“It’s something,” Jack said of the expansive rolling black cover painted with just the right amount of twinkling overlay. He looked over at me with concern. I was sure he could see my day setting in. “Come on, Doctor. I’ll get you home.” We spent the last few minutes of our walk in silence. I was thinking of any explanation I could to avoid bringing him inside my house. I wasn’t emotionally in the position to do so, and I didn’t know how it would make me feel. Jack made it easy on me by whispering a kiss on my lips followed by a “Goodnight.”
“Thank you,” I said to him in an inaudible whisper as he walked out of sight.
The next morning, I woke up well rested and saw a new text from Jack.
Jack: Good morning, beautiful.
Rose: Morning, handsome. Rap & R&B 101 Biggie, Hypnotize.
Jack: See you later?
Rose: If you’re lucky.
Jack: Cocky this morning, are we?
Rose: I slept well.
Jack: Better dreams?
I paused before replying, deciding to go with honesty.
Rose: I had a good date last night.
Jack: Lucky bastard.
Rose: Go build something.
Jack: Go save a life.
I threw off my covers, scrolled through my music on my cell phone, and cranked the volume up. Biggie’s deep voice filled my bathroom as I moved my hips and scrubbed myself down with a ridiculously expensive body wash I’d bought on my shopping spree. I shaved my legs twice, with a what if mentality behind my grooming. I knew Jack wanted to take things slow, but if our last few private moments together were any indication, we would be doing some exploring soon enough. I looked at my naked body in the mirror and made a decision.
I pulled the silk panty set I’d purchased a week ago out of the tissue paper and slid it on. When and if Jack made a move, I’d be ready. I took the golf cart to the entrance, slightly deflated Jack’s bike wasn’t in sight. I’d hoped to just have a glimpse of him to start my day off right. Still, I made my way to work with a renewed sense of purpose. For the first time since Grant died, I was excited about the life I was living.
By the time I was done with rounds and prepping for surgery, I was fit to be tied as I waited for any word from Jack. Though I’d played coy, I wanted to push repeat on the night before and checked my phone in vain twice before I scrubbed in.
Once out of surgery, I rushed back to my locker and smiled when I saw the picture Jack had sent of Annabelle in a patch of bluebonnets on my land. I guessed he was keeping himself busy with the center and entertaining my family. A pang of jealousy struck me, but in a good way.
Rose: She’s so beautiful.
Jack: She is. I have a little crush on her. So can I see you tonight?
Rose: Sure. I’ll be earlier.
Jack: It’s a date, ladies choice.
Rose: ?
I did a little dance where I stood and felt the thud of Jules going down on her ass behind me. I turned to see her on the floor with a shit-eating grin on her face. She’d been spying on my text exchange.
“You’re seeing him!”
“I’m…” I said, pulling her tiny ass off of the floor. “Shut up!”
“Rose, I won’t push, but can I just say—”
“Nope.”
“I hope he’s hung like a horse!” Two of the hospital staff, whom I didn’t know and suddenly never wanted to, burst out laughing as they left us to our conversation.