Page 42 of Plentywood
“I told him when you went away to college,” Charlie confessed. “I knew you two were going to be together when you got back.”
“But why didn’t you tell me you felt that way?” I asked. “I’m not saying things would’ve changed, but I thought we were just friends. Jesus, Skeet! We used to tease each other and shit. I thought I was keeping your secret back then.”
“I was in love with you, Hunt. I’ve been in love with you since I discovered I liked dudes.”
Every single thing I thought I’d known about our friendship ran through my mind. Charlie was a tease, and I went along with his jokes as his buddy. He was never serious, even back then.
“And Mark knew this?” I asked. “I always denied that you were gay.”
“He knew,” he replied. “But he wouldn’t let me have you. He knew you loved him more. He had you captured, and he knew it.I had no chance back then and I don’t blame Mark. I just thought that, you know, after…”
“After he died,” I finished his sentence. “And then I go and have a sexual relationship with you after all those years,” I whispered, wiping his cheek and pulling him into my chest. “I’m sorry, Skeet. God! I am so fucking sorry.”
“I convinced myself you wanted to be with me,” he admitted, his voice muffled against my chest, clinging to me. “I knew you didn’t.”
“I needed you, Skeet. I just didn’t think about what I was doing to you.”
Charlie backed up. “And now you can’t see me that way?” he asked. I nodded. “But you see the doctor that way?”
“I don’t know,” I stated. “I feel something for him, I guess.”
“Shit,” Charlie muttered, turning and moving behind the counter. “I don’t trust him, Hunt. I know you probably think I’m just jealous, but I don’t.”
I did think he was jealous. Sad, upset, angry too, but I saw Ben as honest. “Why would he be hiding secrets, Skeet?”
“He just is,” he said, wiping at his dripping nose. “And I want you for me. Not him having you.”
Charlie was crushed and his face proved it as he wanted to protest more but crumbled and shut his open mouth. He slammed his fist on the countertop.
“Are we okay?” I asked, gesturing between the two of us.
“I don’t wanna be, but yeah, we’re okay.”
“I really am sorry,” I said, biting the inside of my mouth.
“I love you, Hunt. If things don’t work out with the new guy…” He trailed off and held his hand up to me. “Don’t answer that. Just go.”
I sat in my rig for a few minutes, idling at the gas pump. There were a million things I wished I could say to Charlie,hadsaid to Charlie, but I couldn’t find the words. Did I regretchoosing Mark even though I hadn’t known how Charlie felt back then? Of course not.
But what about regretting not giving him a chance now?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: Benedict
Agnes was in an exam room when a knock at the office door that separated the waiting room from the exam rooms interrupted my thoughts. Charlie, her grandson, peeked around the door after opening it slightly. “Hey, doc,” he greeted. “Gramma around?”
I pointed to the exam room. “In there with Mr. Hicks.”
He stepped into the elongated room, three exams room on each side. “Still suffering from arthritis?” he asked, moving closer to my desk.
“And how do you know that?” I asked. “Your grandmother talking about patients outside these walls?”
“No, of course not,” he replied. “Everyone knows everyone’s business in Plentywood.”
“I’m sure she’ll be out in a few minutes.” I completed jotting notes on a chart from a previous patient. It was lunchtime, so I was also waiting for Agnes. I was hungry and hoped she’d brought lunch for me again today. “You know everyone in town?” I asked. He nodded and sat across from me, looking better than a man had the right to.
“Yep,” he casually confirmed. “My entire life. What do you wanna know? I can feel around and find out anything for you.”
The scent of Tom Ford cologne filled my nostrils again. He’d looked like perfection in the dimly lit tavern last week, but he looked even better in the bright lights of a medical clinic. Eventhough he wore a pair of wornLevi’s, they were stylish and clung to him like paint, accentuating every male’s best attribute in the most wonderful way.
