I chuckle. “It is, but we all know not to jinx things.”
“Yes, yes,” she mutters and gathers the file before heading to her office.
Erika clears her throat, and I turn my attention to her. I try to not be upset. She doesn’t know me or the others really. New to our shift, she’s getting to know everyone. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.
“For what?” I ask. I may not be angry, but I’m not going to make this easy on her either.
Her brow raises as she studies me. “I’m sure your—”
“Girlfriend,” I say, needing there to be no question on the matter. Hazel is my girlfriend. She’s mine, and I want everyone to know.
“I’m sure yourgirlfriendoverheard us talking…”
“Look, Erika… I don’t know everything Sabrina said, and frankly I don’t care. We’re at work, and I love what I do. I don’t want to dread coming here because of a rumor mill. Since we don’t know each other well, I’ll set things clear with you. I obviously didn’t read Sabrina correctly when I asked her to get food. It was the same way I could ask you or any of the others. That night was a particularly gnarly shift with multiple high-risk patients, and we were tired and hungry. Leading her on was never my intention. Learning tales are being spun behind my back is not cool. If you want to know something, ask. I’ve got nothing to hide. I have never, nor will I ever, date someone at work. Hazel means a lot to me, and it sucks her mind is spinning with questions because of what she overheard. You’re a great nurse, and I genuinely enjoy having you on our shift. I would thank you to not participate in Sabrina’s antics.” My pulse thumps rapidly as I let it all out, saying my piece. Tipping back my cup, I chug the last remnants, then toss it in the trash.
Erika nods. “I hear you. Again, I’m sorry.”
***
After letting myself into my apartment, I begin stripping out of my scrubs the moment the door locks. I’m exhausted, but I need a shower. I toss everything in a pile and turn the water to hot. Then I grab my phone and open the text conversation with Hazel.
Her last text let me know she arrived home safely and was going to bed. Looking at the time, I knew she was probably still asleep.
Joshua: Thanks again for the surprise. Seeing you made my night.
I set the phone down and step under the hot spray. The water soothes my overtired muscles. Closing my eyes, Hazel’s face fills my vision. It didn’t take long for her to get under my skin. My body aches with the need to fill her. Until that day comes, I’ll have to rely on getting myself off.
Pumping my shaft, I imagine it’s her hands, her mouth, her tight walls clamping down on me. Wound up from her sweet kisses and memories of her pert nipples peeking through her shirt, I come in no time.
My head drops back and spurts of come shoot onto the tiled wall before me. I take a second, enjoying the bliss following my release. My pulse slows, and I wash and dry off. One day I’ll experience the real thing with Hazel, not just a fantasy of her touch.
When the day comes, I’ll be on more than a downward slope toward falling for Hazel. I expect I’ll be drowning in love for the special woman who so brazenly stepped foot in the emergency department after a masturbation session gone wrong.
