Don’t Mind If “I Do” by Everly Ashton
Thirty-Eight
Nick
I havea quick break to grab something to eat while I’m on shift, so I buy one of the shitty chicken sandwiches from the cafeteria and take it up to Ollie’s office on the off chance he might have ten minutes to shoot the shit with me.
Rowan is at her desk when I enter the reception area, and she scowls as soon as she sees me. “I heard you went and got yourself hitched. I suppose I don’t need to leave my husband anymore. Our love affair is over?”
I chuckle. “Sorry, doll, turns out only she can make an honest man out of me.”
She shakes her head and clucks her tongue as though she’s disappointed, and I laugh again.
“Ollie have a few minutes for his best friend?” I ask.
“You’re in luck, his next patient canceled.”
I frown because very often in Ollie’s case—his patients being children with heart issues—that means there was some kind of emergency.
Rowan must read the concern on my face because she says, “Everything’s fine. He had a big test at school and it was just a checkup, so he rescheduled.”
“Gotcha.”
“Go on in.” She gestures toward the closed door.
I knock twice and open the door. “Want to watch me eat my lunch?”
Ollie looks up from the medical journal he’s reading. “Sure thing. I’ve been meaning to call and check in, but I’ve been knee-deep in wedding planning with Jemma.”
“Ah, see, that’s why you should do what I did and get married on the fly with no guests.”
“No one should do what you did.” He stands from his desk and I close the door before heading over to the couch and taking a seat. I chuckle as I unwrap my sandwich and Ollie sits across from me. “How are things going with Mazzy?”
“Surprisingly good.” I bite into my sandwich with gusto. What can I say? Having someone else give you an orgasm beats the four knuckle shuffle any day.
“Really? I’ll be honest—I’m surprised.”
“Why?” I pick up my napkin to wipe my face.
He shrugs. “You held on to your anger and animosity this long. I figured you’d be stubborn and keep it up.”
I shake my head. “Life’s too short. I don’t want to spend the next five months miserable.” I take another bite.
He nods but seems contemplative. “And what happens after the five months are up?”
I shrug and finish chewing. “I don’t know. I’m trying to take it one day at a time.”
“Are you guys…” He waves in some kind of gesture I don’t get. We’re adults. I’m thinking he can say the word.
“Fucking?”
His face goes pale. “Sure, fucking.”
“Not yet. We’re working our way there.” I waggle my eyebrows.
“You’re like a fourteen-year-old,” he says, shaking his head.
“Not true. If I were, then I’d be sporting a hard-on just talking about sex.” I wink and take another big bite of my sandwich.
“Do you think you can do all this—sleep with her, live with her, spend time with her—without falling for her again?”
I don’t want to tell him that I’m already falling. I haven’t even admitted that to myself. I’m too scared I’ll freak out and ruin what might be a good thing because I’m afraid she’s going to hurt me. “I guess we’ll see.”
“Nick—”
“I know what you’re gonna say and I appreciate it. I really do. But can you just focus on the positives and not the worst-case scenario here? I get that that doesn’t come naturally to you, but it’s what I really need from my friend right now.”
He shuts his mouth and nods. “Sure thing. Sorry.”
“Great. Listen, Marlowe sent me a copy of the article that’s going to appear in the magazine next month, so I sent it onto Schwartz.”
“Oh yeah, what’d he say?”
“He was pretty pleased with how I’ve managed to turn around my image. He said the board is too.”
“That’s good news, right?”
“Great news. Thanks again for setting it up.” I shove the last chunk of my sandwich into my mouth.
“Don’t mention it.”
I crumple the wrapper and the napkins into a ball and shoot it like a basketball toward the garbage beside his desk. It hits the rim and falls inside. “Three points.” I stand from the couch. “I gotta get back to the ER.”
“All right. Have a good one.”
“Will do.” I walk toward his office door and wave without looking at him. My hand is on the handle when he says my name. I turn around to face him. “Yeah?”
“I’m rooting for you two. I always thought you were good for each other.”
“Thanks, man.” I exit his office and say a quick goodbye to Rowan, then I head back to the ER.
I think Mazzy and I are good for each other too. I just hope it stays that way.