AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A cab zips past me and I make the split-second decision: I’ll just have to haul my chocolate-covered ass uptown.
Another cab approaches, and I flag it down. As the car nears, I can see the moment the driver’s gaze lowers from my raised hand to my smeared pants, and the cab, instead of slowing down, accelerates past me.
Right, no cab driver will take me on looking like this.
I run toward the nearest subway station, my stomach bouncing up and down. A train is probably better in rush hour, anyway.
The platform is crowded and I lose precious seconds trying to figure out what line I should take.
A man abruptly bumps into me, nearly knocking me down. “Watch it,” I yell.
“You watch it, shit pants,” he says, carrying on his way.
If I had time, I’d run after him and put him in his place, but I don’t. I’m headed to the opposite platform.
Rush hour is no joke even in the subway station. I have to fight to get a spot on the first incoming train. But a positive side effect of my pants situation is that even in the crammed subway car, a small circle of empty space forms around me.
I catch more than a few commuters sending dirty looks to my rear end and wrinkling their noses in disgust.
When an old hag sitting behind me mutters under her breath, “The younger generations have no decency,” I yell. “It’s chocolate, all right? Chocolate. So, you can all go fly a kite with your nasty looks and comments.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have yelled at strangers, but what do they have to ogle anyway? It’s not like I ran through the park naked. The circle around me widens. Guess I’ll just be the crazy woman on the subway.
I make it to Lincoln Center a few minutes later. When the train halts and opens its doors at my stop, I quickly hop off.
As I run up the station steps, I’m a sweaty, sticky, smelly mess. But at least when I arrive at the clinic, the lights are still on. I dash past the sliding doors and almost crash against the reception desk.
“Miss Mayer,” the receptionist greets me. “What happened to you?”
“I broke my trigger shot. I should’ve taken it an hour ago. I need to see Dr. Townsend.”
With a serious frown, the woman types on her computer. “I’m sorry, but Dr. Townsend already went home for the day. I can check if someone else can help you.”
“Yes, please. Thank you.”
“Oh,” she says after a few seconds. “You’re in luck. Dr. Raikes is still here.”
That’s not luck, that’s a curse.
“I can call him right away.”
She picks up the receiver and is about to dial, but I’m faster. In a totally unappropriated move, I half launch myself over the counter to stop her, grabbing her by the wrist. “No need to call Dr. Raikes,” I yell in a panic.
“Someone called my name?”
The deep voice coming from behind me forces me to close my eyes as I painfully assess my current situation. I’m half hanging over the counter, manhandling a poor receptionist, while my chocolate-smeared butt is perked up on full display. And Johnny Raikes has a front-row seat to the show.
14
MARISSA
The air behind me warms, and I sense a presence.
I should let go of the receptionist, get back on my feet, and salvage whatever dignity I have left. But I can’t move. I’m frozen in place. I swear I’ll never yell again at a frozen-in-the-headlights animal. Their reaction isn’t stupid, it’s just nature. They can’t move off the road just as much as I can’t drop off this counter.
The presence shifts beside me and leans an elbow on the counter. “Ah, Marissa. What’s the matter?”
John is wearing a stylish coat over his scrubs. I probably caught him on his way home.
