Page 78 of Dr. Brandt

“Sup?” I said, bringing my napkin in both hands to brush over my mouth while I swallowed a bite of pizza.

“Jake would kick your ass for eating that pizza, you know?” he laughed, sitting in the chair across the table from me.

He opened a plastic container of fruit, and then my eyes moved to his salad and a plate of chicken and broccoli.

“Jake isn’t my best friend, though,” I rose my eyebrows at the healthy food he arranged in front of him, “and unlike your ass, I’m not looking to fuck him, or impress him, or whatever the hell you’re trying to prove with all of that healthy shit you’re eating.”

Collin laughed as he forked a cherry tomato and popped it in his mouth with his usual shit-eating grin. “Don’t you worry about what Jakey and I have going on behind the scenes,” he shook his head.

Jake was anal about the food we ate, but no one ever argued with him. He was cutting people open and working on hearts all day, and ninety percent of his patients had issues due to their unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits. That was his life. My life and focus were on fixing brains, but I’m sure if I knew there were lifestyle changes we could take to prevent brain tumors, or anything else, I’d ensure everyone I knew took the proper precautions.

“So, Jessa returned with you and left her boy on the yacht, eh?” Collin questioned with a knowing grin. “What happened when you both disappeared for those few afternoon hours during that rainstorm?”

“Nothing,” I shrugged. “We were just catching up and going over details about Jackson’s surgery.”

“Bull-fucking-shit,” Collin said, poking his fork into his fruit bowl. “I’m not an idiot, nor are the rest of us. You walked off from lunch like a little bitch, and Jessa was hot on your heels soon after.” He took another bite of salad, nearly inhaled it, then arched an eyebrow at me, “Do not tell me she felt sorry for your ass and took you back.”

I chuckled, “And if she did?”

“I would probably kick your ass because it was too easy for you. I walked through hell and back—my balls singed by the flames—to get my girl. Jim slept in the lake of fire to get Avery back, and Jake—well, that fucker lived in hell for quite some time, praying for a lifeline to get Ash back. But you?” he waved his fork in circles in front of my face, “nothing.”

I took another bite of pizza and held my hands up, “Maybe because I’m better looking than you assholes?”

“Funny. Now, spill it. What’s up with you two? Is everything cool? Does the kid know you’re his dad?” Collin’s pager went off, and I laughed. “Fuck! I have to go. Goddammit, you’re not getting out of this so easily. Tonight,” he pointed at me, “we’re all going to Darcy’s, and you’ll be there too.”

“Can’t,” I said, standing with him. “Jessa and I are heading out in my Cessna.”

Collin held his tray, his eyes studying mine. “Damn you, Brandt,” he laughed.

“Me?” I said, walking with him to dump our trash in the bin.

“Yeah, you. Always a fucking mystery. It makes me want to kiss you sometimes.”

I rolled my eyes. “Get in line,” I said, laughing and following Collin out of the cafeteria. The rest of the guys knew something was up between Jessa and me, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it or confide in anyone yet.

I just wanted to enjoy this time. Jacks begged his mom for permission to stay aboard the yacht, so we had precious alone time that we wouldn’t have otherwise, and I didn’t want to squander it.

I’d planned to take her on my plane to somewhere unique and special. All I wanted was to hold her and smell the rich fragrance of the floral perfume she wore. Now I was second-guessing the whole plane idea. She’d be in the seat behind me, and I wouldn’t have her eyes to stare into. Her neck to kiss.

I missed her already. I didn’t want to spend another second away from her because I’d wasted too much time already.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Jessa said as I rolled up to the private airport. “It’s like you’re trying to get dumped by thumbs-up emoji or something.”

I grinned, bringing the back of her hand to my lips. “Shall we not revisit that damn emoji breakup scenario? I already feel like I’ve sorta got one foot dangling in hell while I’m back with you, if I’m honest.”

Shit! That didn’t come out right.

“Oh?” she laughed and then became quiet when I rolled up in front of the massive private hangar where I kept my airplanes. “I’m sorry. I had no idea that being back together—”

“Not what I meant,” I smoothly cut her off, knowing what she was going to say. I twisted in my seat and placed my hand on her headrest. “It’s just that my previously normal routine at work never consisted of pining away like some bitch all day at work. It took a lot of monumental effort to stay focused and not just think of wanting you in my arms,” I said.

She arched an eyebrow at me. “Nice, try,” she said with a shake of her head. “Jacks tries to lie his way out of saying stupid shit all the time. So, you’ll have to come up with something better than that.”

I met her adorable challenging expression with one of my own. “I’m not bullshitting you. You’ve consumed my thoughts all day. All I’ve thought about was wanting to get the fuck out of there so we could be in this moment now. It’s hell because I have you back in my life, but when I’m away from you, you’re all I can think about. You, of all people, should know that is out of character for me.”

“And you, of all people, should know it’s out of character for me to go flying in some private aircraft.” She exhaled, seeing the blue and white Cessna parked front and center in the hangar. She fanned her hand out in front of her. “Tell me, have I ever given you the impression that I would enjoy flying in an aircraft that most likely has a high death percentage?”

“No,” I shrugged, looking into the hangar, and admiring my favorite aircraft. “However, the Jessa I remember was daring and bold. I wouldn’t think you’d mind it. And they don’t have a high death percentage.”

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