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Osric checked his folder and shook his head. “Nope. You and I are good, but I got a call from Doctor Miller, who said I was to make sure you were ready to go at three.” He walked off into the other room.
The name didn’t register at first. And then it hit me. Tamryn. Ah, it was Wednesday. We were supposed to engage in our first get-to-know-you session today. She’d stayed for a bit the other day, and we’d talked about nothing important. Reminiscing about games and things. I’d thought it would depress me, but for some reason, talking and laughing about the good old days with Tamryn was cathartic in a very unexpected way. She texted when she got home, and we talked that way for another hour before I finally started fading from my weakened state, the long day, and the meds.
Despite the shit-tastic situation of my life at present, I had found some joy, and I was looking forward to today. I had no idea what she had planned, but I couldn’t wait to see her. And that made me hesitant. I hadn’t let a woman get close in a while. After my ex, Amara, I never trusted enough. I wasn’t a monk, of course I had hookups, but all parties involved knew the score. But something about Tamryn made me imagine things I probably shouldn’t. Not only because of who I was and the state of my life right now, but also because of how I was and the fact that she was my doctor. We were coworkers. But that didn’t stop my mind from conjuring all sorts of fantastical images about her. Both while sleeping and awake.
I glanced at the clock. It was still pretty early. Osric had helped me shower earlier, but I needed to try and tame the mane and put on some decent clothes. I was in my most beat-up grey sweats and an athletic department tee. Even if we weren’t going anywhere, I didn’t want to look like a slob. I maneuvered myself back into the chair and headed over to my closet. I picked out a pair of khaki shorts and a button-down shirt, and then did my best to wrestle myself into them with one arm. By the time I was mostly dressed, I was sweating and swearing and exhausted. God, this fucking sucks.
“Yo, Osric? Are you still around?” I called out. The other man came walking back into the room, took one look at my state, and rushed over.
“Why didn’t you call for help? I was just out on the porch taking care of the chairs like you asked,” he said as he untwisted my shorts and got things settled and then helped me into the shirt.
“I thought I could do it myself. Seems like even the simplest things are a no-go for me now.” I balled up my tee and threw it as hard as I could into the corner of the closet with my left hand, grunting at the pain the movement caused in my other side. Osric placed a gentle hand on my shoulder once I’d settled.
“Holden. It hasn’t been that long. And you haven’t been doing much but healing up until now. The fact that you got as far as you did just now is saying something. Don’t brush off the small wins. And you won’t be in this chair for too much longer. You’ll be completely self-sufficient in no time.” He smiled, but it wasn’t contagious. I wished I could feel the hope that he and Tamryn felt, but right now, all I felt was the negative stuff.
When I was dressed, I went into the bathroom to finish getting ready and throw on some cologne, but I was almost too tired to do it. And my mood had seriously tanked. I didn’t want to see anybody else today. Especially not Tamryn. I rolled over and grabbed my phone off the nightstand and sent her a quick text.
Me: Hey. Had a rough day. Not up for later. Sorry.
I saw the three blinking dots as she texted a reply.
Tamryn: Oh no you don’t! You don’t get to cancel. We’re doing this thing, and you’re going to like it.
Tamryn: You have time to take a nap. I will be there at three sharp.
Tamryn: And you will let me in. If you don’t, I will call Mrs. Reyes, and I know you don’t want me to do that.
The woman played dirty. I glanced at the clock. She was right, I could crash for a bit. Maybe I’d feel better when I woke.
Me: Fine, Doc. But you are not allowed to yell at me if I’m in a bad mood. But I get to yell at you. I’m an invalid, after all.
Tamryn: I dare you to be in a bad mood when you see what I have planned. Get some rest. I’ll see you later.
Chapter Eight
TAMRYN
If Holden thought he could cancel on me simply because he was in a bad mood, the man had another thing coming. I would not be denied.
After picking up the last of what I needed at the grocery store, I headed over to his place. I couldn’t stop thinking about how this might go. It would either do exactly as I’d hoped and raise his spirits, allowing him to get lost for a few hours while we developed the trust we’d need to see this rehab through. Or, it would fail spectacularly and send him down into a spiral. I really and truly hoped that I had read him well enough and knew him well enough even superficially to know that it would be the former. However, only time would tell.
Pulling up at his gate—which was closed unlike the other day when I stopped by—I pressed the buzzer and waited. A few seconds later, a male voice answered, but I didn’t think it was Holden. And I didn’t remember him having any males on staff.
“Um…hi. Doctor Miller at the gate for, uh, Mr. Cramer.”
“Oh, hey, Tamryn. It’s Osric. I was just on my way out when I heard the intercom buzz. Come on in. I’m done with Holden. He’s out on the back patio. I’ll leave the door unlocked and the system off. He’s expecting you.”
Now I felt foolish. He sounded so different through the intercom, though we had only spoken on the phone previously. A loud electronic buzz sounded, and the huge wrought iron gate swung inwards. I saw Osric jogging to his Toyota parked on the other side of the circular drive. He waved as he got in. I stuck a hand out the window and waved back and then pulled up as close as I could to the door.
Once I had everything I needed from the car, I entered the house. Given the open-concept floorplan, I could see the back of Holden’s head and shoulders through the sliding glass doors as he raised a hand and scrubbed at his hair, squeezing the nape of his neck. The sun glinted off the crystal waters of the pool, and light beams and rainbows shone on the perfectly manicured shrubs. I didn’t think he had heard me yet, so I decided to take advantage of his preoccupation with his thoughts and get things set up.
I moved into the theatre and took stock of what he had. Ironically, the gaming system I had brought was the only one he didn’t have on hand. I wondered if maybe he had it in one of the other rooms. I couldn’t imagine that a guy like Holden Cramer wouldn’t have the best of everything money could buy, especially when it came to this type of entertainment. Seeing that it wasn’t readily available, however, I was glad that I had brought mine over. I set it up quickly, moved around some furniture, and took stock.
Good deal.
I’d grabbed things for dinner that I normally would have told my guys to avoid at all costs, but today was a day for breaking the rules. I’d also picked up a sampler pack of microbrews, but I wouldn’t allow Holden to have any if he’d had his meds. I needed to ask him how long ago he’d taken the last dose. Given that I didn’t want to temp him if he couldn’t have it, I put the box in the fridge. The colder, the better, anyway.
Once everything was set out, I took a deep breath and focused outside again. Holden was still sitting with his back to me, but now his hand was in his lap, his head tipped back as he faced the sky, eyes closed. I carefully walked closer to the door. At first glance, it appeared as if he were relaxing in the sunshine, but upon closer inspection, I could see the lines of strain on his face and the downward tip of his lips.
