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Iris blushed bright red. “Thank you, doctor.”
I cleaned her up, showed her where she could get her prescription and then left her to get dressed. As I was leaving her cubicle, someone pulled me aside and I squeaked with surprise.
“Shh! Everyone will hear you,” Dr. Hutton said, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face.
I rolled my eyes. “Cole, what the fuck are you doing?”
“I wanted to talk to you.” He trailed a finger down my arm, and I stepped out of his reach. “You’re looking good today. You smell good, too.”
I snorted derisively. “Really, Cole? We’re at work.”
“That didn’t stop you before.”
“Yeah well, I’m older now. I make better decisions. Let go of my arm.”
“Come out with me this evening. Let’s have drinks.”
“I’m busy.”
“Whatever it is, cancel it.”
I gave him a look. “You overestimate your importance in my life, Cole.”
“Come on, Nora… let’s give us a real chance.”
“I can’t, Cole. Don’t ask me that.”
He sighed impatiently. “Don’t tell me you’re still grieving. It’s been months.”
“Let go of me.” I pulled my arm roughly out of his hands. I looked him in the eye. “Do you remember the first time we tried this dating thing? It didn’t work out too well then, did it?”
He had the grace to look abashed.
Cole and I dated for three months. Rather, he wooed me. Took me to Lizzo concerts and date nights at jazz clubs. We played mini golf and went bowling. It was all going swimmingly, and then I invited him over to my place. We kissed, he put his hand between my legs and rubbed my clit. I put my hand on him… and he was limp.
I went down on my knees and sucked him off as if my life depended on it. Still nothing. He pushed me away roughly, making me fall on my elbow—that hurt like a motherfucker—and stormed out. He then proceeded to ignore me for months.
The whole thing played havoc with my self-esteem. Jodie and I grew closer during that time, because I’d take any opportunity to steal down to the morgue and hide. She talked me off the ledge, convinced me that it wasn’t me, it was him. I wasn’t about to put myself through that again.
Not long after that whole thing, Celia disappeared, so I really didn’t have time to see to a man’s ego. Especially when he just came up to me one day, acting as if nothing had happened. That behavior was too erratic for me.
“I have to go. Patients to see and all that.”
“Hey.” He gripped my hand as I turned away. “You’ll think about tonight?”
The man waspersistent.
I shook my head. “No, Cole. The answer isno.”
I snatched my hand out of his and went to attend to my next patient. I just hoped Cole wouldn’t make the rest of my shift unbearable. I hated to think that I might arrive at my first day at Pandemonium all frazzled and exhausted from fielding pot shots and subs.
Thankfully, I was mostly occupied with triage, and I didn’t have to interact too much with Cole. Once I had my break, I snuck down to the morgue for five minutes of peace. I forgot that I was hiding things from Jodie.
“Hey, girl! Long time no lunch.”
I blushed. “Oh uh… sorry. I was late today. Couldn’t spare the time.”
She gave me a concerned look. “Are you okay?”
