Chapter 9
Iran nearly half a mile, which was a new record for me.
I was still clutching my bloody paper towel and panting pretty intensely when I slipped into a coffee shop on Main Street.
I took a seat at one of the evergreen booths and pulled out my phone, using the front-facing camera to wipe off the blood staining my lips.
Once I finally looked somewhat normal, I opened my Uber app and prayed Big Bear had drivers who could take me to my cabin.
With trembling fingers, I typed in my address and ordered a ride home.
Grateful tears stung the corners of my eyes when it was successful.
The app notified me that someone named Sara would be arriving in just a few minutes.
I leaned back against the booth’s plastic-cushioned seat, my heart still racing, just as a barista approached me.
“Can I get you anything?” The blonde girl wore a perky ponytail and an equally perky smile, along with a cute apron that made her look like she’d just stepped off the set of Friends.
“Could I just get an ice water, please?” I knew only ordering water might be annoying, but I was in the middle of a crisis and could only hope the girl would be understanding.
“Of course, I’ll be right back with that,” the girl replied unfazed before heading off to get the water.
I let out an exhausted sigh as the waitress disappeared, then fumbled for my phone again to quickly type a message to Emily with trembling fingers.
HOPE: You’re not going to believe what my neighbor does for a living.
Em: Oh no, is he a drug lord?
HOPE: Worse. He’s a dentist.
“Just because he’s a dentist doesn’t mean he’s a horrible person,” Emily said on the other end of the line.
I was back home now, inside my cabin with all the curtains drawn. I was terrified to step outside, in case Dr. Alarcón was out jogging with Luna.
“Emily, I came to Big Bear to get away from dentistry.”
Out of all the things my neighbor could have been, a dentist was the worst.
“Maybe, just maybe, he’s not like the rest of them.”
But that’s where Emily was wrong.
“No. Dentists just suck, Em. Plain and simple.” My jaw tightened as anxiety bubbled up in my stomach, and memories of that horrible day three months ago resurfaced.
“Okay, but if I hadn’t gone to the orthodontist, I’d be a million times uglier. So, I’m kind of grateful for dentistry, in a way.”
“Okay, orthodontics is completely different from general dentistry,” I said as I got up from the couch and headed into the kitchen to make some mac and cheese for dinner.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No, I’m not.” I sighed as I boiled some water and took out the cheese packet. I switched the phone to my other ear. “Orthodontists are like the cool uncle.”
“What does that even mean?”
“You know, the cool uncle. They always own helicopters and take their staff on trips to Fiji. Orthodontists are cool.”
I could’ve sworn I heard Emily rolling her eyes on the other end of the line.
“Do I even want to know what general dentists are in this metaphorical family you’ve conjured up for dental specialties?”
I ignored her and continued my rant. “Only someone mentally insane would want to poke people with needles in the mouth, drill their teeth with just local anesthesia, and then do it day in and day out.”
“I don’t think that makes someone mentally insane. He was trying to help you, need I remind you? He took you to his clinic to make sure your tooth was alright.”
The soreness in my mouth still lingered, and the mention of the incident made it start throbbing again. I gently touched my swollen lip and mouth with my fingertips.
“In my book, it does.” I poured the noodles into the hot water. “But, Em, I don’t know what to do because I owe this guy.”
“You owe him?”
“The dental visit, the yard work. What if he comes to collect payment?”
“He won’t. He was doing those things because he was trying to befriend you. Maybe even date you.”
“Maybe you’re right.” I hated the disappointment I felt. If I hadn’t found out he was a dentist, I might’ve actually liked him.
“I’m always right,” Emily said, and I chuckled at her lack of humility.
“I should go. I need to keep searching for a job.”
“Love you,” Emily said, the lingering pity evident in her tone. “It’s going to work out. I know it.”
“I sure hope so. And I love you too.” I hung up the phone and then headed back into the living room with my bowl of mac and cheese.
The bowl was insanely hot, and I quickly set it on the side table, burning my fingers slightly in the process.
I stuck the burned tips of my fingers in my mouth, wincing.
Just then, my phone pinged, and I pulled my fingers out of my mouth, wiped them on my jeans, and quickly tapped my phone screen to see who had texted.
I was expecting Emily, so when Jay’s name appeared on my screen, I squeaked and threw the phone onto the couch.
“No…” Anxiety seized my muscles. And it took me a few minutes to even find the courage to pick the phone back up and read the text message.
JAY: I don’t know what I did, but I’d like to make it right.
I bit my lip. It would be impossible to explain it all to him. After several minutes of staring at the message, I decided it would be best not to respond. Maybe if I ghosted him, he’d get the clue and eventually give up.
Another text pinged, and I jumped again, my heart racing at the sound.
JAY: I’m sorry if I offended you in some way.
I groaned and threw the phone back onto the couch. I sat on the opposite end and put my head in my hands. Why did he have to be a dentist? Literally any other profession, and I would’ve been fine.
I let out a long sigh. I should’ve known better. But my love for the written word made me more prone to believing in fantasies, and it was always a harsh reminder when I realized I didn’t live in those fictional worlds. This was reality, and most of the time, reality really, really sucked.