Luke
Idrifted in and out of the most peaceful broken sleep I have ever experienced, sitting on the phone with my B. I was so at peace, and wanting to just hear her breath, and have her in any way I can.
I’m exhausted, but feel more relaxed, more at ease, than I have in almost a week. Before I leave work I want to check on Adam.
“Why the smile?” I ask, taken slightly off guard. She rarely smiles. She’s distant. Cold, most likely a front to make her job bearable. Working with critical patients can take a toll on you after a while.
“They moved him out of the ICU last night. You’re officially on the wrong floor, Doc.” She smiles, and it’s so contagious I find a smile spreading across my face as well.
“That’s great. Great news.” I am overjoyed.
Neither one of us is bubbly. There is no need for more conversation. I give her a wave and head to the elevator.
Thankfully, the ride down the elevator is quick.
I can’t wait to get home. The doors slide open and the smell of coffee from the cart invades my senses.
I rarely drink coffee at the end of an overnight shift, but today, I got little sleep, and I know feeling rested and being rested are two very different things.
I need a little pick me up for the drive home-my temporary home, not the one where my girl is.
The barista hands me my cup, and when I turn around to leave I come face to face with Cash. His shoulders tense, and I follow in response. For a second, we exchange silent stares, heavy and unspoken, as we continue in each other’s direction.
He takes a rugged breath as we pass each other, and I hear a faint whisper as our shoulders brush. “I’m not after her.”
I pause. “No, you don’t have to be. You have her. Right?” He just shakes his head and turns in the direction he was going. “You better not hurt her. She’s my sister Cash,” I yell after him, but he doesn’t acknowledge my words.
After he takes a few more steps, he turns on his heels and heads back in my direction.
He waits until he gets close enough to whisper before he speaks, “Listen, what you think you saw with April is too much to unpack right now, but I know Blake hates me, and by default you do, too. But the shitty fucking thing is, she hates me for no fucking reason.”
“No reason? What a joke.” He gauges my expression, which is flat. When he speaks, this time, it’s above the hushed whisper he previously spoke with, clearly a little more confident.
“Luke, I’m not fucking joking. I don’t have any idea why she’s so pissed. Enlighten me.”
He waits, and I realize he means it. He has no idea why she’s so upset with him.
“She said the morning after you hooked up she overheard you talking shit about her not being game day material or some shit.” I roll my eyes. “What does that even fucking mean?”
He stares at me thoughtfully for a moment, clearly replaying that encounter in his head. “Betty!” Something clearly dawns on him. “I was talking about the new bat I bought, Luke. Who the hell would refer to a woman like that?” he questions.
“Who refers to their bat like a woman?” I probe.
“Same kind of guys who name their cars and boats.”
Fair.
“What about when you called her a fucking bitch at the hospital?” I ask.
“What? I di-” His face morphs into a painful grimace. “I hit my fucking hand on the stupid metal rail between the doors, and it hurt like a bitch. Look,” he says, holding out his hand. I stare at the faint yellow and green evidence of an old bruise across his knuckles.
“Listen, I’m over all the demands of being a professional athlete, the expectations women hold, and I was ready to connect with someone.
I owe her an explanation and I hate that she’s been feeling like this.
I mean, it explains a lot about how she’s acted towards me, but I don’t think she will hear it.
So please, you’re my only chance. I’m glad she found you, Luke.
At first I was hoping you were just a fling; I even tried to convince her it could be.
I wanted a shot, but Knox is one of my best friends.
He’s important to me, and I know Blake is one of Ana’s best friends.
What Ana thinks is important to me, and right now, she thinks I am a giant shit bag. ”
“Go on,” I sigh, not wanting to engage in this conversation. Not sure I even believe a word coming out of his mouth.
“I’d never had a one-night stand before, so I hurried out of there because I didn’t know what else to do.
I was planning on getting her number from Knox after their honeymoon, but shit went sideways before I got the chance.
I only knew she was upset because she stormed out of the hotel cafe, flipping me off.
Now I know why, and I don’t blame her. She probably thinks I’m a giant tool. ”
I let him ramble longer than I ever would have, surprised he wasn’t more of a playboy. There was also a small part of me that also wanted to hear him out-wanted to know he didn’t treat my girl like trash and thought more of her than she thinks.
“Blake is a fucking gift. I’m glad you see that, but I’m not sad you unintentionally fucked it up with her,” I sneer, dripping with arrogance. “She’s mine, Cash. But she won’t want to hear any of this from me. Maybe you need to talk to Knox,” I suggest as I walk away. “I’ll talk to you later.”
This is my life now, 15 steps forward and 15 steps back. While I am so fucking happy Adam is making progress, and Cash didn’t disrespect my girl, the feeling is fleeting when coupled with the desperation I have to be home. Really home.