Page 77 of Midnight Valentine
He waits patiently until I give him the name of the local pharmacy so he can call in the prescriptions. Then I listen with half an ear as he talks about possible side effects, dosage instructions, levels of serotonin, blah, blah, blah. By the time he stops talking, I’m exhausted.
“Thanks, Dr. Singer. I appreciate you calling me back.”
“You’re going to be all right, Megan. I promise. It’s a positive sign that you’re willing to start medication. Commit to your therapy with Dr. Anders, please. You’re a wonderful woman. You have so much life ahead of you. So much to offer. And remember, whenever you feel the need to talk, I’ll always be here.”
I’ll always be here.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
I say flatly, “Thanks again. Bye.” I hang up and turn to stare at myself in the mirror. My eyes are wild, my face is pale, and I’m still shaking. I think Dr. Singer wasn’t being honest when he said I was only a two point five on the nutso scale.
I’m a full-on ten. Maybe even an eleven.
“Megan?”
A gentle knock on the ladies’ room door makes me spin away from the mirror, my heart lurching. “Yes?”
“You okay in there?”
It’s Coop. Pull yourself together. Go face him. Try to act normal.
I smooth a hand over my hair, straighten my sweater, then plaster a fake smile on my face as I head to the door. I open it and find Coop standing there awkwardly, looking worried.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to disturb. Just makin’ sure you’re okay.”
“You should tell her how you feel,” I blurt, and instantly want to smack myself on the forehead.
Coop wrinkles his brow, confused. “Who? What?”
Well, the pitch has already been thrown. Might as well swing for the rafters. “Suzanne. You should tell her how you feel about her.”
Coop wears all his expressions the same way I do, like laundry hung out on a line for the whole neighborhood to see. Right now, his face registers astonishment and pain.
“Shit, Coop. I’m sorry. I’m not myself today. Ignore me.”
“You think she might…?” He leaves it hanging there, his eyes hopeful.
“I think she’d be a fool if she didn’t.”
That makes him look bashful. He shoves his hands into his pockets and contemplates his shoes. He says softly, “I’ve always…she’s just so…she’s outta my league, is what she is.” His small laugh sounds embarrassed. “I never worked up the nerve to ask her out in high school. I started datin’ my wife our senior year, got married pretty quick after that. The kids came.”
Coop squints into the distance. He shrugs. “Y’know. Life happened.”
“It keeps on happening too,” I say softly. “It’s never too late to start over.”
Until it is.
Coop shifts his gaze to me. His eyes take on a look of worry. “Theo told me to watch out for you. Said to make sure you were okay. Somehow I don’t think you’re okay.”
“Oh, Coop,” I say softly, touched by his concern. “I’m not even in the same universe as okay, but I’m surviving.”
“You gonna call him?”
Now it’s my turn to look into the distance. “I’m probably the last person he wants to hear from right now.”
“Trust me, you’re the only person he wants to hear from.”
Surprised by the vehemence in his voice, I shift my gaze back to Coop.
