Page 35 of Backdraft
It dawned on me then. Something had happened, and he’d felt responsible. I closed my eyes, remembering what I'd said to him the first time we saw each other at the fire scene.
"I'm the coroner."
"Coroner? You're a doctor."
"I am a doctor." He’d stiffened and a tight expression had crossed his face.
"Yes, I know, but a doctor doctor."
"Shit," I said under my breath and looked down at the menu.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Shannon asked, suddenly alert and looking around. “That’s the second time you’ve scared the crap outta me.”
"Sorry.” I patted her hand. “I was just thinking of something I said to someone."
"To who? What did you say?" Her eyes showed concern. "Tell me, maybe it'll make you feel better."
"Taylor."
Her eyebrows shot up. "Taylor? What about him?"
I was silent for a beat and took the moment to gulp a few big drinks of my fancy cocktail. I sucked in a breath at the heat flaming down my throat.
"I said something to him at the fatal fire scene my first day that may have been insensitive." I glanced at her.
"What on earth could you say that would be insensitive? You don't even know him." She swung on the stool, and her knees touched my thigh. She covered my hand with hers. "It's okay. You can tell me."
I looked around to see if anyone was paying us any mind. Maybe I could just give her the barest details and she wouldn't overreact.
"We've met before?—
"What!?" she all but screeched.
Nope no chance of her not overreacting.
"Shh! Come on, be quiet," I whisper shouted.
"Oops, sorry." She lowered her voice and leaned closer. "Tell me more."
I drew in a big breath and let it out slowly, tapping my fingers on the surface of the bar. "We met a few years ago at a conference." I gave her a sideways glance.
She gasped, and her eyebrows climbed up her forehead. She looked like a surprised fish, and I laughed.
"You did not! Was it dirty? Was it fun? Was it more than once?" she asked. “I want details!”
"All of the above," I said in a low voice, feeling my face heat up.
"Oh my God. Why did you never tell me? This is huge!"
"Because it was just a weekend. We agreed that's all it would be. No entanglements and no promises. We didn't even exchange phone numbers, and we only ever knew each other's first names. It was all very one-night standish."
"I'm speechless." Then she burst out laughing. "And you know me, speechless—" she pointed at herself, "—is relatively rare."
I nodded and smiled. "Oh ya, I definitely know that." I fell silent and gazed at the bottles lining the wall behind the bartender. I did feel a little bit better for telling her and getting it off my chest. But I was still conflicted on the other thing bothering me.
"What else? Something else is bugging you." She nudged my arm. "Come on, spill it."
"Not sure you're ready for this one." I sucked in a breath, widened my eyes, and looked at her. "He asked me to move in with him."
