I take them and put them on. “There. That’s more my style.”
“You know how I like it when you wear glasses.” And once again my insides are warmed by his words.
Idiot!
Linc leads me down a hall. No one looks funny at us for the props we are wearing. He enters a room and I follow, a little curious and a little nervous as to what I will see.
Inside is a little boy, maybe ten years old. He is pale and thin...his body frail with sickness. His bald head has a few thin wisps of hair still sticking out. His eyes are looking at the TV but they are dull and lifeless. But then the boy sees Linc and a sparkle immediately appears.
“Linc!” the boy shouts as he struggles to sit up in the bed. “What are you doing here? You were just here last night.”
Last night? That’s where Linc went? I can’t help but wonder why he didn’t tell me, or even invite me along.
Linc crosses to the bed and helps the boy sit up. “Hey buddy! I had to come to the hospital to see a friend of mine and thought I’d pop over to say hi. Monica said you’re having a rough day?”
The little boy nods. “Yeah. I’m not feeling so hot.”
Linc looks over to me. “Kyle...this is my friend, Ever.”
“Hey, Kyle,” I say as I walk to the edge of the bed. I recognize the ravages of cancer and focus in on the green tinge to his face. “I’m pleased to meet you. Feeling a little nauseous today?”
He nods.
“How about I go get you some ginger ale? Sound good?”
He nods again, staring at me. I turn around to the sink and grab a washcloth. I run it under cool water and wring it out. Placing it gently across his forehead, I say, “That should help a little. My mom was sick for a while and she seemed to like that.”
“That feels good. Thanks.”
“Sure thing, buddy. I’ll just go get that ginger ale for you.”
I glance at Linc and he’s looking at me funny. But I don’t have time to puzzle out what he could be thinking. I’m on a mission to find ginger ale.
When I return to the room, Linc is in the bed next to Kyle, still wearing that ridiculous red nose. He’s raised the top portion of the bed up so they are both sitting, playing a video game together. I smile because Linc is too big to fit in the bed so he’s got one leg on the floor, holding himself up.
Yes, Linc Caldwell is about as hot as they come. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look more attractive than he does right now, sitting in a hospital bed with a sick little boy.
I don’t want to intrude. I put Kyle’s ginger ale on the bedside table and tell Linc to take his time, that I’ll be waiting in the lobby for him. He just nods and waves me away.
As I sit here and wait for Linc, I take stock of my feelings about him.
Less than a week ago, I was beyond infuriated with this man, believing him to be the lowest form of scum on this earth.
Now?
I see someone different.
I not only misjudged his character, but I’ve learned very quickly that it runs deeper than I would have imagined.
So sure...he has the hotness factor down pat. But I find myself being attracted to him now on a completely different level. And that makes me uneasy. Because it’s easy to ignore physical perfection. Well...that’s not true. It’s hard to ignore his physical perfection, but it’s easy to control my impulse around it.
However, factor in the fact that Linc seems to be a much nicer guy than I could have imagined, and it’s not so easy to ignore the attraction that seems to be building.
I’m so screwed.
12
I have the vaguest memories of my mother. More like sharp flashes that I remember. I was still such a little boy when she died.
Sometimes, something will happen and it will bring forth a memory that I had forgotten about. It happened today when I was at the hospital with Kyle. It was when Ever placed a wet washcloth on his forehead, a move that I found to be ridiculously endearing. I was looking at her in marvel when a memory of my mother slammed into me. It was when I was sick...the flu I think. And I remembered her doing the same thing...placing a cold washcloth on my forehead and I remember it made me feel better. The memory was so strong, I swear I could smell her perfume.
When I had finally left Kyle, over an hour after Ever had left us, my first inclination when I saw her was to hug her. Then I imagined her soft body pressed to mine and I envisioned that hug turning into a kiss. And next thing I knew, I was obsessing about kissing that sweet mouth.
I take her out to lunch, and every time she takes a bite of food, I just stare at her lips and the way they move as she chews. I stare so hard at one point she asks me if she has something on her mouth.
I wish! Then I could lick it off.
I have to fight off the groan that almost pops out of my own mouth at the thought.
Ever breaks into said wicked thoughts. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to the hospital to see Kyle that first night?”
“I didn’t want you to think I was just doing something to look good for your article.”
“But I wouldn’t have thought that.”
“Wouldn’t you? You’re a distrustful person, Ever. Especially toward men. Tell me you wouldn’t have questioned my motives.”
Ever lowers her gaze to her salad and I can tell I’ve embarrassed her. And even though I was only speaking my mind, with no intent to hurt her feelings, I feel bad that I may have done just that.
“I’m sorry,” she says quietly. “You’re right. You had no reason to trust me.”