Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
I storm into the bathroom and turn on the hot water.
Damn fucking libido. That bitch is going to Hell and she is dragging me down with her.
* * *
I pace back and forth in the hospital courtyard. It’s my lunch break and I need to talk to someone about this. I dial my sister April’s number. She’s my best friend, and I’ve been waiting for her to wake up. She’s six years younger than me and has just moved to London. She got a scholarship for a law degree at some fancy university over there. I miss her desperately.
“Did you wet the bed?” she grumbles. “Its fucking early, Lize.”
“Oh my God, April, it’s a fucking disaster.”
“What is?”
“Nathan and I made out,” I whisper as I look around guiltily. “Well, we didn’t make out—there was no kissing—but we felt each other up, and he was kissing my neck.”
“Good.”
My eyes bulge from their sockets. “What do you mean, good?”
“About time.”
“Are you fucking insane?” I whisper angrily. “This is a disaster and now he’s angry at me.”
“Why?”
“Because he thinks I don’t care about our friendship.”
“Oh God.” She sighs. “Was he hard?”
“Yes.” I feel naughty even discussing this. “Very hard.”
“Did you like it?”
“Will you stop it?”
“No, this was always going to happen. He adores you, I could see that from the day I first met him and saw you together.”
“Have you forgotten one very important detail?” I whisper. “He likes men.”
“And you, apparently.” I can tell she’s smiling.
“This isn’t funny.”
“It kind of is.” She laughs. “Stop being frigid and just have sex with him to find out if he’s as hot as I imagine he is. I want all the details.”
“Oh my God!” I snap. “You are no help.”
She laughs again.
“How are you anyway?” I ask. “Settling in any better?”
“Ugh, I don’t know if I’ve done the right thing, Lize. I feel like a fish out of water over here.”
“Oh no, why?”
“I don’t know.” She sighs. “Everyone in the dorms is just so young and into partying, you know? I knew I’d be a little older than everyone, and it’s one of the reasons I came to London. It was the only place I could get a full scholarship that included all my accommodation. But seriously, the drugs, the orgies, the fake giggles… it’s just not my style.”
“They’ll settle down. Surely they can’t keep this up. What is it, like, week eight?”
“It’s getting worse, not better.”
“Why don’t you move into your own place?”
“Have you seen the price of rent for apartments in London? It’s ludicrous. Even the dumps are way out of my price point.”
I exhale heavily. “Hang in there, babe. Try and find a better paying job.”
“I am.”
I smile. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Lize. Some days I think I must be crazy.”
April broke up with her fiancé when she caught him cheating with a girl he worked with. He broke her heart. She packed her clothes and left everything in their house which they had bought together. She’s now following her dream to become a lawyer, and she’s starting over from scratch with nothing to her name.
She’s the bravest, badass bitch I know.
“How’s the coffee house going?” I ask.
“Good. I love it there, and the girls I work with are so nice. We’re going out on the weekend.”
“See? You’ll settle in, I know you will, and I’m going to come and see you as soon as I can.”
“Great, now go talk to Nathan. I’m sure he’s as stressed as you are.”
“Yeah, I guess.” I sigh.
“Call me tonight.”
“Okay, love you.”
“Bye, love you, too.”
* * *
I’m sitting in the office at the Martyr Hospital, trying to concentrate on the task at hand.
But I can’t. I’m freaking out about Nathan and what I’ve done.
I should have listened to the warning signals my body was giving me. We have been acting different toward each other lately. If I’d just listened to my gut and taken a step back from him, this wouldn’t have happened.
I hear a familiar voice out in the hall near recovery.
I jump up and step out into the corridor, where Nathan is talking to a nurse about a patient.
His eyes come to me.
“Dr. Mercer,” I say. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“Yes,” he says as if I’m an annoyance.
“Can I see you in my office for a moment when you’re finished here, please?”
“I have to get going. I have an appointment.”
“It will take one minute,” I reply sharply.
He clenches his jaw, unimpressed by my tone. “Fine.”
I march back into my office. He can be such an asshole when he wants to be. Moments later, he walks into my office and puts his hands into his suit pockets. “What do you want, Eliza?”
“What do you mean, what do I want?” I whisper angrily.
“Exactly what I said.”
“Are we going to talk about last night?” I ask.
“Nothing to talk about,” He snaps.