Page 35 of Big Trouble
I hadn’t thought of Jack once in the last hour. He was supposed to be here at two. I checked the waiting room. The one elderly gentleman waiting definitely wasn’t Jack. I frowned. After last night, was he really going to stand me up again?
I went back into my room and checked the computer.
His appointment was no longer there, and my spirits sank.
Dammit.
He was a chicken shit after all.
Well, screw you Jack Cairney. I’m done.
Over the next couple of hours, I swayed between being furious with the guy and feeling sorry for myself. Why would last night have meant anything to him? A quick fuck in the back of a car with someone you’d probably never see again. By cancelling his therapy session, he’d made his feelings very clear. I’d been a fool to think any different.
I caught up on paperwork during his appointment—Mr. O’Connell would be so proud—then my three o’clock and four o’clock went smoothly. It was five and I was due to finish, but as I looked at the computer, I spotted a new appointment had been put in.
Ugh, typical. The one day I was really looking forward to getting away from work and now I had to stay on. I clicked on the appointment and blinked as I read the patient’s name.
He hadn’t cancelled after all.
Or maybe he chickened out on chickening out.
Either way, I composed myself, put on my best professional face and made my way out to the waiting room to collect him.
“Jack?”
He was the only one there, but I didn’t want him to see how he’d affected me. Again.
“Lo.” He stood with some effort, relying on the cane.
We walked towards my office and I moved slowly to help him keep up. When we got there, I left the door ajar. For some reason, being in a confined space with Jack made me nervous. Which, considering what we’d done last night seemed ironic.
“You’re moving a little better than when I saw you the other day.”
“You should’ve seen me moving last night.” He winked.
My cheeks flushed. “Yeah, um, about that. I don’t usually…”
“Well you did last night.”
He was right. Whatever my normal morals on jumping into bed with someone were, they had gone right out the window. I didn’t have a leg to stand on, just like Jack.
“You’ve inspired me to work harder,” Jack hesitated, “I need to stop acting like an ass and accept the consequences of the accident. If I don’t work to get better, I’ll never get back on a bike.”
“Me? I did that?” My brow knotted together.
He nodded slowly, holding my gaze, his blue eyes glittering. “All you.” He tilted his head to one side. “Well, maybe a little bit of me. But mostly you.”
There was a knock on the door and Mr. O’Connell stuck his head in. “Everything okay in here?” He looked between Jack and I, concern etched on his face. “How are you getting on, Jack?”
“I wouldn’t be getting on so well if it weren’t for Lo. She’s amazing. Inspiring even.” Jack grinned. “Tough as nails though.”
Mr. O’Connell laughed. I don’t think I’d ever seen him so relaxed around a patient before. “We love having her. There’s a potential promotion in the offing. I’ll be keeping your thoughts in mind while we’re making our decisions.”
A promotion? That was news to me.
“Good. It would be a shame to lose her,” said Jack.
“Indeed, it would. Keep up the good work.” Mr. O’Connell smiled and shut the door on the way out.
