Chapter 24
Graham
I finish rounds early tonight and have some business around the base to take care of. On my way home, I opt for the gym instead, knowing my bag has already been in my truck from my on-call shifts the previous few nights. It has been a few rather slow shifts, so I have a lot of time to think and let my mind wander.
I only have about nine months left in the military, and I need to figure out what I will be doing with my life. I have received a few general surgeon offers and have interviewed at Paige’s hospital surgical group. I want options if I am turned down for every trauma residency I apply for. I have some time I can take off, but I don’t want to be away from the O.R. for too long.
I pull into the gym’s parking lot, seeing it is busy. I reach for my gym bag before locking up my truck. I immediately spot Paige running and just freeze.
I keep seeing Paige, and I feel like I am drowning every time I do. More than once, I have run into her at the gym when I have gone there to forget about her, not follow her around like a love-sick puppy.
At Clint’s, I was jealous like I have never experienced when Seth showed up and ruined the moment where I was the only thing Paige could see. We keep having these stolen moments with the late-night phone calls and don’t even get me started about the club on her birthday. I was a club rat in college and danced with many girls, but none of them danced with me like Paige did.
I let out a slow breath and head towards the locker room, trying to ignore the urge to keep my eyes locked on her as I hear her soft and slightly winded voice come up from behind me.
“Hey, soldier, what are you doing here?” she says flirtatiously as she plays with her towel in her hand, and her eyes roll over every bit of me.
“Just got off work.”
I smile with a shrug as her eyes meet mine, and we both laugh nervously. I redirect the conversation.
“Would you like to work out together?”
The smile she gives me meets her eyes and makes my chest ache.
“Sure. I just ran, but I am open to whatever.”
God help me, I love that smile spread across her lips.
She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear.
“Give me a few minutes, and I’ll meet you by the machines. I am going to apologize now it’s leg day.”
She lets out a small laugh.
“Thank God. I just recertified my CPR today and don’t feel like doing more upper body work.”
I completely understand. As an Emergency Room Technician, I remember one night being rather awful. We had a few codes, and CPR isn’t like it is in the movies.
Those two minutes of continuous compressions add up over a twelve-hour shift. I decided like an idiot to lift after and ended up straining my shoulder. At eighteen, I thought I was invincible. Now, I feel tired and sexually frustrated all the time.
I linger on Paige a moment longer before she smiles and heads towards the machines. I find a locker and change quickly. When I am done, I spot Paige and hug her this time.
She squeezes back tightly, and I swear I feel like I have missed her. I haven’t seen her since the club, and we haven’t FaceTimed in a week.
“After you, soldier.”
Paige smiles and gestures towards the machines. I grin before starting my workout, and she follows me, asking questions as we go along. She pushes herself a few times during the workout, and I am impressed.
When we move onto the different squats and lunges, she only whines slightly at how badly her thighs burn, and I chuckle. Having to fight the dirty thoughts of wanting to be the reason her thighs are shaking like that.
When we finish, it is almost six, and I am starving.
“Can I take you to dinner?” I ask as Paige takes a sip of her water, sitting on the floor beside me.
We have finished our cool-down, but I am not ready for our time together to end.
Silence falls between us, and her smile tells me it is a struggle to say yes. Maybe it is a dumb idea, and I am misreading whatever is between us.
“Seth and I are official now. I don’t think he would like us to go to dinner together.”
“Two friends can’t have dinner after I just happened to see you at the gym?” I say, grasping at straws.
The truth is I figured Seth finally locked the fox down. She has been almost silent since her birthday a week ago.
“Graham, it wouldn’t be just dinner,” Paige says honestly, breaking my heart.
Part of me feels like she is pulling away, but I’m unsure how to proceed.
I have known Seth a long time and know first-hand how irrational his temper can be. He is a very reactive person in most situations.
I let out a frustrated sigh, but I nod my understanding. I look back towards her and can tell she isn’t happy leaving things this way.
“The night after the steak house, Chris and I were hanging out, waiting for Bre to come home from a work trip. Seth showed up drunk after ignoring both of us most of the day. He accused me of going on a date with you, and Chris has to put space between Seth and me. He wasn’t violent and mostly just pissed.”
I can feel the anger in my jaw and know Katherine is also involved somehow.
“What happened?
“We fought, and he passed out. That was about it.” She shrugs.
“Paige, I…” I start, and she reaches for one of my curls, playing with it just slightly. The gentleness of it throws me completely, and I lose my complete train of thought.
“Chris is having a few guys over to the condo tonight to show off Bre. Come hang out. Seth won’t be there, and I have to appear.”
She gives me a lifeline, and I don’t know why. I let out a small laugh.
“Sure.”
I stand up with a smile before offering her a hand and helping her up. Letting the feel of her hand on mine burn into my memory as we reluctantly pull away from each other. I know there was something here between us because I can’t get Paige out of my fucking head.