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She’s still not saying anything. She’s not matching my energy. I’m all the way up here and she’s on another fucking planet. “Julissa! Did you hear anything I just said?!” I yell at her.
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before responding, “Go home, Jaya.”
What the fuck? No! That’s not the response I was expecting. “Julissa, what the fuck are you talking about?”
She turns to look at me, her skin drained of color. “I said, go the fuck home.”
I hesitate, scratching the side of my face as I look at her in disbelief. When I don’t move, she screams at me, “I said, LEAVE!”
Chapter 11
Selena
I’msittinginarestaurant across the street from the hospital on my lunch break sipping coffee and running my hand along my sleek black ponytail that I’ve unraveled from a bun. Thoughts of Julissa on drugs, screaming at me the other morning at the facility keep flashing in my mind. Having to be on high alert in the hospital at all times has made an already long shift longer. I massage my head as I wait for my food to arrive, needing to take a step away from all the shit, even if it’s just across the street from the constant reminder of my duties. It’s not that I don’t love my duties, I chose to do this for a reason, it’s just wow, it’s a lot. I can’t think about some of the things I’ve seen Julissa allow to happen to those men if I want to eat in order to conserve my energy for the rest of my shift.
My stomach growls and I look up to see if the waiter is any closer to bringing my food. Instead of the waiter, I see a stunning, dark-haired gentleman sitting by the bar in a suit, staring at me and smiling when he catches me looking at him too. He’s got the kind of looks that demand a second glance. I look up and he’s looking away, taking a sip of his drink. I find myself smoothing away any wisps of hair that may have gone out of place, then stopping myself, certain of the fact that I look like a wreck right now after working almost fifteen hours, dressed in a nurse's outfit that’s unlike the nurses outfits of mens’ fantasies.
I turn my attention back to my coffee when I see over my cup that he’s coming toward me. I don’t know where to look but I figure he might have to ask me a health question or something. When he approaches me, I look up at him with a polite smile, ready to be of service.
“Do you mind if I join you?” he asks, pointing to the chair in front of me.
It’s been so long since I’ve looked at a man and been seen by one that I don’t know what to do with myself. “Sure.” I smile a bit too happily.
He flashes beautiful white teeth at me. I can tell he sees his dentist for a regular check-up.
“You don’t mind, do you?” he asks as he prepares to sit down. “It’s just that you seem to be having lunch alone and I’m having lunch alone, I figured we could keep each other’s company.”
“No, no. I don’t mind at all. I appreciate the company.” I place my empty coffee mug on the table, setting it aside.
“Did you order already?” he asks.
“Yeah. I hope it gets here soon, I only get a forty-minute lunch break and I’ve got like twenty minutes left,” I say while looking at my watch.
“Twenty minutes is enough time to get to know each other, don’t you think?” He smiles at me and I giggle. I can’t tell the last time I giggled. I feel my cheeks turning red.
“Yeah, I think it’s the perfect amount of time.” I clear my throat, self-conscious of my responses. “So, what do you do?” I ask, pointing at his suit just in time for the waiter to come with my food. I can’t help but do a happy dance as it gets closer to me.
He laughs a little. My stomach reacts without shyness to the smell of the french fries on my tray and the sandwich before me. Not the healthiest meal for a nurse but we don’t usually make the healthiest food choices anyway.
I’m sure he heard the angry growls in my belly. Not the cutest meal to eat in front of the hottest man I’ve ever seen but well, I didn’t know I was going to be meeting such a looker today.
“I’m an entrepreneur,” he responds. “I haven’t seen you around here much, are you new?”
“I guess I am.” I bite into my sandwich as he looks at me. I mean I’ve been here over a year but I was in hiding for most of it. I’m not going to tell him that.
“I’ve been here a few months,” I say in response.
He nods and stares at me as I take another bite of my sandwich.
With the way he’s staring, I feel compelled to ask, “Um, did you want a bite?” I offer him the untouched half.
He laughs and waves me off, lowering his head. “I’m sorry, I just couldn’t stop myself from looking. You’re so beautiful.”
I grin over another bite of sandwich. I’m so hungry that I’m just eating without care at this point. I’ve got to get back soon and I don’t want to be lightheaded. As I swallow and take a sip of my pink lemonade to help speed up the process of mastication, I say, “Thank you, that’s so sweet. You’re pretty handsome, yourself.” Hey, why not flirt back? The initial shyness from not flirting with anyone in so long wears off and I regain the hang of it.
He keeps his eyes locked into mine as he smiles again. I don’t look away. The waiter breaks our gaze, bringing his food over to him.
“Ah,” he says in a brief celebration of his lunch. I take the opportunity to finish up my food. We haven’t spoken in a few minutes so as I take the last sip of my drink, I take out my money to leave it on the table and start getting up out of my seat.
