Chapter 7 #2
“Oh girl, I totally get that. I had a fight with Tyler not too long ago. He scared the shit out of me. I’ve never seen him get so angry before.”
“Are you guys ok?” Keirsten has a bit more strength to her voice as she looks up at me.
“We are fine. Just a silly little argument. No big deal really. Actually, he surprised me with some flowers today.” Tilting my head, I study her. “Are you sure you’re ok?”
“I will be. Thank you for asking. I appreciate it.” And for a moment, I see a glimmer in her eye. Only for it to disappear just as quickly.
Keirsten leaves the room and walks down the hallway to our shared office.
I take the chucks pads from the cart and replenish the supply in the bottom drawer of the exam table. I’m grabbing a handful of gauze to refill, when her cries infiltrate my wandering mind.
Something in my gut just doesn’t feel right. She seems… changed. Like her light inside has been dimmed somehow.
I finish stocking my room and take the cart back to the storage room. On my way back to my office, I’m passing by Jules when I get an idea.
“Hey! We should take Keirsten out to Sanctuary tonight. Get her out. I think a girls night would be good for her.”
I mean against the wall next to her. She spins towards me and the shit eating grin on her face has me almost second guessing my idea. “Are you sure you just don’t want an excuse to see Hottie McCoffee?”
Jules filled me in on some of the blanks that happened the last time we were at the club while we were at work last week. Apparently, I not only embarrassed myself in front of Isaac, but I pissed off some skeevy looking man who couldn’t take no for an answer. That explained the marks.
When she told me how pissed Isaac was when he saw the bruising on my arm, my heart leapt and the butterflies I felt confused the hell out of me.
I am interested in seeing him again. If not for eye candy, at least to ask him why he cared so much to get so upset about my arm. But giving Jules that sort of ammunition was not on my bingo card for today.
“Just forget I asked.” I reply while I push myself up and walk towards the door.
“Now who’s being dramatic? I’ll just pretend I’m not offended by how little you think I know you. And as far as going out, I think it’s a great idea and would be super fun!” She claps her hands together. “You let Keirsten know, and just text me with the deets.”
She sends me off with two air kisses and a wave of her hand.
Thoughts of warm, chocolate brown eyes fill my head, followed by his perfectly straight smile, strong jaw, and effortlessly messy hair. Goosebumps erupt across my body when I remember the tattoo hidden beneath his sleeve.
I can’t help but wonder what the rest of it looks like…
Wonder what the rest of him looks like.
The memory of his back, muscles shifting beneath the surface of his shirt, flashes through my mind and my breath catches. I wonder if he would let me find out?
Heat burns low in my stomach, pooling between my legs before I can stop it.
What is wrong with me? I barely know this man. If you can even call twenty minutes knowing someone.
My daydreaming is ultimately interrupted when I reach the back office. Keirsten sits at her desk, absent mindedly clicking through the messages in her inbox. I don’t think she is even reading any of them.
“Hey, Keirsten. Jules and I are going out tonight and wanted to know if you would like to join us?” I place my hand on her shoulder and feel her tense.
“Oh, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” She hesitates.
“Please? We could both use a girl's night tonight. A chance to forget about the stupid boy troubles and just let loose and have fun.”
She pauses what she’s doing and looks up at me. The sadness is there at first, and then it shifts into something smaller, like she’s a child being scolded.
“We will go dance, drink a little, maybe check out some cute men. It’ll be a great time!” I say, trying to coax a smile from her.
Her eyes brighten for just a moment. “Well, it does kind of sound fun.” She chews at her bottom lip. “But I don’t have anything to wear. All my clothes are at my boyfriends, and even then, I don’t have any party outfits.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem! You can come home with me to shower, and we will just have Jules bring you an outfit to wear. She’s got an endless supply of clothes.”
A small smile forms on Keirsten’s lips. “Umm…..” She chews her bottom lip again as she mulls over her decision. “Yeah… I guess.” She sits up taller and with more confidence. “It sounds like a plan.”
“Great!” I give her a quick hug and grab my purse and flowers.
Keirsten follows suit and locks the door behind me, and we both walk out to my car behind the clinic. While she settles into the passenger seat of my car, I remove my phone from my purse and text Tyler.
Me: Thank you so much for the flowers baby, they are beautiful. I love them and love you. Miss you so much and can’t wait for you to be home.
Tyler: I didn’t send you any flowers.
My hand freezes above the ignition switch. There’s only one other person I can think of that would have sent me flowers, and it is the same person who got me surprise coffee.
Tyler: Who the fuck sent you flowers?
Shit.
Me: Oh, sorry. I thought they were from you, but I just texted my mom and they were from her. Said they were a late birthday present.
I stare at the three bubbles bouncing while I wait for his reply, only for them to disappear all together.
Well, I doubt he bought that. Whatever, I’m not going to let him get to me tonight. Tonight is all about the girls, and I am going to go and enjoy myself.
I’ll deal with him later.