Page 89 of About That Night

“Knock, knock,” she says cheerfully. She’s in her fifties, and she looks like a less-nutty version of my mother. The same haircut and demeanor. “How are we doing in here?”

Chastity goes into medical talk. I tune it all out and impatiently wait for Nurse Brenda, as she introduces herself, to leave again.

X-rays, blah, blah, blah. I don’t fucking care. My shoulder and ankle will heal.

The second she leaves, I pick up where we left off.

“I’ve never been married, engaged, or even lived with a woman, that’s true. But I’ve never done those things because I’ve never been in love with a woman. I’m in love with you.” I caress her hand. “So when I tell you I want this, I want you, you can trust me, because I don’t say anything I don’t mean and you know that.”

Chastity blows out a deep, agonized sigh. “How do you know this is the right thing? I mean, we’ve had all these years and never got together.”

I tilt my head.

She shakes her head. “You know what I mean. We’ve never tried to be together.”

I had told myself I wouldn’t talk her into anything, that I would let her date and come to her conclusions. But I can’t do that. I can’t watch her decide that we can’t be together because she’s afraid she’ll lose me.

“You know how you’re always saying that Josiah was meant to be yours? That you don’t know why he had to come to you the way he did, but he was always meant to belong to you? Did you ever stop and think that I’m the same way? I’m meant to be yours too, Chastity. It’s not a curse. It’s the universe telling us to get our butts in gear and listen to the damn signs. I keep ending up in your path, and you’re supposed to accept it, not push me away. I’m yours, and I belong to you, heart and soul, whether you like it or not. So you might as well like it. I’ll spend every minute of every day reassuring you that I’m not going anywhere, if that’s what you need, baby. This isn’t an impulse. This is just the world righting itself.”

Her gaze softens. “That sounds very lovely when you put it like that.”

“I’m a romantic son of a bitch.”

She laughs softly, clearly giving in. “You’re something, that’s for sure.”

I pull her closer in between my legs. “Kiss me and make me all better.”

Her body relaxes, she melts into my embrace. “You scared me today.”

“That was nothing. Just a scratch.” I grip her ass with both hands. Funny how I can’t open a water bottle, but I can feel up her ass. “I’m your first and last boyfriend. I have to say, I find that very hot. I wouldn’t have thought I would, but I do. Or maybe I just find you hot.”

“I find you hot, too.” She presses her lips to mine, gently at first, then hungrily. “I love you. I want you.”

“You have me.”

A man’s booming voice says, “I think this one is going to live.”

Chastity laughs and pulls back, her cheeks pink, eyes bright with tears and love.

“So who do we have here?” the doctor asks, looking at the paperwork in his hand.

“Hank Williams Young,” Chastity says. “The Williams is silent.” She smiles at me.

“Oh, hey, you’re Cash’s brother. I heard you moved back to town. What happened?” He starts to examine me.

“I walked into a car.”

“Were you on your phone?”

“No, I was staring at my girlfriend,” I tell him. “Look at her. I have a hard time taking my eyes off of her.”

“Oh my word,” Chastity says, rolling her eyes. “You’re ridiculous. Doctor, Hank is a chef. How long is this shoulder going to be an issue?”

“Just a day or two. We’ll slap a boot on that ankle after we X-ray it, but I don’t think it’s broken. You’ll be right as rain in no time. But maybe take a couple of days off of all strenuous activities, including sex, you two.”

Fat fucking chance. I didn’t have open-heart surgery. I twisted my damn ankle.

I give Chastity a look that conveys exactly what I think about this overreaching medical advice.

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