Page 38 of Still The One

‘Yes?’ she chirps.

I can picture her as the nurse who answers every call-button request quickly and with a smile on her face, ready to do whatever the patient requests.

‘Can you maybe step away from the door? You’re giving me stage fright.’

I’m a guy who prefers a private bathroom. Rows of urinals are not my friends. A line of people listening outside a port-a-potty, it’s just not happening. I have no idea why I just can’t let go enough to do my business.

‘Stage fright?’ she laughs. ‘Since when are you one to get shy?’ she teases, her voice laced with amusement.

‘That sounded flirty,’ I say, remembering her ‘only rule’.

A few silent moments provide me with the exact relief I came in here for. Finally. I readjust the purple striped leggings riding up my ass, loaned to me by the very flamboyant Phil. Theywouldn’t be my first choice for sleepwear, but they’ll do. I push open the door with a sheepish grin.

‘I wasn’t flirting,’ she says.

‘I’m nervous, I don’t want to break the rules because I don’t want a cup full of antifreeze,’ I admit.

Her jaw drops. ‘I wasn’t serious.’

‘I know,’ I say, moving slowly toward her bed so as not to jostle anything. ‘I do prefer flirty Eve as opposed to a murder-y one. Should I be sleeping with one eye open?’

‘No,’ she says with a laugh.

That’s when I spot the flowers on the dresser. Were those there when I got here?

‘Aren’t they pretty?’ she asks, noticing my gaze. ‘Phil brought them last night.’

‘Ah,’ I say with a nod, sitting on the edge of her bed like I’m a hundred and fifteen years old. ‘Do they remind you of anything?’ I ask, curious if she’s having the same memory I am right now.

She sighs sharply, leaning against the doorframe of her room and watching me get back into her bed.

‘The sight of a single daisy reminds me of all the things,’ she says, her tone insinuating that she’d rather not relive the story. ‘Ready for your morning meds?’

She changes the subject flawlessly as she grabs the basket she’s bundled my medications in and sits on the bed at my feet. She hands me a water bottle that I didn’t even notice her holding and goes to work prepping my meds into a frosted shot glass that says STAY WEIRD in neon green.

‘You’re seriously the best nurse,’ I say. ‘When we were together, I could only vaguely picture it, but now?—’

‘Now I get the award for Number One nurse and not hottest track girl?’ She finishes my sentence with a wide smile.

I laugh out loud, groaning when the jostling hits my ribs. ‘You will hold that title forever.’

‘Here.’ She hands me a tube full of Ritz crackers. ‘Eat some of these before you take your meds. It’ll help with possible nausea and will keep you from breaking my one rule.’

‘I can’t help it,’ I say, doing as I’m told, leaning my head back against the pillow with my eyes closed, munching on crackers. My head is pounding as is most of the rest of my body since the previous meds are wearing off. ‘I see your beautiful face and I just want to flirt,’ I say between crackers. ‘You bring it out in me, Evie.’

‘Yes, I know. But right now, I need you on your best behavior.’

I look at her, feeling dumbfounded. ‘I don’t know how to do that with you.’

She chuckles at my expression, handing me the shot glass full of medications.

Without hesitation, I toss all the pills back in one swallow, drinking half the bottle of water in the process.

‘Eat a few more crackers,’ she advises, her voice soft and soothing.

I comply, munching on the crackers obediently, stealing glances at her delicate features as she tidies up the medical supplies on the bedside table.

‘You’re the best nurse,’ I say, grateful for her care, yet struggling with conflicting emotions swirling inside me. The way she effortlessly tends to my needs brings back memories of moments we once shared, juxtaposed with the pain and heartache that followed. I’ve missed her, more than I thought. It’s unsettling yet I want to sort it out. I watch her graceful movements, a pang of guilt washing over me – why wasn’t love enough?

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