moment I was determined, more than ever, to explore and expand on.
The only question I had now was: When?
Chapter 12
Cara
“Once you found the jelly to your peanut butter, you’d think picking the bread would be easy.”
~ Dolly Briggs
M y foot tapped in time to the butterflies doing the cha-cha, the jitterbug, and the jive in my stomach like it was a dance floor while I waited in the reception area of Valley Memorial Hospital. At first, I’d thought that my fancy-footed winged creatures’ competitive ballroom routines had been inspired by the fact that I was about to meet bachelor number two. But, with every second I sat there, that theory was disproved. I’d never been to Valley Memorial as a patient, but I was realizing that a hospital was a hospital.
The same smells. The same sounds. The same sights.
With as much time as I’d spent in them, you would think I would’ve built up an immunity to these sterile surroundings. It would stand to reason that I would have been used to the white coats, the scrubs, the codes being announced over the intercom, the distinct smell of disinfectant that hung heavily in the air. But I hadn’t.
Instead, they made anxiety build up in me like a dam about to burst. Even the innocuous squeak of rubber-soled, nonslip shoes walking down the hallways made panic rise in me like I was a caged animal. Some people didn’t like hospitals; I had a visceral reaction to them.
Bachelor number two had texted a couple of hours ago and asked if I could meet him at the hospital instead of the restaurant. My first instinct had been to politely decline and cancel altogether. But following that path would not lead to Cherry Popped Lane, so I sucked it up and took Grown Up Avenue, which I hoped would at least cross First Base Parkway. The street I chose to travel was filled with so many doubt potholes, nerve speed bumps, and anxiety crashes that I was starting to rethink my turn. I was about to get up and leave, making a sharp left down Avoidance Alley, when my phone buzzed.
Destiny: So what do you think? He’s cute right? How’s it going?
Even through my mild panic attack, I still appreciated my friend’s enthusiasm.
Me: Well, I think I’m tired of sitting in this waiting room. I’m sure he is cute, but I have nothing, other than your and Harmony’s word, to base that on seeing as I haven’t met him yet. It’s not going anywhere right now.
I had barely pressed send before my phone vibrated again.
Destiny: Oh no! How long have you been waiting? I’m so sorry!
The last thing I wanted was for Destiny to feel responsible for this not going well. I mean, if I didn’t blame Harmony for having been visually assaulted by a dick pic, no way was I going to hold Destiny accountable for the good doctor keeping me waiting.
Me: About an hour, but no worries. I suppose it’s the price you pay to date a man that puts McSteamy and McDreamy (may they rest in peace!) to shame.
“Dr. Hall, one more thing!” a female voice called out.
A somewhat frazzled-looking nurse pointed to the chart she was holding as she animatedly explained something. The man she was speaking to was standing with his back to me. He was wearing a blue, dress shirt and black slacks. When he bent his head and pulled the chart closer to read it, the cotton fabric across his shoulder blades tightened to reveal a muscled back that had my nerves dancing for an entirely different reason. I still hadn’t spoken one word to him or seen his face, but I was already feeling better about bachelor number two than I ever had felt about bachelor number one.
Me: I think he’s here. Gotta go. I’ll call you later. Love ya.
As I was sliding my phone back into my purse, a text from Destiny that instructed me to “have fun” came through. Fun . That small single word flipped the switch and a light bulb turned on in my mind that that’s exactly what these dates were supposed to be.
It might seem like an obvious reminder to someone
The only question I had now was: When?
Chapter 12
Cara
“Once you found the jelly to your peanut butter, you’d think picking the bread would be easy.”
~ Dolly Briggs
M y foot tapped in time to the butterflies doing the cha-cha, the jitterbug, and the jive in my stomach like it was a dance floor while I waited in the reception area of Valley Memorial Hospital. At first, I’d thought that my fancy-footed winged creatures’ competitive ballroom routines had been inspired by the fact that I was about to meet bachelor number two. But, with every second I sat there, that theory was disproved. I’d never been to Valley Memorial as a patient, but I was realizing that a hospital was a hospital.
The same smells. The same sounds. The same sights.
With as much time as I’d spent in them, you would think I would’ve built up an immunity to these sterile surroundings. It would stand to reason that I would have been used to the white coats, the scrubs, the codes being announced over the intercom, the distinct smell of disinfectant that hung heavily in the air. But I hadn’t.
Instead, they made anxiety build up in me like a dam about to burst. Even the innocuous squeak of rubber-soled, nonslip shoes walking down the hallways made panic rise in me like I was a caged animal. Some people didn’t like hospitals; I had a visceral reaction to them.
Bachelor number two had texted a couple of hours ago and asked if I could meet him at the hospital instead of the restaurant. My first instinct had been to politely decline and cancel altogether. But following that path would not lead to Cherry Popped Lane, so I sucked it up and took Grown Up Avenue, which I hoped would at least cross First Base Parkway. The street I chose to travel was filled with so many doubt potholes, nerve speed bumps, and anxiety crashes that I was starting to rethink my turn. I was about to get up and leave, making a sharp left down Avoidance Alley, when my phone buzzed.
Destiny: So what do you think? He’s cute right? How’s it going?
Even through my mild panic attack, I still appreciated my friend’s enthusiasm.
Me: Well, I think I’m tired of sitting in this waiting room. I’m sure he is cute, but I have nothing, other than your and Harmony’s word, to base that on seeing as I haven’t met him yet. It’s not going anywhere right now.
I had barely pressed send before my phone vibrated again.
Destiny: Oh no! How long have you been waiting? I’m so sorry!
The last thing I wanted was for Destiny to feel responsible for this not going well. I mean, if I didn’t blame Harmony for having been visually assaulted by a dick pic, no way was I going to hold Destiny accountable for the good doctor keeping me waiting.
Me: About an hour, but no worries. I suppose it’s the price you pay to date a man that puts McSteamy and McDreamy (may they rest in peace!) to shame.
“Dr. Hall, one more thing!” a female voice called out.
A somewhat frazzled-looking nurse pointed to the chart she was holding as she animatedly explained something. The man she was speaking to was standing with his back to me. He was wearing a blue, dress shirt and black slacks. When he bent his head and pulled the chart closer to read it, the cotton fabric across his shoulder blades tightened to reveal a muscled back that had my nerves dancing for an entirely different reason. I still hadn’t spoken one word to him or seen his face, but I was already feeling better about bachelor number two than I ever had felt about bachelor number one.
Me: I think he’s here. Gotta go. I’ll call you later. Love ya.
As I was sliding my phone back into my purse, a text from Destiny that instructed me to “have fun” came through. Fun . That small single word flipped the switch and a light bulb turned on in my mind that that’s exactly what these dates were supposed to be.
It might seem like an obvious reminder to someone
Similar Books
In the Court of the Yellow King
Tim Curran, Cody Goodfellow, Gary McMahon, C.J. Henderson, William Meikle, T.E. Grau, Laurel Halbany, Christine Morgan, Edward Morris
