m glad to hear that. I’ll adjust your training, and we’ll go from there.”
“Okay,” he whispers, as if he can’t believe it himself.
I suppose when one has a dream they’ve been longing for, for so long, the reality of it can seem further away, if not impossible.
With every second that ticks by, I can’t help realizing that Henrik might be onto something.
There’s something here, between us.
The air is palpable with its energy. It’s intense and rejuvenating.
“I’m starving, Harv. What should we eat?” Henrik shows up again once we’re done, interrupting my reverie.
Harvey stares at me and asks, “You up for Greek food, Claire?”
I look over at his brother, whose frown is unmistakable. “Um, sure, that sounds great.”
I know with Henrik here, I’m less than welcome to hang out with them, but I can’t help wanting to spend more time with Harvey.
Besides, it’s not like I have much else to do…
Once the food is delivered, I eat mine at the table in silence while the two brothers debate Henrik’s business idea. When we’re finished and Henrik leaves, I start adjusting Harvey’s training program on my iPad based off of Stefan’s updated exercise plan.
“Everything okay? You’ve been quiet all day.”
“Yes, of course. Just feeling a little off today.” I don’t tell him about his brother. The last thing I need is for him to go to Henrik because I told on him.
I needed the wake-up call to keep it professional.
“Alright.” He seems like he wants to say something else, but instead he leaves me be and wheels back to his bedroom.
I finish his new training plan and send it off to the rehab center I’m assigned to, copying Stefan on the email before I leave.
I’m in the waiting room at the hospital with Audrey, watching her move her head from side to side with her orange headphones on.
She hurt her arm in gym class today, and she thinks it’s broken.
I tried convincing her that we should simply go to the clinic, but she wouldn’t have it. My mom has a big presentation tomorrow, so alas, it’s just Audrey and me waiting.
I can’t even explain why I’m feeling off or why Henrik’s words set me off so much.
Is he even right about this?
I mean, Harvey and I haven’t done anything except spend time together, which is inevitable. What do they expect? That we’ll grow to hate each other instead of the inverse?
I take a deep breath. The last thing I wanted tonight was to end up in the ER with Audrey for another one of her medical issues.
I feel awful even thinking it, but sometimes…scratch that, it’s always about Audrey.
And I’m okay with that—she’s my younger sister.
And it’s not her fault that she hurt herself. It’s really not. I’m still annoyed though, wishing I were home right now, sulking in my room.
Maybe Harv and Henrik’s attitudes are rubbing off on me, I don’t know.
“Oh my God, look at that cute guy over there.” Audrey removes her headphones and points with her chin at a guy with ripped jeans and black polish on his thumbs.
I chuckle, imagining my mom’s facial expression if she were here.
It takes us forever to even see a nurse before we wait for the doctor. I’m scrolling on my phone when I get a text. My breathing accelerates, and my stomach is swarming with butterflies when I notice it’s from Harvey. I know that Gemma gave him my contact information when I first got the job, though he hasn’t used it before.
I open it.
Harvey: Still feeling a little off?
Suddenly, I’m Audrey’s age again, and I have a massive crush on Harvey. His brother’s words come to mind, but this time, I push them aside.
I’m so happy he messaged me, it’s obvious even to Audrey, who frowns at me when she notices the change in my mood.
I don’t wait long to text him back.
Claire: A little… At the hospital with my sister. :( She hurt her arm in gym class.
I’m full of giddiness when he answers back right away.
Harvey: That sucks. Hope she’ll be okay and that you’ll feel better soon.
“Are you texting your new boyfriend?” Audrey asks me.
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Hmm. Didn’t know that patients could make their nurses smile like that.”
I shrug. “It happens sometimes.”
“Be careful, Claire. He has a girlfriend, no? Some guys can absolutely break your heart,” she says, acting as if she’s experienced so much at her age.
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” I can taste the lie on my tongue.
My mind can see my own heartbreak coming on in full force, desperately trying, and failing miserably, to get me off this Harvey-is-my-new-crush roller coaster, to save myself from what’s to come.
I’m too happy to stop myself from texting him back, though, so I ask him what he’s doing right now.
Harvey: Not much, gaming.
I sigh, mentally reprimanding myself as I reread our texts, knowing I shouldn’t text back.
My body is tingling thinking about our last movie night, when our hands touched. Yet my mind keeps warning me of the dangerous zone I’m entering. People are right—he’s as unavailable as they come. First, he has a girlfriend, and second, he’s unavailable, even to her, because he hasn’t dealt with his feelings since the accident.
We finally see a doctor, and she tells us that it’s a sprain and it should heal in a few weeks. Audrey can’t do physical activity for the time being.
I tell my mom this when we get home later in the evening.
“Well, you never know, maybe it’s broken. People make mistakes, even doctors,” Audrey declares.
“They did an X-ray, Audrey,” I say, exasperated.
I’m tired, and I need a shower.
We eat the dinner that my mom prepared. I shake my head when Audrey pesters my mom to do everything for her. When she retreats to her bedroom, my mom asks if I’m okay.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry you had to take Audrey again. I should’ve gone.”
“No, Mom, you were busy. She’s just…”
“She’s just what?” She tilts her head, waiting for me to continue.
“She can be a lot sometimes.”
My mom laughs. “That’s our little Audrey. It’s what makes her unique.”
“I know.”
“Though I can’t say I don’t pity her future husband.” Her eyes twinkle with mischief as she says this.
“Honestly, Mom, may the Lord be with him.”
We laugh.
There’s something about my sister that makes me laugh and want to cry at the same time, yet my heart is full from having her in my life.
I love her to death.
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.
But even I can acknowledge that on some days I need a little breathing room from it all.