3. April
“Sam, why are you still here?”
Sam Lawson, Amber’s twin brother, scoffed. I thought it was so cute that they chose the same profession and worked together. “Are you kidding? Do you know who’s behind that curtain?”
“I’m well aware.” There was an asshole who I’d been trying to avoid being alone with behind that curtain.
“Julian Grayson, April. He’s the freaking captain of the Montreal Canadiens.”
“This is America, Sam. Maybe you should be going crazy over an American team and an American player.”
Sam blinked and looked at me as I’d grown another head. “Since when are you like this, April? You’re normally like the sweetest person ever.”
I sighed inwardly. Seeing Julian again was bringing out my inner bitch. She only ever came out when he was around. That meant my inner bitch had been completely dormant for ten whole years. I’ve never understood why I allowed myself to get so riled up over Julian. “So, what do you want? His autograph or something?”
Sam snorted. “No, of course not…” Pink seeped into his cheeks. “You think he’d be up for it?”
I rolled my eyes. “Sam, he has a broken wrist.”
“I happen to know that he’s a righty, not a lefty. He can totally still hold a pen.”
Shaking my head in disgust, I stared at the twenty-three-year-old. I guess I could give him a pass because he was still pretty young. “Goodbye, Sam.” Wheeling around, I aimed for Julian’s cubicle. I still had to do my job and check in on him. I couldn’t avoid him forever. Unfortunately.
“Hold up.” Sam caught up, but I kept walking. He wasn’t deterred. “Did you know he was on last month’s cover of Forbes? The guy not only kicks ass at sports but he’s making a huge buzz in the business world.”
I rolled my eyes. Why did I get the impression that Sam was the president of Julian’s fan club? I mean, I guess I could understand. Oakland was a blip on the map so to have one of our own branched out to leave such a major mark on the world was commendable. Beneath the many layers of contempt I had for Julian, I guess a sliver of pride could be found. A little.
“Yeah, I know,” I grumbled. “Our very own Oakland Daily reported on it so it was hard to miss.” Heat seeped into my cheeks as I recalled staring at Julian’s picture a little too long because he looked so damn handsome. I lusted over a magazine photo of Julian. No one would ever know. I’d take that secret to the grave.
“Okay, the famous, filthy rich athlete, who happens to be a native of Oakland aside…” Sam grinned. “I’m also still here for you.”
And here we go...
“How about coffee later? Your shift ends in four hours.”
Even if I was interested in a coffee date with Sam, at six in the morning after a twelve-hour shift, I was dead on my feet. “No thanks.”
“Awe, come on, April. How much longer are you going to keep turning me down?”
A smile threatened to surface. It had been three months since Sam began his quest to get me on a date. Giving him a side glance, I affectionately took in his face. He was adorable, with his shaggy strawberry blonde hair and big brown eyes. He was tall and lanky, with boyish effervescence. I was flattered by his interest, but I only saw him as a little brother. I’d never break his heart by telling him that though. “I don’t do younger guys.”
He grinned. “I’m very mature for my age.”
Stifling a giggle, I sent him an amused glance. “You were just fanboying over a hockey player.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Surely, you can overlook that. I mean, when do we ever get actual celebrities in Oakland?”
Smirking, I stepped into Julian’s cubicle. “Goodbye, Sam,” I said with a smile as I drew the curtain.
“Just one coffee, April,” came Sam’s plea. “Your resistance only makes you hotter. You know that, right?”
“Oh, my God,” I groaned.
“Got yourself a fan, I see.”
The voice that somehow managed to still sound sexy despite being sluggish from heavy pain meds made my shoulders stiffen. I ignored the little twinge between my legs and spun around to face Julian with a mean scowl. He was propped up on the bed. His bronze skin was a little pale, which I assumed was from the pain. He’d suffered a fractured wrist and two fractured ribs. He also had some nasty cuts and abrasions along his thighs and legs that would require further care. The rest of him had been protected by riding gear. So, Julian wasn’t a complete idiot. Good for him for having the sense to wear protective gear.
When he was being wheeled to Radiology, he’d asked if he was still pretty. That had the female porter blushing and giggling. She’d assured him his “handsome” face didn’t have a scratch. I was disgusted by their exchange. Leave it up to Julian to flirt and be wickedly charming and funny while injured and in obvious pain. And leave it up to ninety-nine percent of the female population to swoon at his feet. Despicable!
“You’re awake,” I muttered, immediately feeling bad for my lack of professionalism.
His deep, honey-smooth laughter made me gulp. “April, it’s been a decade. Show a little love, babe.” With a goofy, drug-induced grin that almost made me smile, he lifted one arm. “How about a hug?”
Seriously? The medication must have given him temporary amnesia. Or maybe it was the concussion. We hated each other, and he was asking for a hug?
