Page 25 of Crash
She wondered if he smelled better up close. Suddenly, she had an urge to shove her face into the meaty crook of his neck and take a big whiff.
Yeah, totally normal.
Snap out of it, you hussy!
“That’s good.”
The sounds of the passing highway settled in around them.
She relaxed against the seat. The truck coming to a stop jarred her awake. She hadn’t realized she’d fallen asleep.
Oh, god, was that drool on my chin?Just kill me now.
Can the universe stop fucking with my life, please?
“I’m making dinner. I always make too much. Come over in an hour.”
Before she could make sense of his words, Griffin was already out of the truck. He came around to open the door for her. She unbuckled her seatbelt and took his hand. She loved that he always helped her get in and out of his truck. The rough touch of his hand on hers was something she could get used to. His grip was always steady and firm. It was a sense of safety she hadn’t known she was missing.
They stood in the open doorway of the truck, toe to toe, so close only a hand span separated their bodies. The heat emanating from his body sent a delicious shiver down her spine, causing goosebumps to erupt across her arms.
Staring up at him, she had a reckless thought.
What would happen if I kissed him right now?
The idea of a hot and torrid affair seemed extremely tempting. No strings attached sex.
“See you in an hour.”
Griffin pivoted on his heel and stomped across the street. She watched him as he entered his house. He never seemed to lock the door.
Quynh dropped her head back with a frustrated groan.
Well, that was embarrassing.
She hoped he hadn’t been able to read where her thoughts led her. He saw so much and said so little. She’d never been more exposed in all of her life.
It was embarrassing enough that she couldn’t seem to control her reactions around him. He disrupted her equilibrium yet, paradoxically, kept her grounded in the present moment. His penetrating gaze made time seem to slow down, like a bunny caught in the sight of a menacing wolf, completely at the mercy of the predator.
Shutting the truck door, she made her way slowly into her temporary home. What started as a matter of convenience turned into a place of comfort for her. The small but functional apartment was a safe haven she didn’t know she needed. Distance separated her from her past. The added benefit of being so close to her father during his last days made her even more grateful for the space.
She’d have to figure out a better way to repay Griffin for his generosity. Sure, she was helping out at the office, but he never once asked for money. And, if she were being honest, she actually didn’t mind working for him. It was actually a nice reprieve from the backbreaking work of her bedside nursing days. When she moved to outpatient as a nurse practitioner, the volume of patients she needed to see was wild. She often took her work home with her. At first, it didn’t bother her since she didn’t have much of a social life. Over the months and, now, five years into her job, it grew tiresome.
Is thiswhat burnout feels like?
Very likely.
The hours were unsustainable. She saw patients all day without stopping for any lunch breaks. It was exhausting work, and she liked to think it was rewarding. Some of her patients were loyal to her. It wasn’t something she ever took for granted.
So, working for Griffin around the office was a welcome reprieve.
Quynh undressed and hopped in the shower. She was nervous about dinner with Griffin.
It wasn’t dinnerwithGriffin, like a date or anything.
No, he just invited her over for dinner because he’s a nice guy. Griffin seemed the type to help people around him, though he’d deny it if confronted. She didn’t mind. It wasn’t like she had much of an appetite lately. Besides, most nights, she’d order dinner to be delivered or pick up fast food on her way home from work. She often worked well into the evening, so there was little time to cook.
It was a terrible habit, but she didn’t know where she could find the time. She spent the weekends resting or recuperating from the work week, only to repeat the same routine the following week.
