Page 8 of Coming Unraveled
“Brooks…I…”
“Well, hello there, doctor. My name is Tamara, and whew dog, you look mighty fine in that white jacket,” the exceptionally tall woman details as she comes to stand beside Everleigh.
As she extends her hand to shake, Brooks mimics her as he introduces himself.
“That’s a sexy name right there. I once had a fantasy about playing doctor and nurse with my boyfriend, but he was afraid I’d take it too far. How about you, doc? You ever role play?”
Baffled and a bit impressed with the woman’s unabashed questioning he glances over to where Everleigh fidgets beside her employee.
“Uh…Everleigh can we please talk?”
“Well, doc, you see my boss lady is in a very important meeting. You’re just going to have to come back. We close at six,” Tamara declares as she places an arm around Everleigh and steers her back towards the man waiting in the back of the pharmacy.
He has been dismissed and it isn’t even by his wife.
Reaching into his pocket he takes out the small bag he brought back with him from Atlanta. A treasure that belongs to his family.
“Tamara,” he calls out as she whispers something into her boss’ ear.
She peeks over her shoulder, her eyes wide in nervousness, before turning around and coming to stand before him.
“What can I do for you, doc?”
“Can you give this to Everleigh, please?” he requests as he slips the velvet bag into her waiting palm, cursing the fact that he really wants to call Everleigh Mrs. McCafferty.
“Sure thing.”
He turns to walk down the pathway he came from but stands just inside the threshold so he can watch the exchange.
“What is it?” he hears Tamara ask.
He doesn’t have to guess when Everleigh finds the antique ring nestled inside, he can hear her gasp of breath and Tamara’s whistle of astonishment.
“Is that what I think it is? Dr. Connelly, what are you going to do?”
Turning on his heel Brooks turns to walk away, knowing that Everleigh will realize he isn’t giving up without a fight.
Two steps in, he hears her say, “I have no idea.”
And he smiles for the first time in a month.
Strolling casually back to his office, Brooks sits in his office signing off on patient’s charts. A knock sounds on his door and in strolls his friend Logan.
“Hey, man. Dr. Long said that you were done with patients for the day. Do you want to head to Horizons with me and Austin?”
He chuckles as he asks, “Won’t your wives mind?”
“Naw, they’re headed to Avery’s parents’ house. They’ve been asking for some baby time and Avery was hoping she could catch a nap while she’s there.”
“Well, I’m definitely in. It will be like old times.”
He follows Logan out of the clinic and down the street to Horizons, the only available bar in Carson. Austin waves at them from his perch at a high-top table, but not before Tiffany saunters towards him.
“Good luck,” Logan voices with an expression to match.
Brooks and Tiffany had hooked up a few times when he had tried to push Everleigh from his mind, but he had thought he had convinced her he wasn’t doing it anymore. From the way her nails bite into his skin she apparently didn’t get his memo.
“Where have you been?” she pouts, rubbing her enlarged breasts against his arm.
