AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 12
Cruz
The water is calm as we power through the waves. Journi sits next to Jan laughing and drinking a beer while I pretend to be interested in Joshua and Jan’s husband’s conversation. But their words are background noise that’s lost in the wind. If I strain really hard I can hear her laughter.
After a few minutes, we stop the boat and Jan hops up and runs to dive off the edge. I waste no time in crossing the deck to take her seat.
“I want to apologize. You were right. I wasn’t being considerate about everyone else’s feelings in all this. I certainly didn’t give a thought to any of the consequences. You’re the first person to ever make me stop worrying about other people. I just wanted to be selfish. I’m a doctor and it’s my job to put everyone first, and generally I do. It’s also why I never confronted my mother about her dream of me marrying one of Sophia’s girls. Honestly, I might’ve gone through with it to make them happy. But now I know I’d be losing myself in the process.”
Journi’s eyebrows pull together. “You would’ve gone through with it?”
“Probably.” I look up to the clear sky and then back to her gray eyes. “That was before I knew what a real kiss felt like. A kiss that stops the world and forces you to acknowledge what’s in front of you. Made me realize what I’d been missing and what it’s like to kiss someone you actually have chemistry with.”
“A toe-curling kiss?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow… I’ve never experienced one of those.” She stares at me with a deadpan expression until finally her mask cracks. Her laugh comes out so hard she snorts. “I’m sorry. Oh no! Your face. I’m so sorry. That was really awful of me.”
“It was.” I suck my lips in and debate on throwing her over this boat. I knew she felt it too.
“I did feel it too.”
“But I respect your friendship and my friendship with Jan. She also said you’d come out of some shitty relationships. You need time. I am still working on my residency, so…”
“Our timing is shit.”
We both laugh, and although it hurts, I do feel lighter. I hold out a hand to her and say, “Think you could use another best friend?”
“Did you just friend-zone me?” She slaps my hand away.
“Would you rather be my enemy?” I raise my brows in a challenge. Journi has the audacity to shrug with indifference. I know she’s joking, but I seize the opportunity to show her exactly what it’s like to be my friend. I stand and then quickly slide my arms underneath her. Journi automatically wraps her arms around my neck as I take off running to the end of the boat. I send us both airborne, and then we crash into the water.
We spend the rest of the afternoon swimming and drinking with my parents, Jan’s parents, Joshua, Jan, and Ben. Journi and I never make another flirty move toward one another. There are stolen glances here and there, and they’re met with an understanding and good-natured smiles knowing it won’t go any further than this moment.
Tomorrow everyone will leave and I’ll stay behind to finish my residency, but I wonder if my friendship with Journi will remain.
ONE YEAR LATER…
Chapter 13
Cruz
It’s been a year since Journi has been to the cabin. But she did send me something to keep me company. In December I couldn’t have been more shocked when the most gorgeous left-handed guitar arrived gift wrapped. This was a piece of art that any musician could only dream of owning. When I tried to thank her for it, she denied ever sending it. But I knew. Every night I play it and think of her. Wishing I had kissed her as she sat on my bunk bed. If given the opportunity again, I wouldn’t pass it up.
I haven’t exactly been a saint over the past year since Journi left. My dating life wasn’t anything to brag about before, but it has slowed down even more. A casual date here and there, but against my better judgment they all get compared to her. Their kisses always effectively end the date. None have excited me like my brief, yet memorable kiss with Journi.
“See you later, Kimber!” I tell my co-worker as I begin walking toward the automatic doors of the emergency room.
“Cruz! Dr. Bryce! Wait!” She comes to stand toe-to-toe with me. I give her my full attention, worried I forgot something, which would be really surprising. This was my last shift here. I’ve completed all my hours and am ready to move on with the next chapter of my life. “You said before we couldn’t date because of work. Well…”
This is uncomfortable. Kimber is stunning and intelligent. She has a remarkable work ethic and we’re in the same field, but… There’s always a but with all of them. Even now all I can think about is how I need to get back to the cabin to clean. Jan said she’s coming tomorrow, and that she has a surprise for me. Journi was real hush-hush about it when we videochatted, so I’m hoping it’s her.
We’ve kept in contact this past year, though…but we’ve still not flirted. It’s been strictly a platonic friendship of sending funny memes, GIFs, messaging all day every day, and once a week a video chat.
“I get it.” Kimber presses her lips tightly together in an awkward smile.
“Wait—what?”
