Page 4

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I snorted loudly, shocked at my willingness to engage in playful banter with someone I didn’t know. By late afternoon, I realized we’d spent all day texting. Today hadn’t been bad, but yesterday was god awful and usually, on exceptionally shitty days, I sat outside watching the sunset. I didn’t have a chance to do so the other day. I came home and went straight to bed. Now, I had the opportunity to sit outside and bask in the quiet. I was appreciating the beautiful deep oranges, yellows, and blues of the skyline when my phone vibrated again, with another text from Eli.

Hospital Alpha:

Can I convince you to meet me tonight? If not, I’ll understand

I gave it some thought, quickly coming to a decision.

Delaney:

When and where?

He sent a time and address before letting me know he had to return to work. Seeing that I only had two hours to get ready and drive across town to meet him, I immediately busied myself with getting showered and dressed.

I tamed my thick curls, pulling them up into a high ponytail. I stood in front of my closet for twenty minutes before I decided on something simple—black jeans that hugged my hips and thighs just right, a sage green, short sleeve button down with the top three buttons undone, and a pair of black platform boots. Usually, I’d go all out for a date. I’d wear eyeliner, curl my long lashes, dust a bit of highlight on my cheekbones and across my clavicle, but I didn’t feel the need to do that for the Hospital Alpha. After all, it wasn’t like I could ever be what he needed, so why even bother?

I grimaced as pain barreled into my abdomen on the tail end of that thought. I’d been able to silence that line of thinking all day, but now it was hard to ignore seeing as how I had no distraction other than driving across town. Exhaling a shaky sigh, I grabbed my keys, locking the door behind me. I was the only one in the elevator, and although I was grateful for the quiet, I despised it. By the time I reached the parking garage, my mind was racing and I was halfway to canceling, convincing myself that I was okay with spending the next few days holed up at home. Avoiding the disappointment all together seemed like the better move. Before I was able to break off the date, my phone vibrated, the sharp buzzes jolting me back to the present. Hospital Alpha flashed across the screen. “Yes?”

The sound of running water and dinnerware clinking together was the background music for our conversation. “You seem like the type to flake.”

I turned back towards my car, denying the mischaracterization as I slid into the driver’s seat. “I resent that. I’m in my car right… now.” I might have closed the door a little louder than I usually would.

“You don’t have to slam the door to prove your point, Delaney,” Eli joked.

“Are you calling me to purposely talk yourself out of enjoying my company for the evening? Or…” I trailed off, unable to fight a fond smile at the sound of his deep chuckle.

“I’m actually calling to let you know when you get here, pull into the back. The front of the house is crowded. There will be someone there to greet you.”

I was perplexed and mentioned as much. “Wait, why would I need to—”

“See you soon, gorgeous.” Eli cut me off, ending the call abruptly.

I stared at my phone for a few minutes before shrugging off the ending of our conversation. As long as the food was good and the wine wasn’t cheap, I’d gladly listen.

The food was rich, decadent, and, quite possibly, the best thing I’d ever eaten. I finished the last bite of truffle pasta, my eyes rolling shut and a content moan rolling over my lips as I savored the flavors.

When I arrived, I was a bit skeptical of the secrecy surrounding the evening. However, after I was shown to a private room and given a wine list with the explicit and encouraged request to, “Pick anything. The price is of no concern,” my skepticism disappeared as if it were never there to begin with. I finished the last bite of pasta with a soft sigh, followed by the last small sip of white wine. After blotting my mouth with the cloth napkin, I became aware of Eli's gaze. I cleared my throat, embarrassed at the sounds I made, and tried to engage in conversation that didn’t revolve around my dining experience. “How did you find this restaurant?”

Eli's voice was slightly husky as he ignored my question to ask his own. “Do you often enjoy food in that manner?”

Heat spread like wildfire across my face before crawling quickly into my neck and chest. Despite being embarrassed, my voice was steady when I questioned, my tone biting, “Are you teasing me, Eli?”

“Quite the contrary. I’m trying to figure out what exactly I need to feed you to hear you make those noises again.”

I dipped my head to hide my blush, mumbling. “Shut up.”

“I’m serious.” Eli leaned in, favoring a small smile that caused a deep dimple to flash in his cheek. “I’ve never seen someone enjoy food in quite that way.”

“Well.” I lifted my head, flippantly responding, “When you can cook as well as the chef and pair the proper wine with the dish, then maybe you’ll be able to see that again. Maybe.”

Eli nodded, smiling broadly as he leaned back in his seat. “Duly noted.”

Thankfully, I was able to successfully shift the conversation. “How are you able to mask your scent? This is the second time I’ve been around you, and I haven’t picked up on it yet.”

Eli lightly tugged at the neck of his shirt to show a flash of a black choker. “Innovation.” Perhaps it was the wine and the heavy food resting well in my stomach, but I giggled loudly. Eli's entire face lit up, his smile wide and amber eyes crinkling in the corner as he continued to explain. “Patches are cumbersome, don’t always work well, and seeing as how I don’t enjoy having the hair ripped from my body each time I change it, I decided to look for something else.”

I pointed to his neck. “I’ve never seen those in any store.”