Chapter 20
Martin
I peek into Casey’s rehab room, and she waves me inside.
“What can I do for you, Dr Kane?” she asks, sitting on her desk.
“If you’re busy or with a patient, I can come back later,” I say.
“What’s the matter?” she asks.
I sit next to her, and she offers me her coffee.
“No, thanks. I’d better not,” I reply.
She studies me for a moment. “You seem nervous.”
“Nah, just… Actually, yeah. I’m so nervous I could swallow my own stomach.”
“Spit it out, or you’ll choke, and then I won’t know anything more.”
“I have a date.”
“Holy shit!” Casey jumps off the desk. “When? With who? Where? How did it even happen?”
“How did it even happen? I could almost be offended.”
“You know what I mean.”
“You think no one would ask me out?”
“Don’t overthink what I said. I just mean I didn’t expect this, especially after our last talk.”
“Things can change.”
“And pretty quickly, too.”
I shrug.
“Do I know him? Does he work at the hospital, or did you pick him up at one of those clubs you like to hang out at?”
“I don’t go to clubs, and I don’t pick up men!”
“Then who is he? A colleague?”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“Where did you meet him?”
“Let’s just say I’ve known him for a while.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Martin, just spit it out!”
I realise we’ve had a conversation like this before, but last time, Casey was the one getting grilled. Now she’s with Nick O’Connor, who’s already proposed, and of course, she said yes. He might be a dickhead with a hot body and a great arse, but he’s a good guy who makes her happy.
Casey is with Nick, Chris is with Ryan, and Riley — Jamie’s sister — is with Ian. The three O’Connor brothers seem to run everyone’s lives, pulling us all closer together. Sometimes it feels impossible to get a break from the family.
“Let’s say he’s family. Not really family, but part of the clan.”
“Oh, fuck.”
“No need to worry.”
“I am not worried, but I can tell you are.”
“I haven’t even told you who it is!”
“It’s easy math, you know? There’s only one person from the merry gang left in the game, and he’s also the only suitable one.”
“You are quite perceptive.”
“And honestly, when he’s around, you act like a puppy.”
“That’s not true. I don’t act like that, especially not for him.”
“Oh please, like you haven’t noticed all those muscles and everything else — lots of everything else.”
“Aren’t you too busy staring at O’Connor’s abs?”
“That doesn’t mean I can’t admire other things. Now that you’re into him, I’m no longer allowed to?”
“I’m not into him.”
“I let you drool over Nick’s photos, especially the one with the infamous ball…”
In one of his many unforgettable photos, Nick was totally naked, holding a ball to cover his family jewels.
“So now I have the right to drool over your Captain.”
“He’s not my Captain.” I stand up from the desk.
“Ah, Martin…” Casey also stands up. “You know who you’re dealing with, don’t you?”
“Don’t start.”
“He’s basically family.”
“I knew I didn’t have to tell you anything.”
Casey sighs and gives me a look. “I’m not trying to upset you. I just worry about you. I know who you are and how big your heart is.”
“What am I supposed to do with this big heart of mine?” I ask.
Casey puts her hands on my shoulders and pulls me into a hug.
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I’m hopeless. Just Doctor Loser.”
“You are not a loser.”
“Go tell that to the O’Connor brothers or Evan.”
“Forget what the brothers say. As for your son, I don’t think he really thinks you are a loser.”
“I wish that were true.”
She lets go and looks me in the eye.
“I’m sure Jamie doesn’t think you’re a loser either. If he did, he wouldn’t have asked you out.”
“How do you know he’s the one who asked me out?”
She laughs. “Because you’d never have the courage to do that.”
I laugh too. “See? It’s written on my forehead: loser.”
“Can I ask how this even happened?”
“What?”
“How did you go from messing with each other to actually dating?”
“Honestly, I don’t know either. We saw each other once and…”
“Wait, hold on. Have you two already gone out?”
“Not exactly…”
“Martin Kane, you’ve been keeping too many things from me lately.”
“You’re right, but I didn’t want to talk about it. I was confused. I felt all mixed up.”
“Mmm… Are you already screwed?
“I don’t know yet, but I’m afraid I’ll find out soon.”
“Oh, Martin.” Casey pulls me into another hug. “You don’t have to worry about anything, okay? You’re amazing, and you know it, and I’m sure he knows it too.”
I smile at Casey’s words, but the knot in my chest doesn’t loosen. I still don’t understand how we got here, why the Captain is suddenly interested in me, or why I ever let it happen.
All I can do is hope I’ve learned the rules of this game along the way, enough to protect myself and not end up hurt and left behind.