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When I’m settled into the truck, he leans against the door frame and looks back at me. “What do I have to do to get us back to where we were before Mike showed up?”
I stare toward Doc, desperate to pull his firm body in toward me and devour every last inch of him. Desperate to make him feel good for helping me, for holding me, for feeding me, for defending me. But the truth is, we would never work, not with Mike in the picture.
“Maybe we’re only meant to be friends, Doc. Good friends. I’m busy all the time with this whole app thing and…” I blow out a heavy breath. “It’s hard. Everything is so hard.”
He steps in toward me, his big, rough hand now on my face, the woodsy scent of cedar in the air. “Nothing feels hard with you, Nora. It hasn’t since the day I met you. And if you believe for one second that I’d choose Mike over you, you’re wrong.”
Everything he just said is right. Really right and the temptation to strip down and let him have me is stronger and stronger, but that’s only going to cause me more drama.
“Look, I like you…a lot.You’re easily the nicest guy I know, but I don’t want anything to do with Mike. And if we try this… he’ll go crazy. I mean, you just saw.”
“He’s all talk.”
“No! You don’t get it. It’s not like that, Doc. It’s not as simple as that.” I draw in a deep breath and stare out the front window wondering how much I should tell him. My relationship with Mike was a steaming pile of insanity. I should’ve left after the first red flag went flying. Instead, I stayed an extra six months hoping things would change. “Mike… he… he knows things that…” I exhale hoping the stress goes away but it’s still there in the pit of my stomach like a heavy lead weight. “Do you mind if we just go?”
He leans in, thumbing away a tear before it rolls off my cheek. I didn’t even cry after the accident. I can handle physical pain. That’s nothing compared to this. This kind of pain stings in places that can’t be healed with anything but time.
Doc locks his gaze on mine. “Did he hurt you?”
I hold in a ragged breath as I stare toward Doc. I don’t want to say anything that could change his relationship with his family. It’s not my place.
“What happened between you two?” He presses again, his jaw tighter this time. “If he hurt you, Nora, I swear to God I’ll fucking kill him.”
Another tear ripples down my cheek.
Doc catches it. “We’ll get you checked out, but I need to know what the story is here. Okay?”
I nod in agreement, but I have no plan to follow through. Sometimes the past is the past for a reason. And right now, history is a subject I’m not interested in teaching.
Chapter Six
Doc
Small towns are great for community and comradery. Medical care, however, isn’t one of the highlights. Rugged Mountain has one small office with two doctors and two nurses. The doctors can handle most simple injuries and illnesses. If there’s something slightly more serious going on, they’ll call the paramedics in to help, but for the most part, if something needs intensive care, the Springs is the way to go.
“Nora?” Nurse Beth says before trying to help her patient up from the waiting room chair. Beth is known and loved by most. She’s a single mom who works long shifts at the clinic and spends her weekends helping with choir practice up at Hickory Church. Every free second the woman has, she’s giving away to a fault. Sometimes, people need to know when they’ve spread themselves too thin. “Let’s get some images of you so the doctor can see what’s wrong.” She tucks her arm under Nora’s and helps her toward the back room.
“Oh, I can carry her. It’ll take the weight off her leg.” I lean down to help but Nora’s hand rests on my shoulder as though she’s about to protest.
“No. You can go. Thank you for bringing me here, and for the rest last night, and the food, and… essentially everything.” More tears gather at the corner of her eye, and I can’t help but wonder if they’re for me.
I wrinkle my brows. “I’m not leaving you here.”
“Please go. I’ll call someone to help me from here.” Her tone has gone dry and there’s a noticeable curtness that wasn’t there before. I know something happened between her and Mike. Something more than a breakup.
“It’s okay.” Beth smiles. “We’ve got her from here, Doc. I don’t mind running Nora home. I bet she has some squash she can trade me with that big garden she has up on the hill.”
Nora sniffles and turns toward Beth with a forced smile. “You know, I do have squash. More than I know what to do with. You’re welcome to as much as you want!”
“Oh, that’s great because the kids are eating them and making all these crafts with the dried shell. Did you know you can feed the seeds to the birds, too? We never waste a thing!” She has a slight southern accent that makes me wonder where she’s from originally.
“See?” Nora glances toward me. “I’ll be more than fine. Go!”
I draw in a deep breath before glancing out the window then back toward Nora. “I’ll take a walk, but I’ll be back in what…” I squint toward Beth hoping she gives me an idea of the time.
“An hour or so should do it, depending on what’s wrong.”
“Good. I’ll be back in an hour. And if Beth still wants squash, we can drop it off to her later.” I don’t wait for a reply because I know I won’t like it. Instead, I head out into the brisk fall air toward the tattoo shop at the end of the street.
