Page 6 of Nodus Tollens
Once I checked out at the front desk and made my next appointment, I found myself wandering the third floor of the hospital. My stomach was growling, and I knew there was a vending machine around here somewhere. I just didn’t know exactly where it was located. As I ambled through the hall, glancing at the various doctor offices, I began to hear resounding expletives coming from around the corner up ahead. At first, it was hard to make out exactly what’s being said, but as I got closer, I could now clearly hear the string of curses that were echoing through the hospital hall.
“Stupid fucking machine.” The growly voice of a what I assumed was a very heated man snarled. “Just give me the damn chips.”
Well, looks like I found the vending machine.
Sighing, I slowed my steps and right as I was about to round the corner, an emphatic banging sound halted my movement.
What the hell was that?
Curiosity got the best of me, and instead of making myself known to whoever was currently fighting with the vending machine, I very slowly peaked my head around the corner.
“Just. Fucking. Fall. Already.”
My eyes took a second to adjust on what I was seeing in front of me. Just for good measure, I blinked a few times just in case I was dreaming, but once I widened them again, I realized I wasn’t.
Not at all.
I was witnessing a very large, very built man, dressed in a white hoodie and sweats, with a hat on his head backward, cradling a vending machine and shaking the living hell out of it. Back and forth, he rocked the large machine as if he was sparing with it. For someone of my stature, it would be nearly impossible to rock it back and forth like this man currently was. He didn’t even appear out of breath or phased by its size. Instead, he shook it like you would a drink. Without effort.
At first, it was amusing watching as he grunted and groaned over not getting his snack, but then, suddenly, his face shifted to the side, and I froze.
Oh my…
My throat instantly shriveled and tightened while the rest of my body went into complete shock. Just the simple side profile of his face had my lungs gasping for air. Dark luscious waves of hair hung messily at the nape of his neck while a fresh bandage covered his right brow. For a moment, I wondered what had happened to him, but the way he continued to jerk and rattle the vending machine like it had a personal vendetta against him, I had high suspicions I already knew the answer to that. Just by watching him, I could conclude he was a hothead. He displayed all the signs within the short minute I’ve been watching him, but, unfortunately for me, my body didn’t seem to care.
God obviously favored this man over all others because only a foolish woman would be slightly turned on by this scene. There was nothing swoon-worthy about a grown man cursing at a vending machine. If anything, it should be a major red flag. If it weren’t for his exposed, tanned forearms or the engorged veins popping out of his large hands, I’d walk away and certify this man as crazy. Instead, I was mesmerized. Maybe even more than that but establishing the right word for what I was experiencing was nearly impossible. Not because I was confused but because this had never happened to me before. Where I’m rendered completely motionless, and all that I’m able to do is observe from a distance like a creep.
“Almost gotcha…” He rumbled while sticking his tongue out in concentration. A few more rough shakes, and he finally released his hold on the machine and grinned. “That’s right!” He crouched down low, causing my eyes to fall to his round ass that was now sticking out. Pushing his hand through the slot, he successfully pulled out a tiny bag of chips and using my hand, I quickly suppressed a chuckle.
“Thought you could steal my money? Not today, motherfucker.” He slowly rose to his feet and shook the bag in front of the vending machine as if it could respond back.
Was he seriously mouthing off to a machine right now?
A rush of confusion and amusement overcrowded my thinking. I’ve never witnessed anyone quite like him, and that was saying a lot. Even looks wise, he was unique and not classical handsome. Though I’ve never dated or had anything close to a boyfriend, I liked to study the opposite sex from a distance. Plenty of them, too. Nice ones, ones who were too selfish to even be dating, beautiful looking assholes, a whole variety of them but no one compared to what I was looking at now.
Who was this guy?
I couldn’t tear my eyes off him, even as he ripped open his bag of chips and slowly turned in my direction. Everything seemed to have slowed down, like a scene in a movie where the girl and guy finally had their eyes connect. But unlike the female character in the movie who desperately wanted to be seen, I sure as hell didn’t. I preferred to stay hidden.
I just needed one look, though. Just one brief glance of the front of his face, then I could walk away. My palms began to sweat, and my lip took a beating from my upper teeth as I stood shakily with my head sticking out into the hall. Luckily, he had yet to lift his head from peering down at his hands, but with each step he was taking, I knew there was a risk of being caught. The thrill was surprisingly welcoming, but then, suddenly, as if he could hear my thoughts, his head lifted.
Oh god.
I wasn’t quick enough. Okay, that was a lie. I didn’t even try to move because within seconds of him lifting his head, our eyes clashed in an unexplainable war of emotions. I couldn’t find air. I couldn’t even formulate a single thought because, in that moment, all that inhabited my head was him. I thought his side profile was impressive, but that had nothing on the full-frontal view of his face. Angels must have carved that face. No. God must have done it himself because, even from a distance, I saw no imperfections. None whatsoever. His tanned skin was a shade darker than mine, but it was his lips I was drawn to. Not too thin, not too pillowy, just the right amount of plump. As if he was struck with the same sensation I was, I watched him stumble over his feet as his stare drunk me in. Though only my head was visible, he made sure to soak up what he could see.
It was funny how everything around us suddenly vanished. The hospital chatter and the various sounds disappeared, and all that was left was the wild thumping of my heart.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
It crashed violently against my breastbone with no signs of slowing down. God, was this guy going to send me into cardiac arrest just from looking at him? Because it sure as crap felt like it.
His steps slowed as if trying to gather himself, and in the process, his bag of chips almost slipped from his hands.
“Dammit.” He cursed under his breath, and as his eyes peered down at his feet for a split second, reality suddenly struck me like a whip. What was my plan here? Let him walk up to me? Have him ask why I was watching him for a good five minutes and stand there completely mute because I have no idea how or what to say to him? Absolutely not. The idea of having to concoct words and answer questions made my stomach churn and twist.
