Page 3 of Let Leaves Lay Where They Fall

She stands and pulls a gaudy designer bag over her shoulder. Bracelets clink, heels clack and fringe swings from the scoop neck of her blouse as she gaits across the tile floor, huffing, “Finally.”

Nathan turns away, rolling his eyes. He leads her highness to a bed.

“Hi Genevieve. I’m Nathan.” Avoiding eye contact. “I read in your chart we’re dealing with a bit of inflammation after filler injections?” He suppresses a smug grin and puts on his best mask of compassion.

“I should have known that price was a red flag.” She pats at her crusty bloated mouth with bony fingers adorned by bright red acrylic nails. “Mitzi swore by that girl who was plumping everyone up at the party. I’m sure I’m not the only one in this predicament.” She’s hoping. “I usually see Dr. Matthew at The Med Spa. He’s amazing! He’s going to kill me for cheating on him.” She tucks glossy ribbons of hair behind an ear.

“Dr. Matthew doesn’t need to know. I’m sure our staff can have you patched up today.” Nathan lies. She’s definitely going to look like this for a while.

“I hope so! I have a blowout appointment with Arielle at Luxe in just a few hours and then lunch with my girls. We’re going to that new place, High Tide, down on Exchange Street,” She brags. “Belinda Carlisle knows the Chef. He’s from L.A. and testing a new location here. He bought a townhouse somewhere in the West End for summers.”

You’d think she’d keep that sore mouth shut, but carries on, nervous or bragging, he couldn’t tell. Nathan goes through the motions, gathering her vitals and tapping the numbers into his tablet. Nodding and smiling. “Ok Genevieve. The Doctor will be right with you.” He gathers up the medical cart, hurrying to get away and grab a break that’s long overdue.

“How long do you think? I’ll need to be out of here soon.” her phone chimes in a text alert. “Dammit. Belinda just canceled lunch. She’s had an emergency. I’ll bet her lips are a mess too.” She seemed happy at the thought, claws tapping away at the little glass screen.

“It shouldn’t be long,” he slips through the curtain, pushing the med cart back to the nurse’s station.

He peaks in to check on Ava, playing with the teddy bear while her mother is scrolling on her phone. They don’t notice him. So, he retreats to a hallway at the back of the emergency gallery and makes way toward the break room, several doors down.

A petite nurse with blonde hair pulled smooth into a tight bun at the nape of her neck, is cleaning up the table where she’d just had lunch. She smiles and offers a “hello,” but no introduction, clearing the room of forced interactions.

As a temporary contractor, He’s used to not being acknowledged by staff and aware he’s not the friendliest looking person anyway. He has chronic deadpan expression, wild black curls that fall into his eyes and facial scruff that should have tidied weeks ago. Light blue scrubs do great work hugging his voluptuous torso and full ass cheeks. Maybe a bit tight on the biceps but advertise those goods if you’ve got them!

He’d been such a skinny kid and loved to see his body grow big and curvy as he’s aged. Keeping a gym membership and popping in a few times a week to push weights around, have kept all the junk calories distributed to the right places. Access to spicy sauna trysts is an occasional bonus. He’s not muscular, but he’s thick and proud of every body part. Especially his belly.

Nathan opens the locker he’d tossed personal belongings into this morning and pulls out a backpack. Claiming a seat at the closest of three large round tables. He sets the pack on the floor between his feet. Pulls out his phone, a rolled up bag of half consumed potato chips and a candy bar. He still eats the diet of a teenager with no apologies.

A few notifications from the Gaydr dating app banner the phone’s screen but no calls or messages. There’s no reason to expect any really. His beloved English bulldog Mabel wasn’t about to contact him. She’s all he has these days. He wishes she could talk. Both their lives would feel less lonely.

After checking his email and deleting a dozen ads littering up the folder, he taps the little rainbow demon shaped logo. Three messages are waiting for him. His own profile has just a few pictures. One of his furry chest and belly, the second his less furry bubble bum and the third is locked in reserve for only those he decides are worth showing. His username is NomadNurse6, age 36, Looking for a good time. He taps the blinking messages icon.

HrnyTwnk22: “Nice fur Daddy.” Nathan checks the profile. A frail pale ginger boy of 24 years. His gallery is littered with pictures showing everything from freckled face selfies, candid shots of nights out at dance clubs, and fully unlocked slides of his wiry naked body in poses that envy a professional contortionist. Not really his type but he replies anyway. “Thanks.”

Next message. HungSilver469: “Hey Stud! What’s up?” The profile has no face, but a larger gallery of torso, legs, thick gray body hair and a veiny purple cock captured from all different angles. No age or other info listed, “Hey.” NomadNurse6 replies.

A fourth message pops up now that Nathan is logged in and showing as live on the app. DocDocWhoseThere9: “You’re close. What’s up?” Nathan ignores it. Assuming it’s probably one of the Doctors here in the clinic, if that user ID is a clue. He doesn’t recognize the man in the photos. They’re all distant shots of a tall man on a boat wearing a baseball hat with sunglasses. More than a dozen body shots with half locked away for private viewing.

Nathan doesn’t play at work or home. He keeps these spaces clear of any potential mess. Strings only create complications. Those are his rules when it comes to men. He has no intention of starting anything that would lead another to think he’s emotionally available. He’s only in town for 3 months. The first has already passed and then he’ll be off to the next work assignment before the new year. Contracts are already signed.

The final message. ArtofLife000: “Hi! Mark here. You?” Nathan contemplates his response. NomadNurse6: “Dave. What are you up to this afternoon? :P” He prefers anonymity and privacy on the apps, so he usually uses an alias.

Mark’s profile says he’s 35, single and looking for fun or a relationship, whichever comes first. He’s attractive, with a handful of selfies. No nudes. Sporting beanies in most photos. Nice eyes, a genuine smile and a perfectly average build. One photo of him and his dog. A goofy golden retriever, at his side with tongue hanging out of its gaping smile.

“Look at that all American boy!” He could be fun.

A new message chimes in. DocDocWhosThere9: “Hello?” Ignored and blocked. “Sorry Doc.” Nathan speaks aloud to himself just before the door to the staff lounge swings open.

A tall floppy haired Sunny blonde Doctor with strikingly handsome features strolls in. Staring down at his phone, looking annoyed before slipping it into his white coat pocket. He struts across the room to the coffee bar. Mid pouring himself a stale cup, a familiar chime rings through on his phone. Shouldn't that be on silent mode?

Yup. DocDoc, you’ve been had. Nathan scoops his things off the table, into the backpack with the sweep of an arm and slips out the door before DocDoc notices him.

There’s a small courtyard further down the hall. It's a secluded hideaway where the Doctors and Nurses go to partake in the forbidden habits, they advise patients against.

He settles on a bench, bites into his candy bar and scrolls Gaydr. HrnyTwnk22 and ArtofLife000 each responded to his replies in the time he walked the hall. Nathan ghosts the twink and reads Mark’s message.

ArtofLife000: “Hey Dave, Nice to meet you. I don’t have anything planned for this afternoon.”

NomadNurse6: “Perfect. Should we grab a coffee… and then each other?” Sometimes Nathan’s flirting can be smooth. That was not a good example.

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