up, Bull.”
I take a breath. Then another. I stand up, grab the bottle and walk to the large trashcan in front of the elevators.
“I want to try,” I tell her and throw the pills in the garbage.
“That’s the hardest step to take, Bull.”
She’s not lying. It does feel that way. I hope this doesn’t end up being another thing I fail at.
Chapter 3
Skye
Three Months Later
I love the mountains in Kentucky. I love everything about them. From their large rolling views to the way they make you feel sheltered and protected—almost as if you were in God’s arms. They grabbed my attention years ago and never let go. It’s the main reason I decided to settle here with Matty. They’re gorgeous any time of the year—from Spring, when new growth takes place and different hues of green call to you, to Autumn, when trees set off a display of colors that no firework show could match. They hold so much beauty it takes my breath away. They all pale in comparison to what I’m looking at now, however. It’s a beautiful day, and I decided to have lunch on the cement picnic tables out from the courtyard of the hospital. It’s relatively empty, because most of the hospital staff likes to congregate in the food court area. I hate crowds, so this suits me better. The fact that Mr. Kane is staring down at me right now leaves me torn between wondering if I shouldn’t run back towards to the food court or ask him to sit down. I haven’t seen him in three months. I thought our last encounter had chased him off, and it was for the best. I shouldn’t have missed him— but I did , and not seeing him made me sad.
“Mr. Kane.”
“Hey Doc, did you miss me?” he asks, and he’s smiling and clearly joking but something about him is different.
“Was I supposed to?”
“Ouch, Doc, that hurts,” he says sitting down.
“Have a seat,” I tell him, sarcastically.
“What is that you’re eating?” he says, curling up his nose.
I can’t say as I blame him. I look down at my sad chicken wrap and drop it back onto the plate.
“I think it’s a new concoction the hospital cafeteria is working on in case of a zombie apocalypse.”
“Zombie apocalypse?”
“Yeah something they freeze dried for a year, and it was supposed to keep. Only I don’t think it did. Oh well, I wasn’t real hungry.”
“Now that’s a shame, Doc because I come bearing gifts,” he says and it’s then that I notice he’s holding a paper bag and a drink carrier. I missed it before because the man is so fine, I find myself glued to his beautiful eyes and then the way his t-shirt likes to cling to that stomach. It’s no wonder I fantasize about him. I’m only human after all.
He puts his items on the table and reaches in and brings out two wrapped sandwiches and hands me one along with a large coffee.
“What are you doing?”
“Having lunch with you? I didn’t know how you liked your coffee so I got it black, but there’s some creamer and shit in the bag if you want it.”
I look at him like he’s grown two heads. I haven’t seen or heard from him since our last run in, and I’m not sure what I thought would happen if I saw him again. Fantasies don’t count! But one thing I do know, I certainly wasn’t expecting this.
“I don’t drink coffee,” I tell him, because I don’t know what else to say.
He stops unwrapping his sandwich to smile at me, “I’ll remember that for next time.”
Next time?
I unwrap my sandwich and nearly groan in appreciation. BLT! Yum! I start eating it and drink the water that I already had. We sit there in silence for a few minutes, just eating, before I just have to ask him.
“What is this, Mr. Kane?”
“We’re having lunch, Doc.”
“I get that. What I don’t understand is why.”
“Why? Can’t I just want to have lunch with you?”
“Mr. Kane, we discussed this. I can’t and won’t date…”
He reaches into the pocket of the leather vest he’s wearing and pulls out a piece of