Loving the Nurse by Piper Sullivan
Gus
“You heard that didn’t you?” Dad wore a smug, knowing smile as we made our way to the elevator that would take us to the cafeteria, a move to give Antonio some much needed space as well as make sure Rosie got her cheeseburger. “I heard it.”
Yeah, I heard the words. Believe them though, was another matter altogether. “He said what he needed to say to hurt her, to get her to back off.” I wouldn’t let myself believe a man’s overheard words, especially those said in the heat of the moment, ever again. “His words had the desired effect, Dad. That’s all.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” He held the elevator doors when they slid open and nodded for me to step off. “He could have said any number of things, but he chose to say that.”
I nearly ran right into Cal as I stepped off the elevator. He flashed a friendly smile. “Just can’t stay away from this place, huh?”
“I can and I will,” I assured him. “I’m here because Rosie had an attack. Her mother showed up while Dad was watching her.”
Cal’s smile faded into a frown and he took a hurried step into the elevator before the doors closed. “Thanks.” He smiled and gave a salute before the doors shut.
“Come on, let your old man buy you a bowl of cafeteria chili.”
My face twisted into a scowl. “Only because you made it sound so appealing.” The truth was that the chili was the best thing on the cafeteria menu and I had it whenever I forgot my lunch or worked a double shift.
“You grab a seat and I’ll rustle up some grub.” Dad’s eyes sparkled with good humor as he walked away and I sighed at the image.
I never thought I’d see him smile so freely, so easily again. It was nice to have a parent again, to have my dad back, meddling and offering up misguided advice. He saw what he wanted to see in Antonio, probably because he saw himself in the man, or the version he could have been if not for the bottle.
“All right, a bowl of chili with cheddar and jalapenos for you. A chili cheeseburger for me. With extra bacon,” he winked and dropped down into the seat across from me. “We can get little Rosie’s burger on our way back. Now, let’s talk.”
“No such thing as a free lunch,” I muttered and shoved a spoonful of chili in my mouth.
Dad laughed and shook his head. “I missed out on a lot of years of giving you advice so I’ll do it now. Give Antonio a chance.”
I shook my head. “He hasn’t asked for a chance, Dad, which means he doesn’t want one. Even if he did, I don’t trust him or any man to stick around.” That hadn’t been my reality and I didn’t expect it to change anytime soon.
He nodded contemplatively as he chewed, and flashed a smile before he spoke. “Has he given you a reason to doubt his staying power?” Dad laughed to himself at the unintended joke. “Sorry.”
“No, he hasn’t,” I answered, ignoring the innuendo. “But I’m not his type. I am not the woman a man like Antonio falls for or ends up with. This thing is just, no it was just a fling. He said so himself.”
“Bullshit,” he shouted at me, punctuating the word by smashing his fist on the table. His shout drew a few stares and Dad offered up a sheepish apology before he turned back to me. “That is pure bullshit and you know it. Antonio would be lucky to have a woman like you love him. Hell, we all would. Lord knows I don’t deserve your love and I’m lucky as hell to have it.”
His words took some of the fire out of me and I sighed, laid my hand over his. “Dad this is our second chance and I don’t want you to keep apologizing for the past. You have already and I’ve accepted it. I’m happy to have you in my life again.”
“I missed you too, sweetheart. It’s nice, having the right to know what’s going on in your life. Even nicer to meddle a little.” His grin was wide and full of mischief.
“The meddling I could do without.”
He laughed. “Right? But it’s my right as a parent. Antonio told his ex-wife that he loved you, all you can do is trust that he means it.”
I knew that, logically, but my heart wasn’t the logical part of me. “I’ve tried that in the past and so far it hasn’t worked in my favor.”
“Well that’s how relationships work, Augusta. They all fail, until they don’t.”
“Is that why you haven’t gotten back on the horse, so to speak?”
He nodded. “In a way, yes. But we’re not talking about me right now. We’re talking about you and your trust issues.”
“Hey, I earned these trust issues the hard way, thank you very much.” A flash of hurt appeared in Dad’s eyes and I rushed to continue. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Dad, really. But Antonio has given me no indication he loves me or wants more with me. He’s a confirmed bachelor, emphasis on confirmed. I can’t let myself spin fantasies just because that’s what I want.”
“Of course not, but what you can do is stop being so damn scared and take the leap. Aren’t you women always going on about taking the lead, being in control of your love lives? This is your chance.”
My chance. Those two little words filled me with hope. Could Antonio be my chance to change the pattern of making bad romantic decisions?
No, he wasn’t my chance, this was my chance. All I had to do was choose to believe he cared about me, he wanted me for more than a night or two. Could I do that?
If you want him, you have to.
I did want him. Badly.
Then you know what you have to do.
“Thanks, Dad. I think I needed to hear that.”
His lips spread into a satisfied grin. “Wouldn’t mind having a few more like Rosie around to play with and spoil. Keeps me young.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Real subtle, Dad.”
He shrugged. “Subtlety has never been my strong suit. I’m more of a sledgehammer than a scalpel.”
That was true. “Sometimes a sledgehammer is the best tool for the job.”
“Exactly.”
Now I just had to figure out what the hell I planned to do about it.
