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“Thanks, Suzie. I really appreciate that.” I stood and went to her, wrapping my arms around her and squeezing tight. “Truly, I appreciate the gesture and I appreciate you.”
She hugged me back and sighed as she pulled back. “Please, just consider staying in town. Okay?”
I nodded because I had a feeling that I would think about little else until a way forward revealed itself. “Okay Suzie. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
I nodded and watched Suzie walk away, back to her twins and my brother, and her full, happy life. It was the kind of life I always dreamed of, but given my current situation that dreamed seemed farther off than ever.
Drew
“I don’t want excuses, I want action. Got it?” My growled words hit the residents like a punch and each one of them nodded furiously, fear widening their eyes as they scurried off to do what I asked of them. “Good.”
“Hey Drew.” Gus approached me with a wide smile. “Have you seen Zola? I need a consult.”
“No, I haven’t seen Zola,” I grunted at her, adding a scowl for extra measure. “If you need her so bad, find her your damn self.”
Gus’ eyes went wide and she fisted her hands on her hips. “Excuse me?” Her green eyes narrowed in my direction.
“You heard me.”
She nodded and continued to glare at me like I was the biggest jerk she had ever seen. “Yeah, I did.” Gus got in my face with a sigh. “I don’t give a damn that you’re angry because you screwed things up with Zola, don’t ever talk to me like that again. Got it?”
“I didn’t screw anything up.”
She laughed. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, jerk.” Without another word, she marched off without sparing another glance in my direction.
“You’re just making friends left, right and center, aren’t ya?” Melanie Gibbons’ voice hit me from behind, accusatory and full of steam.
“Not now, Melanie. I’m not in the mood.”
She let out a loud whoop of laughter. “You don’t seem to be in the mood for much lately, and from what I hear its your own damn fault kid.” She clapped me on the back with a wide toothy grin. “You made a mess of your love life, Drew, no one but you so do us all a favor, and leave your personal problems at home where they belong. Yeah?” She gave my shoulder a squeeze, harder than her little pep talk required.
I nodded and marched back to my office, even angrier now after Melanie’s reprimand. She was right, of course. It was completely unprofessional, and totally unlike me.
And it was all Zola’s fault.
Pregnant. She was not pregnant. It was all bullshit, of course. Just another way to manipulate me into giving her what she wanted, what they all wanted, or at least what they said they wanted until it was too late to back out. Sarah had wanted marriage and babies too, but once we were married, the need for adventure and adrenaline was just too strong, the allure much greater than that of late night feedings and dirty diapers. Well I wouldn’t fall for it, not again. Good try, but not good enough.
I stayed in my office for the remainder of my shift, focusing on anything but looks of anger or pity or even worse, sympathy. I hated all the nurses staring at me like I was some poor, brokenhearted sap when that was the last thing I was. More like an almost-victim of a manipulative woman.
As soon as my day was over, I drove home and walked to The Outpost because when your life was turned upside down, drinking alone was the best course of action. I hadn’t done it, of course, since those months after Sarah’s death, and I was overdue for another. I wasn’t much of a drinker, but in times like these it was important for a man to be alone while surrounded by people. It was a nice, vivid reminder of the world I inhabited, of the good people in my life who loved me and wanted the best for me, and that stood in stark contrast to someone like Zola trying to manipulate me.
Two beers in and my solitude came to a premature end when Cal and Ryan plopped down in the empty seats at my table. “This table is reserved,” I snarled at my friend.
“Yeah, for us.” Cal flashed a wide grin and set the pitcher of beer on the table with a thud. “Right?”
I eyed the beer and then their curious faces before I nodded. “Fine, you can stay.”
“Good,” Ryan said with a laugh. “Because we were gonna stay either way.”
“So,” Cal began with a casual tone that didn’t match the worry and curiosity in his eyes. “What’s got you drinking alone?”
I shrugged and snorted out a laugh. “As if you don’t already know.”
