sketches.” If he weren’t gay, I’d still be babbling like the first day we met. But he’s unobtainable, so I have nothing to lose by being myself with him. As much as being with Trick feels like a slow drip of adrenaline, he’s offered me something I need so much more than physical gratification—friendship.
He puts his bike into gear as my eyes focus on his lips. I wait for it … I think a little part of me even prays for it … there it is, the slight twitch of his lips. I read it that he’s pleased, which is perfect because so am I.
*
The switch flips. I’d love to chomp my gum and twirl my hair, contemplating the endless possibilities of my relationship with Trick, but I can’t. Wasting not another second, I hustle to the ER, get changed, and do what I do best—piece together puzzles.
In spite of the nonstop, grueling hours of the clock ticking one heartbeat at a time, I never question why I’m here doing this. Most days I feel like this is my sole purpose in life—giving more than I take. Even with the nasty smells, which are actually my least favorite part of the job, I still love being here.
“You off?”
I turn to Steven zoned into his cell phone screen. “Just about,” I reply, signing my last chart and yawning.
“Breakfast?”
“No way. Bed.” I yawn again.
He slips his phone back in his pocket and smirks. “I like the sound of that.” He wiggles his brows.
Steven is a lukewarm bath. He has blond curly hair that he normally keeps trimmed short, but today I notice a few wayward curls rebelling around his ears. Blue eyes and dimples, he’s textbook cute. It’s the wow factor he’s missing. Only recently, since I’ve experienced wow, have I come to that conclusion.
“Let me clarify; I need sleep. It’s been twenty-four hours and I’m ready to drop.”
“Want me to get you a coffee?”
“I don’t drink coffee, Steven.” He’s known me for almost a year and I’m quite certain we’ve broached this subject before.
“Then black tea, green piss juice, or whatever the hell it is you drink.”
I brush past him to go change my clothes. “I don’t drink tea either, and I don’t want to stay awake so I’ll pass on the ‘green piss juice’ offer too. Bye, Steven.”
After freeing my tangled hair from its ponytail and changing out of my scrubs, I dig through my handbag for my key.
“Crap!” I didn’t drive.
“Something wrong?” Jade asks from around the corner.
“I forgot I didn’t drive in yesterday.”
“Bummer. You might have to resort to public transportation like the other ninety-nine percent of us.”
Slinging my purse over my shoulder, I pin Jade with an unrelenting glare.
Her eyes slip to her locker. “I’m kidding. Don’t look so serious.”
I turn and walk to the door, then stop just as I open it. “You do realize this ‘wealth’ you’re referring to belongs to my father’s wife and it’s securely protected by a mile-long prenup. Aside from the occasional trip I get dragged on or a few designer dresses, I don’t benefit from her money.”
Her locker door slams shut. “Darby I’m—”
“It’s fine … I’m used to being judged.”
Her weak voice rips through the brief silence. “Really … I’m sorry.”
Keeping my back to her, I nod once and leave.
*
I should call Steven and apologize for blowing him off yesterday, but then he’d want to make plans to meet up—hookup. But that’s not what I want to do. For reasons unbeknown to myself at the moment, I want to see Trick again. Maybe it’s too soon, but then again, it’s not like we’re dating so the customary waiting period shouldn’t apply.
I need a reason to stop by, like I just happen to be in his area. Honestly, I’m not in his area unless I have an appointment with Gemmie. That’s it. I should stop by and get some hair products. My nose wrinkles as I glance at the time. Gemmie will be closing up shop in less than an hour.
“Choose it, Darby.” I chastise
He puts his bike into gear as my eyes focus on his lips. I wait for it … I think a little part of me even prays for it … there it is, the slight twitch of his lips. I read it that he’s pleased, which is perfect because so am I.
*
The switch flips. I’d love to chomp my gum and twirl my hair, contemplating the endless possibilities of my relationship with Trick, but I can’t. Wasting not another second, I hustle to the ER, get changed, and do what I do best—piece together puzzles.
In spite of the nonstop, grueling hours of the clock ticking one heartbeat at a time, I never question why I’m here doing this. Most days I feel like this is my sole purpose in life—giving more than I take. Even with the nasty smells, which are actually my least favorite part of the job, I still love being here.
“You off?”
I turn to Steven zoned into his cell phone screen. “Just about,” I reply, signing my last chart and yawning.
“Breakfast?”
“No way. Bed.” I yawn again.
He slips his phone back in his pocket and smirks. “I like the sound of that.” He wiggles his brows.
Steven is a lukewarm bath. He has blond curly hair that he normally keeps trimmed short, but today I notice a few wayward curls rebelling around his ears. Blue eyes and dimples, he’s textbook cute. It’s the wow factor he’s missing. Only recently, since I’ve experienced wow, have I come to that conclusion.
“Let me clarify; I need sleep. It’s been twenty-four hours and I’m ready to drop.”
“Want me to get you a coffee?”
“I don’t drink coffee, Steven.” He’s known me for almost a year and I’m quite certain we’ve broached this subject before.
“Then black tea, green piss juice, or whatever the hell it is you drink.”
I brush past him to go change my clothes. “I don’t drink tea either, and I don’t want to stay awake so I’ll pass on the ‘green piss juice’ offer too. Bye, Steven.”
After freeing my tangled hair from its ponytail and changing out of my scrubs, I dig through my handbag for my key.
“Crap!” I didn’t drive.
“Something wrong?” Jade asks from around the corner.
“I forgot I didn’t drive in yesterday.”
“Bummer. You might have to resort to public transportation like the other ninety-nine percent of us.”
Slinging my purse over my shoulder, I pin Jade with an unrelenting glare.
Her eyes slip to her locker. “I’m kidding. Don’t look so serious.”
I turn and walk to the door, then stop just as I open it. “You do realize this ‘wealth’ you’re referring to belongs to my father’s wife and it’s securely protected by a mile-long prenup. Aside from the occasional trip I get dragged on or a few designer dresses, I don’t benefit from her money.”
Her locker door slams shut. “Darby I’m—”
“It’s fine … I’m used to being judged.”
Her weak voice rips through the brief silence. “Really … I’m sorry.”
Keeping my back to her, I nod once and leave.
*
I should call Steven and apologize for blowing him off yesterday, but then he’d want to make plans to meet up—hookup. But that’s not what I want to do. For reasons unbeknown to myself at the moment, I want to see Trick again. Maybe it’s too soon, but then again, it’s not like we’re dating so the customary waiting period shouldn’t apply.
I need a reason to stop by, like I just happen to be in his area. Honestly, I’m not in his area unless I have an appointment with Gemmie. That’s it. I should stop by and get some hair products. My nose wrinkles as I glance at the time. Gemmie will be closing up shop in less than an hour.
“Choose it, Darby.” I chastise
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