Page 12 of Still The One

I’ve heard of Kait, but only met her a handful of times.

‘Gawd,’ Kait says, dragging out the word. ‘He looks awful. Will he make it?’

How awful? Am I grossly deformed? Get hit by a semi? Eaten by an alligator? Wait, aren’t I in Oregon? There are no alligators there to my knowledge. What happened to make me look awful?

‘I hope so,’ Eve and Matty say in unison, both of them stopping after their words.

‘Crazy,’ Kait says softly. ‘Anyway, I remembered something about him after we hung up and since someone brought these into the unit this morning, I thought we’d give it a shot and see ifhe’s still in there. You know what they say, do anything you can to remind them of who they are, to keep them fighting.’

‘Good idea,’ Matty says.

I hear a shuffling then it hits me – a whiff of something sweet and delicious. Doughnuts. A surge of hunger and anger rises in me. How dare this stranger bring in my favorite food when I’m unable to chew or even acknowledge their presence? I’m tired of this ‘induced coma’ they’re calling it.My mind works, y’all!

‘He’s gonna hate you for that,’ Eve says, inhaling deeply. ‘I’ve never met a box of doughnuts he didn’t devour on his own.’

‘I know – you mentioned that years ago. Maybe they’ll work like smelling salts?’ Kait says, clearly hopeful.

‘No smelling salts, ladies,’ the doctor says as he sanitizes his hands, ready to leave the room. ‘We want him sedated, until I say otherwise.’

If only I could communicate and tell them what’s happening in my head because my body feels like it’s rolling across ocean waves, bobbing through the water hoping for a rescue boat. In reality, I’ve got an itch on the back of my left knee worthy of amputation at this point, and the smell of my favorite food is luring me into a medically induced daydream while the veil between life and coma is thin.

Five Years Ago

I’m meeting Eve at Voodoo Doughnut, my favorite spot in Portland. There’s one in Orlando, but the original is always better. This place is like a portal to a world where all your wildest doughnut dreams come true. With its playful pink exterior andwhimsical signage, Voodoo stands out among the surrounding buildings.

Inside, the atmosphere is lively and bustling. Every inch of wall space is covered in funky art and voodoo-themed decorations, giving off a vibe that’s equal parts carnival funhouse and rock concert venue. The scent of freshly baked doughnuts fills the air, mingling with the sound of cheerful chatter and upbeat rock music.

The display cases are packed with a variety of sweets, ranging from classic options like glazed and chocolate to more unconventional choices like the iconic Voodoo Doll doughnut, shaped like a gingerbread man and filled with raspberry jelly, complete with a pretzel stake through its heart. Other eye-catching options include the Bacon Maple Bar topped with crispy bacon strips and the Grape Ape boasting vibrant purple frosting dusted with grape flavoring. I love every single one.

As I enter the bustling shop, a staff member greets me with a cheerful, ‘Good morning!’ Their colorful attire and sleeves of tattoos add to the unique atmosphere of the place. ‘Need a recommendation? I’m considered a doughnut connoisseur.’

I order an assortment and snag a rare free table in the usually crowded indoor seating area. As I wait for Eve to arrive, my nerves start to get the best of me. It’s silly, really. How could I already be falling for this woman? We’ve only met once and have been chatting through text for a couple of weeks. But I feel something with each buzz of my phone. They say the heart never lies, and mine is beating faster than ever before – especially when I see her walking in.

Jay-sus. She’s even more stunning than I remembered. Her hair is hanging freely at about shoulder blade level, with a hint of a wave that could be natural or could be manufactured by a curling iron. She’s wearing a shiny black bomber jacket over a sheer white V-neck T-shirt, with an eggplant-colored bralettepeeking out from underneath. Her torn jeans fit her perfectly, and her white Converse sneakers complete the effortless yet sexy look. I can’t take my eyes off her.

Her dark blue eyes sparkle with gold glitter on her eyelids, and she’s wearing bright red lipstick again. A pair of bangle-sized gold hoops dangle from her ears, and a delicate gold necklace with a cursive ‘e’ charm hangs at the base of her neck. She has multiple bracelets on one wrist, including a black rubber one with a single green stripe engraved with my riding number. Instantly, I recognize it as something she got at the event where we first met. She’s wearing my merch on our first official meeting – adorable.

As she approaches my table, she smiles. ‘Doughnut fan, are ya?’

I can’t help but grin back at her. I’ve set up a spread of Voodoo’s finest pastries and can’t wait to see which is her favorite.

I shrug nonchalantly. ‘There are two things I can never say no to: adrenaline rushes and doughnuts,’ I say with a mischievous grin.

She tilts her head, studying me with a confused expression on her face, but also showing genuine interest in what I have to say.

‘A doughnut-loving adrenaline junkie; who knew you were so complex?’ she remarks with a nervous grin. Her eyes linger on the sugary treats before me. ‘This place is like the extreme doughnut shop, isn’t it? So, tell me,’ she asks, ‘which one is your absolute favorite?’

I scan over the options, considering her question. ‘It depends on my mood,’ I reply. ‘Sometimes I crave the classic Voodoo Doll, while other times I can’t resist the allure of the Old Dirty Bastard.’

She laughs to herself. ‘Chocolate frosting, crumbled Oreos, and peanut butter… it’s enough to make anyone’s heart skip a beat.’

I laugh as well, leaning back in my seat and nervously running a hand through my hair. Curiosity gets the best of me. ‘Do we have the same favorite, Evie?’

Without hesitation, she reaches for the Old Dirty Bastard. ‘Perhaps,’ she says, not waiting a second to take a bite. ‘So, as someone from out of town, do you come here often?’ she asks, mouth full of doughnut.

I chuckle. ‘Only when I want to impress someone special,’ I respond with a sly wink.

‘Well then, color me impressed,’ she says, lifting her doughnut in a mock toast.

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