Page 42 of Bless My Body

“Ouch.”

I nod. “I don’t know if I can just be her friend anymore.”

“I get it, man. Maybe you’ve just got to back off and let her come to you. And if she doesn’t, then

it wasn’t meant to be. You don’t want to be with someone who isn’t as invested as you are. You’ll end

up resenting them one way or another. You’ve got to protect yourself, too.”

He’s right. I need to move on. Celine has taken up so much of my thoughts for so many years.

Maybe it’s time for me to accept that she doesn’t and won’t ever want to be with me as more than

friends.

“You’re right. I’ll get over it.” I should still probably talk to her, though.

“Yes, you will. And you’ll find the one someday, trust me. You’re young. I thought I would never

meet the one, and then I met my wife in the bread aisle at the grocery store. The rest is history.” One

of the PAs stops to tell Dr. Parker something. “Alright, we’ve got to get to room seven. That patient

with the breathing issues from last week is back.” He switches back into doctor-mode like it’s

nothing.

I turn and follow him down to the exam room, feeling a little better.

Every day for the next four days, I tell myself I’ll reach out to Celine so we can talk and get some

closure, and every day I make up some excuse to put it off. I try to see as many patients as I can during

the day. I read their files and look up diagnoses. Hell, I even watch blood draws, just so my thoughts

don’t wander back to the redhead with the softest lips I’ve ever felt.

Celine has sent me a few texts like “Hi,” or “Let’s talk,” but I leave them unanswered. I’m clearly

delaying the inevitable. I convince myself that I’m too busy during the week to give the attention that

this conversation is going to require. It’s bullshit, but it makes me feel a little better about ignoring

her.

Friday finally arrives, and I am ready to spend my weekend doing absolutely nothing. Dr. Parker

sends me home a little early since I stayed later a few other nights thoughout the week. I decide to hit

the gym because I don’t want to go home and be with my thoughts. I run three miles, do some arm

work, then head home and shower off the day.

I know Sadie will be home tonight. Maybe I’ll crawl out of my cave and sit in the living room

with her like a normal person. There’s only so much a person can take of being shut in the same room.

After my shower, I throw on gray sweatpants and a plain black T-shirt before heading to the