Page 19 of Love Unavoidable
“All right,” Eleanor says. She turns and heads into the waiting area to sit. I mouth a “thank you” to Natalie and head down the hall to Sadie’s room before her mom can stop me. There are some perks to being in the industry.
Aaron is waiting outside her room in the hall when I get there.
“Haven’t you done enough?” he asks, his eyes red and swollen.
Was he crying?
“Me? You’re the one who was literally holding her hostage in your arms. Everyone realized but you that she was uncomfortable in your embrace. But you wouldn’t let go. That’s uncool, man.”
“You just don’t understand our relationship. Sadie has always been uncomfortable with physical touch. With everyone,” Aaron says.
She’s not uncomfortable with my physical touch, that’s for sure.
He continues, “Not that it’s any of your business. You should really leave before she wakes, and you upset her further.”
I shouldn’t be here? I have no business being here? What in the actual fuck?
Shit, maybe he is right.
“Look, Aaron, I don’t want to cause any trouble. I just want to make sure she’s okay, common professional courtesy and all that.” My words leave me feeling oddly hollow inside.
Aaron nods once as if agreeing with me. We both stand there, him leaning against the wall across from her door, me leaning against the wall next to it. An awkward silence settles in. I reach up to loosen my tie. Surprised I haven’t done that already. Then take it and my sport coat off and roll up my shirt sleeves.
Aaron glances over once or twice as I do this. His eyes widen slightly at the sight of my forearms. Which are large. And tatted. I am tempted to flex them slightly, but I refrain. It’s not like Aaron is a small man, not by any means. I am just bigger. And foreboding. I snicker to myself as I recall Sadie complimenting me on my physique, particularly my chest and arms. Of course, that is all she felt, so that is all she could compliment. But that she brought it up must mean it’s better than what she has had or seen.
The nurse steps out of the room and into the hall. Aaron rushes her.
“How is she?”
“You are Mister Mason?” she asks him.
“I’m her husband—” Aaron says.
“He’s not her husband,” I say before I can stop myself. The nurse turns around, not having seen me when she stepped into the hall. She looks vaguely familiar. Blonde hair, big eyes, bigger tits, long legs. Hell, I’d fuck her.
Shit.
I have fucked her.
Once.
What was her name? Leeanne? Leah?
“Hey, Leah . . .”
“Lisa.”
Fuck.
She turns her back again and continues to speak with Aaron anyway. She keeps her voice low, so I have a hard time hearing her. Probably on purpose. She does not like me much.
Or at all, really.
My guess is I didn’t call her again after we fucked. In my defense, I didn’t say I would call her. Because I never say that for this very reason. She assumed I would. So, really, it’s her fault. Though apparently, she’s still holding a grudge.
I need to move to a larger town.
That’s not going to happen.
