It was no surprise his good mood was due to getting married in August. They’d taken a weeks-long road trip and saw all kinds of neat things that made me want to get out more.
“Anything else before I pass you off?”
Danny moved his neck side to side, looking a bit happier. “I think I’m good. You’re a lifesaver. I really wish you’d let me compensate you though.”
I laughed lightly and retrieved his cane propped in the corner. “You already are. Do you know how many karma points I’m raking in?”
He accepted it. “Tell me you’re not a Buddhist like Sean is.”
“No, but it doesn’t hurt to have a few notches on your belt.”
“Good point,” he murmured. He slipped off the table and took a moment to steady himself with the cane. “When can I expect to receive an invitation to your wedding?”
I chuckled knowing he was referring to me having unintentionally caught the bouquet of flowers at his wedding. I was humbled he’d invited me. “Don’t hold your breath. Have a good weekend, Danny.”
I escorted him to the massage parlor. He was the last client of the day, and I was looking forward to the weekend. I settled in my office, and finished up his paperwork, detailing patient improvement and procedures. I filed his folder, the sound of the cabinet clicking music to my ears. By the time I was ready to head home, he stepped out of the misuses' room, looking even happier. A good massage worked wonders.
“Thanks again,” Danny said and shook my hand.
“Always. And remember, drink plenty of water.”
I did the rounds of wishing my employees a good night then stepped outside. A blast of chilly, crisp air hit me, and I shivered. The dusk made me yawn, but it was still early, and I was intent on enjoying my weekend. I rotated working Saturdays with my father, and tomorrow was open for me. I needed the time to unwind. The Healing Winds Chiropractic and Orthopedic Center had really taken off in the last few years. It had always done well, but word of mouth from a high-profile client sent clients pouring in.
It was nearly seven when I got to my condo. One of the benefits of living so close to the office was not having to worry about Friday rush hour. Everyone was leaving downtown while I was headed toward it. What was normally fifteen minutes to home from work was thirty on busy days, and not exactly a bigdeal. I parked in the garage reserved for the building and offered the security guard at the desk a wave as I approached.
“Hey, Doc,” Arnold said, his cheeks plumping as he grinned. The man loved calling me that and although it had been five years since I’d earned my doctorate of orthopedic medicine, I still wasn’t used to the title. “Getting cold out there, huh?”
“Oh yeah. The experts say we’re supposed to have a bad winter.”
Arnold shook his head. “We all need to move to Florida.”
“What? Are you kidding? It will be underwater in a few years.” I shared a laugh with him. “I’ll be over Sunday to see your boy.”
“Sounds good. Wife is making meatloaf and mashed. I’ll let her know to expect you.”
“No slouching.” I saluted Arnold and headed for the elevators.
I made house calls for friends and special clients and I’d known Arnold going on ten years. I’d been treating his teenage son for two years now, keeping him healthy for football. The kid had an increasingly good chance of going pro and with the season in full swing, scouts were out trolling colleges for the diamonds in the rough. I’d worked on the man’s wife to ease the pains that came with childbearing when she was pregnant with their youngest. They were like extended family to me. The work I did for them was pro bono, paid for by summer barbecues. The sound of my keys sliding into the lock was like a release.
“Hey, buddy,” I said as my best friend mewled in welcoming. I bent down to give Pixel long strokes along his back, the marbled fur incredibly smooth and soft. “Bet you’re hungry.”
Pixel looked up at me, his yellow eyes bright. I was careful as I walked to the kitchen, the cat having a habit of tripping me if I wasn’t careful. I fished out a can of salmon-flavored catfood and laid it on a dish. Pixel pawed at my slacks impatiently, intimately familiar with the sound of peeling aluminum.
“I’m getting it, have a little patience.” Setting the dish on the floor, I shook my head as Pixel set to devouring his meal. My buddy was a bit of a glutton. He ate just about anything, from popcorn to lettuce.
While Pixel enjoyed his dinner, I cracked some eggs into a hot pan. An omelet was exactly the light supper I was looking for. Though I enjoyed my time off, I didn’t like spending much of it at home. My big condo was too quiet, too still, and way too lonely. Besides Pixel, I rarely had company. Sometimes it left me feeling isolated, but with my busy schedule, I hadn’t put much effort into dating. And the few friends I had were more acquaintances than close contacts. Sean, my closest friend, and ex-boyfriend had recently fallen so we didn’t spend as much time with each other as we used to.
I sat down with my food and a small glass of wine. I took my time eating. Pixel came over to inspect what I had. He was such a bottomless pit. I sipped at my red, staring at the empty chair across from me. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had someone over. A year, maybe? I ate robotically, listening to the silence of the condo. Every now and then a car horn blared from the streets below, but it was utterly quiet. I finished the omelet, gulped the last inch of wine down, and dumped the dishes in the sink.
The hot shower that came next perked me up and got me excited for the night. I washed thoroughly, the dragging of the washcloth against my skin sensitizing me. I could almost feel the hum of music and smell dozens of bodies all moving to a beat. I didn’t do the clubbing thing very often, but when I did, I found it blew off a lot of stress and nourished my soul.
I dressed in my best casual button-front shirt and designer jeans. A little dash of deodorant and hair gel, and I wasout the door. Excitement filled my walk down Halsted Street, the crisp air getting deep into my lungs. As I neared, the night crowds thickened, men and a sprinkle of women laughing as they stood in line. The only way my night could be better was having someone to share it with. But that was why I was here, wasn’t it? To find some company. I preferred the kind that lasted longer than a night, but I’d take what I could get.
The hard techno music bled through the brick walls as I neared a club, the thump soaking into me. A line of men flanked the building, smiles creasing their handsome faces. It seemed like the patrons were getting younger and younger these days; maybe I was getting old.
I wouldn’t have my looks forever. Now forty, I was nearing my expiration date. It was only yesterday that I was fresh out of medical school and under my father’s wing at the clinic. Back then, I’d convinced myself I’d have time to find someone to settle down with. That time had come and was quickly passing. Despite my lack of experience with romance, I was a romantic at heart. True love was real, but rare. My parents were living proof andmaybeI’d be as lucky as them. In the meantime, it was one-night stands and occasional fuck-buddies.
I considered checking out The Adonis. Sean worked there as head of security but seeing him in my current mood would only remind me we hadn’t worked out. I decided to skip the club and set my sights on something a bit quieter and more my style. I walked for a long while until the unassuming Adam’s Garden came into view. To most it seemed like an abandoned shop, or private business holed up in a worn brick building, but inside was a slice of paradise for those who knew where to look. Half bath house, half gallery, it was quite classy and catered to older gentlemen—and the boys that favored Daddies. Not that I thought of myself as a Daddy.Not yet,I mused.
