Page 33 of Give Me Forever

"Oh, that makes two of us. I plan to go out and get a few drinks.”

“Sounds good.”

“Do you want to join me? I'm buying."

“I never let a woman buy me drinks.”

“Well, if you want to take me out on a date, I won't say no.”

I stared at her.She's asking me out! Fuck me, I must be really out of it if I didn't realize it."Jean, no offense, but I'm not in the dating pool."

Her smile fell. "We could go out as colleagues, then."

In theory we could, but I knew better than that. When someone asked you out, they couldn't switch immediately to friend mode or coworker mode.

"I have other plans tonight."

She nodded, turning around and heading in the opposite direction. I was certain she’d intended to go into the locker room to change as well. Now she was avoiding me. Great! This wasn’t off to a good start, but we were both professionals. We could overcome any awkwardness if we had to work together.

I took a quick shower, getting out of my scrubs and dressing in jeans and a T-shirt. Decompressing with fellow docs was a normal thing in hospitals, but I didn't want that tonight. I didn't want to go with a group and talk about the day and unpack one another's baggage, telling ourselves that we'd made up what we lost today by saving other people. You never made up for a lost life. You just did your best not to lose more.

I took out my phone and checked my messages, which was one of the first things I did after a shift was over.

Paisley: Uncle Sam, if a boy asks a friend out, can I give him THE TALK, or is it uncool?

I threw my head back, laughing. I loved my niece immensely. How would she even know what "the talk" was?

Sam: Hell yes you can.

Somehow my niece had gotten it into her head that I was the go-to person to ask if something was cool. I had no idea how I’d even gotten myself into that role, but I was going with it.

Paisley: Thank you.

I didn’t have any other messages. I put my phone in my back pocket, wondering what to do tonight.

I thought of hanging out with Avery, maybe enjoying a glass of wine, maybe making her blush again.

Energy coiled through me.Yes!! That's what I want to do tonight.

We were starting on a dangerous path, but as usual when it came to Avery, I wasn't able to help myself.

I left the hospital a few minutes later, heading straight home. I stopped at the deli down the street that sold Indian food. It was a long shot, but in my experience, once people had a favorite food, it remained their favorite even years later.

Avery had always loved mango chicken. I ordered one for her and a chicken korma for myself. The restaurant owner was an elderly woman. She must have been in her eighties, but she was quick and agile. She reminded me of Gran. I tipped her well when she handed me my order.

I could already feel the tension bleeding from my body, and it wasn't because I was finally going home. It was because Avery was there.

I arrived earlier than usual. Typically after I finished my shift, I went for a run around the hospital campus to get rid of any excess adrenaline. But tonight I wanted to come straight here.

I walked through the inner courtyard and up to the loft. Unlocking the front door, I couldn't get past how much it felt like we were a couple. Most nights, we ate dinner together and caught up about our day.

Back in high school, we’d talked about moving in together once we graduated. It felt ironic that we were doing so sixteen years later... as roommates.

I opened the door wide, stepping inside. Several things clicked at the same time. First, Madonna's "Like a Virgin" was blasting through the loft. Second, Avery was dancing to it. And third, she was buck naked.

I turned hard instantly. I knew I should announce my presence, but I couldn't take my eyes off her. She had the same slender waist as in high school, but her ass had filled out a bit. Her long blonde hair covered her breasts, but it swayed with every move.

"Avery," I said, but it sounded more like a growl, not like her name. I cleared my throat and tried again, louder. "Avery."

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