Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 42745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
He didn’t come home last night. I kept thinking he would, and I was waiting. Around ten, I got a text from him telling me that he had planned on coming home but there was an accident on Interstate 40, and he had to stay.
I told myself I understood and I did, but I still wish I could have slept next to him. At least he wanted to come home. That’s something.
All I know is I barely slept.
Now I’m sitting in the cafeteria with Cathy across from me and Knox beside me, pretending I’m listening to their conversation about the new scheduling system when I’m not.
I’m picking at the last few fries on my plate and trying not to check the doors every two seconds.
A few of our coworkers were sitting with us earlier, but they’ve all gone back to their departments. Now it’s just the three of us.
Cathy takes a sip of her tea and points at Knox. “I’m telling you, the whole system is a mess. I had two patients double-booked yesterday.”
Knox groans. “Same. I had Mrs. Ogle and Mr. Bean scheduled for the same time, and both of them were mad at me like I personally built the software.”
I laugh because I know exactly what he means. “Mrs. Ogle is always mad.”
“That’s true,” Cathy says. “She comes in mad.”
“And leaves mad,” Knox adds.
I smile and shake my head, but then the cafeteria doors open, and Penn walks in.
My whole body reacts just like it does every time I’ve seen him since the day we met.
He’s wearing his white coat over navy scrubs, and his hair is slightly messy like he’s been running his hand through it all morning. He looks tired.
For just a second, I forget that I’m upset with him. I still can’t believe he said the “D” word.
His eyes move over the cafeteria, and when they land on me, everything in his face changes.
I lift my hand and wave.
His hand comes up in return, but then his gaze shifts to Knox sitting beside me.
Penn’s hand lowers slowly, and his face tightens.
Oh. I know that look. I know when he’s annoyed, angry, or frustrated. I know all his looks, and the one he has right now is pure jealousy. Which is ridiculous. The man has nothing to be jealous of. He has to know I’m a fool for him.
But I do have to admit, I’m enjoying this a little bit. For the last few weeks, I’ve wondered if my husband still wanted me the way he used to, but the way he’s looking at me right now tells me that he does.
Cathy follows my gaze and then looks back at me. Her eyes widen a little. “Well, well.”
“Stop,” I mutter.
Knox turns around. “What?”
“Nothing,” Cathy says, but she’s smiling.
Penn walks toward us, and even the way he’s walking seems predatory. He looks calm from the outside, but I know better.
“Aria,” he says when he reaches the table.
“Hey.”
His eyes move over my face like he’s checking to make sure I’m okay, then they flick to Knox again. “Cathy. Knox.”
Cathy smiles like she’s enjoying every second of this. “Dr. Brody.”
Knox nods. “Hey, Penn.”
Penn’s jaw tightens a little at the easy use of his first name.
I press my lips together to keep from smiling.
“We were just finishing lunch,” I say.
He nods. “I see that.”
Knox looks between us, then grabs his tray. “I should probably head back.”
“You don’t have to,” I tell him.
Penn’s eyes come to mine.
Knox stands anyway. “No, I do. I have an eval in twenty.” He looks at Cathy. “You coming?”
Cathy leans back in her chair like she has all the time in the world and is enjoying the show. “I still have a few minutes.”
I roll my eyes. Of course she does.
Knox walks off, and I watch him go before looking back at Penn. “Did you get lunch?”
He shakes his head. “No.”
I give him a disappointed look. “Penn.”
He looks at me like he’s starving, but he says, “I’m not hungry.”
That makes Cathy snort softly.
Penn ignores her, his attention fully on me. “Do you have a minute?”
I glance at my watch. “I have thirty minutes before my next appointment.”
“Good.”
He looks at Cathy. “I’m going to borrow my wife for a minute.”
The way he says my wife hits me right in the chest.
Cathy’s eyebrows shoot up, and then she looks at me and wiggles them so dramatically I almost laugh.
I stand and grab my phone. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I didn’t say a word,” she says.
“You didn’t have to.”
Penn reaches for my hand before I can walk around the table. His fingers thread with mine, and I hate how much I’ve missed something so simple.
He doesn’t say anything as he leads me out of the cafeteria.
Neither of us speaks, and the silence is thick. It’s like there is something charged happening between us.