Page 86 of Perfect Chemistry

She nodded as if I had spoken volumes. “Let’s start with how you’re feeling today. What’s your happy today?”

I chuckled at her, and pulled a small sandwich box out of my bag. “Waffle BLTs,” I said, passing it to her.

“Is this for me?” she asked excitedly.

“Yeah,” I smiled, watching her inspect the unconventional pairing.

“Okay, I accept this offering,” she said, closing the box and setting it on her desk. “Now tell me what has you unsettled.”

“I ran into Kai,” I whispered. She didn’t need to hear anything else, and pulled me into a hug.

“Oh, wow. I was not expecting that. Tell me everything you are comfortable sharing.”

Chapter 30

Kai’s POV

It took two days to get my phone back, and it was filled with messages from work. Even though I had been proactive about having my calls forwarded, it had not stopped the deluge of missed calls and messages.

I started from the oldest and worked my way through every voicemail and text between patients. I didn’t hear anything from Katie, which I wasn’t expecting; but at the same time I hoped. I hoped that I hadn’t scared her off. I hoped that she hadn’t felt forced or like she had to call me back.

Fuck. What if she thought I was just messing with her? What if she didn’t know how serious I was? I started to call her and stopped. What would I say? I didn’t even know how to ask what I wanted to know.

I threw my head back in my chair and let out an exasperated growl. Why did this have to be so fucking complicated?

“Everything alright in here?” Dr. Lee asked, leaning against my door.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Hey, man! What brings you to my neck of the woods?” I asked, standing to go shake his hand.

Lee had been the man with me when Heather died. He helped me put my packet together for the doctoral program. He mentored me through my clinicals, and helped me prepare for my dissertations. He even wrote the reference letter that got me a job with this clinic.

“I was hoping you would have time for lunch with an old friend,” he offered.

I took a quick look at my desk, comfortable with the workload I had managed to get through so far this morning. “Yeah, as long as I can get back by one thirty for my next consultation. What did you have in mind?” I asked, grabbing my keys and closing up my office.

“I thought we could grab some wings from that truck over by the fire station,” Lee suggested.

My stomach grumbled before I could utter a peep. Lee laughed and clapped me on the back. “Sounds like we’re having wings!”

I stopped by the reception desk to let them know I was stepping out for lunch, but I had my phone on me.

“I like the new guy the clinic hired to work the desk,” Lee commented as we climbed into his car.

I nodded, looking back toward the building. “Yeah, Marty’s a great guy. Super professional. Efficient as hell!” I swore quietly.

Lee laughed. “What happened to the little brunette that was there?” he asked as we pulled onto the main road.

I shook my head. “Hell if I know. I can’t keep track of the temps this place runs through,” I admitted.

Lee looked over at me. “Oh? I thought there was some other issue going on. You were just running through temps this whole time?”

I caught onto the double meaning in his words and shook my head. “No. Nope. Never happened. I don’t shit where I eat, dude. You know that.”

Lee laughed. “I wasn’t saying that to you personally. I just meant your clinic.”

There was a moment of silence before he looked over at me again. “Seriously though…. Not even one?” He asked.

It was my turn to laugh as he parked behind the fire station. “Not one,” I confirmed.

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