Page 34 of Bloom: Part 1

“It’s about time, wouldn’t you say?”

He let out a sigh. “Are you upset about something?”

“Now, why on earth would I be upset? You haven’t done anything, have you?”

“I brought Bloom here.”

“I see.”

Seconds ticked by in which I waited for him to continue the conversation. I had nothing to say to him until he admitted the scheme he was trying to pull.

“I needed a plus-one,” he said. “After last year’s event, Grimm didn’t want to come.”

“You could have asked anyone else. You’re not short of friends, and you know I don’t want to be involved with him.”

“Is that the reason you called me the other night to ask about him? Damn near ruined my game that night too.”

“Oh, James, give it a rest already. Going one night without you climbing on top of Grimm isn’t that big a problem.”

“And neither is Bloom. All he wants is to get close to you.”

“Is that why he’s over there faking a laugh with Price?”

“Well, since he’s into doctors and you won’t give him the time of day, I promised him I would introduce him to another doctor. Where’s better than a benefit where doctors will be in attendance? He’s hitting it off with Price, see?”

I saw enough, all right. Bloom making a fool of himself, allowing Price to take him out onto the dance floor. Had he forgotten I'd stitched his leg up recently?

“You admit you’re interested in Bloom, then? He’s not so bad once you get to know him. I mean, how bad can he be?”

“You have no idea, do you?”

“His brothers are all reasonable, and they helped raise him.”

I placed my hands on my hips. “Did he tell you he took a knife to his thigh just to get me to see him at the hospital and play doctor?”

“What?” James’s eyes bulged wide. “He did that?”

“Yup. Now tell me again, James. Why do you insist on pushing an unstable boy into my life? Don’t I have enough on my plate without being involved with someone I’m afraid will off themself for attention if I don’t give it to them?”

“But…you won’t even try? Can you honestly say it won’t matter if Bloom is with someone else? Because your eyes have been following him across the room since we arrived.”

“James, I already let you drag me into this biker mess when I didn’t want to be involved.”

“You did it because you love saving lives and see it as your duty. Maybe that’s exactly the reason Bloom suits you. Maybe he needs you.”

“What Bloom needs is a psychiatrist. I’m not one.”

“As far as I know, he’s seeing one, isn’t he? You can’t hold that against him. Think about it.”

I had done nothing but think about it. Multiple times. The fact didn’t change that I couldn’t love anyone and drag them into my mess, least of all Bloom, who already fought against his demons. How selfish would I be to involve him in my uncertain life?

Ten years might have passed, but I didn’t forget. I would never forget.

It took everything out of me to stay on the opposite side of where Bloom was. I didn’t want to talk to him. Didn’t want to be close to him. Didn’t even want to look at him. Luckily, several board members had shown up, and I didn’t waste the opportunity to speak to them about the abandoned wing they were dragging their feet on fixing. Their secretaries always fielded my calls, telling me they were conveniently not in office. Despite the sour faces, I needed to get my piece out, which was damn near difficult to do with Bloom dancing with Price.

When they announced the time for the awards, I couldn’t decide if I was more relieved that Bloom had to stop dancing or that I could collect my prize and return home. Some prize when on days like these, I felt that my work had no effect on the hospital at all.

It was time to collect my award. James was all smiles as he took the stage. When he’d just started working at the hospital, dressing in feminine clothes had made the staff wary, but it hadn’t taken him long to win them over the same way he had me.

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