“Hey,”I shouted over yet another round of “Sweet Home Alabama.”
“Hey!”she parroted, wearing a bright grin framed by watermelon pink lips.
“I’mVinnie,” I introduced myself, offering my hand.
“Anna!”
Asher hand slid into mine, her fingers brushed gracefully against my palm, and atthat touch, I had a feeling Anna and I would be getting to know each other verywell.
***
“Oh, myGod,” she moaned, gasping as my lips found their way down her neck. I lickedthe soapy bitterness of perfume from her skin and resisted the urge to cough.“God, that’s so good. Don’t stop.”
Quickiesin bar restrooms weren’t my favorite, despite how often I found myself in thatvery situation. These moments always felt cheap and made me feel even cheaper,but I had no intentions of stopping. My hands skimmed the curve of her waistand moved lower to find the hem of her skirt. She used her nails against myscalp, clawing and hissing like a cat, and arched her back in anticipation. Themoment was good, my fingers inched their way to the apex of her thighs, andthen, my elbow hit the wall of the bathroom stall.
“Fuck,”I muttered at the pain of smacking my not-so funny bone.
“Maybewe should go back to your place?” she coyly suggested, and my hands stoppedmoving altogether.
“Ihave a roommate,” I replied, my mouth against her neck.
“Hmmm,”she purred, pressing her hips against mine. “I'm down for a threesome, if youare.”
Aninstantaneous torrent of visions crowded my mind. Thoughts of Pops, of himdoing things I wished I’d never thought of before. My mouth pinched at thesudden taste of sour and I backed away from Anna, as far as the stall wouldallow.
“What'swrong?” she asked, pouting and reaching for my belt loops with wagglingfingers.
Igently brushed her hands away. “Nothing. I just remembered I, uh, have anappointment tomorrow morning.”
Heronce friendly, sultry eyes clouded with an angry hurt. “Asshole,” she growled,pushing past me and out the door.
Mypride should've been hurt. I should've at least been embarrassed. But instead,I was relieved, and after waiting a couple of minutes, to allow her the time toleave the bar, I exited the bathroom and ordered another Coke.
Goosenarrowed his studious eyes and asked, “Uh, do I wanna know what happened inthere?” And shrugging, I casually replied, “She could tell I was lyin’.”
CHAPTERTHREE
ANDREA
Theold man had been following me around the hospital all day. Silently watchingfrom the end of a hallway or the corner of a room. He was angry, that was madevery obvious by the scowl permanently affixed to his wrinkled face, but he wasalso stubborn and unrelenting.
“Idon't know what you want me to tell you,” I muttered impatiently throughgritted teeth. He just shook his head. “I'm sorry, okay? I'm just—”
“Hey,girl,” Elle, my friend and colleague, said, as she leaned against the counterof the nurse's station. “I'm starving. You wanna take your break and grab somelunch?”
Witha quick glance toward the old man, I answered, “Yeah, sure, I just gotta wrapthis up and take meds into three-fifteen. Then, I'm good to go.”
“Cool.I'll wait in the lobby.”
Ellewalked away with her bag in hand, leaving just the old man and me once again. Isighed, seeing no other option.
“Whydon't you see me later on, after my shift? Then, we'll talk. Okay?”
Heseemed to consider the offer for a moment, narrowing his eyes and continuing toscowl through his skepticism. But after a few moments of eerie stillness,sliced with the beeps and whooshes of hospital equipment, and the static I’dbeen plagued with my entire life, he nodded.
“Okay,good. Find something to do in the meantime. I have a patient to tend to.”
Fromthe drawer marked Schreiber, I gathered my patient’s meds. Two extra strengthTylenol, a handful of vitamins, and a couple of blood pressure pills filled thelittle white cup, and with my trusty computer and cart, I rolled down the hallto Room 315.