“You did not just call me babe.”
Julian dropped his arms and frowned. I couldn’t get over how great he looked. He looked even better than I remembered. His dark blonde hair brushed his shoulders. He didn”t wear it that long before. His eyes still pulled me in. I could get completely lost in those mesmerizing orbs if I wasn’t careful. They still gleamed with mischief, too. The only difference in Julian’s appearance was that his chiseled jaw was lined with stubble, and his nose was slightly crooked from being broken. I’d heard about that injury. It happened during one of his practice sessions three years ago. I swear, all the man had to do was breathe, and it made entertainment news all the way across the Canadian border. It annoyed me because there was no forgetting Julian Grayson, no matter how much I’d tried. He was always there in some magazine or blog article. I glared at him as if it was all his fault. I was further irked because him laying in a hospital bed in a white gown did nothing to lessen his broad-shouldered and manly stature. So annoying. Everything about him just rubbed me the wrong way.
“I did,” he slurred. “I mean,” he said as his eyes swept me from head to toe, “you are a total babe, April.” He grinned that silly grin again and hiked a thumb at the IV bag. “Unless I’m tripping on whatever is in that bag.”
My lips twitched. He was so out of it. So, he probably didn’t mean what he said about me being “a total babe.” I opened my mouth to tell him never to call me babe again, but Nic pushed his head around the curtain.
“Hey, can I come in?”
“It’s the Chief!” Julian said excitedly. “Come on in, Chief.”
Nic lifted a brow.
“Don’t mind him. He’s on some strong meds,” I explained.
“Huh.” Nic stepped in. “Well, now that I know you’ll be just fine, Julian, I’ll get going.”
“Awe, don’t go, Chief! Stay awhile and enjoy the party.”
Nic chuckled. “What the hell did you put in that IV bag? He’s high as a kite.”
I couldn’t help chuckling.
“Hey, Grayson? Can I ask you for a favor?”
“Hell yeah, anything for you, Chief.”
“No one knows you’re here yet. I told the EMTs to keep it under wraps but news will get out soon. When you’re not high on pain meds, can you promise you’ll talk to a journalist named Lucy Bennet first before you talk to anyone else?”
“Nic,” I hissed. “You”re taking advantage of his medicated state. That is beneath you.”
“My fiancée is a journalist, April,” he hissed back. “Do you know the reward I’ll get if I help her break this story first?”
“Ew. I don’t want to know what you and my sister get up to,” I sighed, shaking my head. “I can’t believe you.”
Nic visibly fought back his amusement.
“What are you two whispering about?” Julian asked. “Did you say Bennet? As in April’s sister? Sure, I’ll talk to her.” He smirked. “But only if my babe of a nurse is standing right beside me. She really lights up the room, doesn’t she?”
Nic snickered, and I rolled my eyes.
“I’ll be back a little later then,” Nic announced. He then gave me a peck on the cheek. “Later, darlin’.”
“Later. Give Kelsey a kiss for me.”
Kelsey, Nic’s daughter, was the cutest little girl. I loved babysitting her. She was a barrel of laughs, just like her father.
Nic left and I was alone with Julian again. I reached for his chart to scribble down his current vitals.
“The Chief kissed you and called you darlin’.”
I glanced at Julian. “What of it?”
“So, you’re...with him?”
My brows scrunched. “He’s my family’s long-time friend and my soon-to-be brother-in-law.”
“Oh.”
We stared at each other. Julian looked as if he was trying to wade through the haze of opioids that circulated his system to say something else. He blinked several times, but his eyelids drooped. I stood there as my usual awkward self, confused and wanting to escape his gaze.
“Flower child…”
“Don’t call me that,” I snapped. I had to take a breath to not let his words get to me.
He looked taken aback. “April, I uh…” He blew out a breath. “Shit, what is happening?” he slurred.
“You’re falling asleep. The meds,” I explained. “Sleep is good. You won’t be in pain. When you wake up in a few hours, I’m pretty sure you’ll be out of here.”
He grunted. “I need to ask you something.”
I adjusted the IV. “What’s that?”
“Do you still hate…”
I waited, but nothing else came. Glancing at him, I saw that his eyes were closed. My lips quirked. I was curious to hear what he wanted to ask. I stared at Julian for a moment, feeling that strange attraction clawing its way to the surface. It wasn’t new to me. Suddenly, out of nowhere, came memories of our bitter verbal battles growing up, and the last hurtful thing he did. He didn’t know how much he had hurt me though. It had all been a joke to him. Sighing, I pulled the white sheet up to cover him. No matter how much I disliked him, I couldn’t help ensuring his comfort. With one last look at his serene, sleeping face, I walked out.