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“Seriously, your folks alright? Are you alright?” Jason put his water on the bar. He pulled his Braves’ hat off and grasped it with both hands, his elbows on his knees as he leaned toward me.
“Yeah man, sorry. No,” I said as I waved off the tension, “everyone is fine. I’m fine. In fact, I’m moving back. Well,movedback.”
He jumped from the stool and wrapped his arms around me. “Man, shit, you had me worried. That’s great news!”
I hugged him back. At least someone was happy I was here. “I didn’t mean to spook ya. Got the keys to my new place today. Moving truck is parked there. You don’t know any strong men, do you?”
He pulled back with a smirk. “Oh, I see. You need some muscle.” He playfully punched my arm. “I guess I can help. Text me the address, I’ll come tomorrow. Do you need a bed to sleep in tonight?”
Lucy came over and slipped her arm around his waist. “Are you visiting? You should totally stay with us!” She was a pretty girl, voluptuous with springy blonde curls, big blue eyes, and a big smile. Jason’s arm wrapped around her, and he grinned.
“Well, I’m staying for good, but since all the furniture is in the truck, a sofa sure would be nice.”
She laughed. “Well, good thing it’s a pull-out because I think your legs would hang over the edge of the sofa. What are you like six two?”
“Actually yeah, but hell, I was called the runt on the team.”
“Luce, Mike played college football out West. He was pretty damn good.”
She nodded. “Oh, that’s cool. I mostly partied with Amy in college.”
Jason let a small growl escape him. Lucy looked up at him and batted her eyes. “Oh, stop. That was years ago. Anyway, did you just get here today then?”
I nodded. “Yep. I was telling Jason the truck is parked at the apartment. Got here a little before the office closed and got my keys but everything is packed up. Came over here after I dropped my duffle bag off.”
Jason smacked my arm. “Well shit, let’s go. We can order some food and you can take a load off. We’ll head over to your place in the morning and get you squared away.” Jason leaned over the bar and told Matt he was leaving.
Lucy chatted the whole walk about her and Jason, his proposal, her friends. Even if I wanted to talk, I didn’t think I’d get a word in. But my mind was on something else.Someoneelse.
Chapter 3
Jaz
My eyes cracked open, and I looked at the clock. Half past eight. What the hell was that noise? I rolled over in bed and pulled a pillow over my head. I only had two days before reporting to the hospital for my first official shift and I couldn’t sleep. Not that I slept at all the night before. HowcouldI after Mike casually strolled in out of nowhere?
Years had passed and right before I started my internshipMikewalks into the club like it was an everyday occurrence. I didn’t know what to say, but my words all came out snarky. But I’ve learned it’s best to trust my instincts, and they told me to be an ass, so I went with it. He stuck out his hand, but I turned away and walked off. A handshake. Seriously?A handshake is what I get?But what if he had tried to hug me? I avoided his hand because I was scared what would happen if I touched him. As soon as I saw his face, that night came flooding back. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of my hand holding his too long, so I couldn’t imagine how fast I would have run if he tried to embrace me.
Even with a pillow over my head, I couldn’t ignore the loud banging, shuffling, doors opening and closing, and men talking. So much for resting. I threw my white duvet off me and slung my legs over the bed. After a good stretch I popped up and walked to the kitchen where I found my sister, Onyx. Mom was really into metaphysical healing and gemstones when she was in her twenties. Lots of people thought Jaz was short for Jasmine, but it was actually short for Jasper. Mom ended up being a chiropractor, so it all made sense. She still kept gemstones but expanded into herbal remedies, oils, teas, and anything that Western medicine scoffed at. I had to admit, there was nothing quite like a little peppermint oil and a good adjustment to help with recurring headaches. But still, I was excited to finish up training and become Dr. Jasper Stewart. Even though I hated my name growing up, it sat well that I would at least get interviews more easily since it sounded like a man’s name.
“Morning. You were in earlier than I expected.” Onyx grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured me some. She wore her dark springy coils natural as well but kept it just above her shoulders if she straightened it. Her complexion was a little darker than mine and I loved how she glowed. She had an extensive, and expensive, collection of hair products that she let me use so we both had soft and manageable hair. Mom wore hers natural but kept her tighter coils only an inch away from her scalp. My curls weren’t so tight, and I preferred to keep it longer so I could pull it up, braid it, or wear it down. Plus, I had a hard time gaining weight, but I could grow my hair, so I held onto it like a crutch.
“Yeah, I was planning to sleep in but couldn’t with that noise. What’s going on? Is the complex working on something?” I asked, taking the mug from her filled with black steaming deliciousness.
“I don’t think so. Who knows? How was your party?”
I sipped the hot coffee then set the mug down. “Well, it was nice. Really nice. Lucy decorated and got a huge cake. Jason gave me a huge going away tip. Oh, and Mike showed up.”
Onyx froze, her mouth forming a perfect ‘O.’
“Yeah, my reaction was just like that, except I dropped a beer on the floor.”
She walked around the counter and her surprised look turned mischievous. “How did he look?”
I rolled my eyes. “Who cares? He was…Mike. Ya know.” I grabbed my mug and turned to go to the living room and away from her nonsense.
She followed and jumped onto the couch like a teenage girl, tucking her legs under her. “Oh, please. I know you’re a cool, calm, collected bartender or mixologist or whatever you folks say now, but you aren’t fooling me. I’m your little sister and I’ve known you my whole life.” She was just a couple years younger than me but wise beyond her time.
“He’s Mike. He’s hot. Always was hot, always will be hot. End of story.”
