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TYLER

I STOOD INthe shower, letting the hot water pound on me as I washed away the smell of chlorine after a long swim. Every stroke through the water I tried to drown my feelings for Jen. Swimming was my exercise of choice as long as the weather allowed it. I supplemented it with weights and running at the gym. Today, however, I wished I had taken up something more like boxing; I could really stand to hit something.

I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. I had one hour before I needed to leave to pick up Kim for our date. I wasn’t really in the mood to go out, but sitting around my house wasn’t going to remove the loneliness I felt. Kim was pretty and sweet, but she wasn’t the sassy and spicy peach of a woman who flooded my thoughts. Jen had made her choice, however, and I had to respect it. She’d warned me she wasn’t available, as confusing as that was to me. There was no other guy in her life, that much was clear. I might not like it if there was, but at least I could grasp that reasoning. What wasn’t clear is whatwasholding her back.

The doorbell rang as I buttoned my shirt. I almost chose to ignore it, but it rang twice more while I pulled on a pair of jeans. It was probably little Carly from next door; she’d shown up yesterday, all cute in her Brownie uniform wanting to sell me cookies. I was already pushing my time to get to work, so I asked her to come back today. I had to admire the tenacity of that kid.

I was still rolling up my sleeves as I swung open the door. “Hi, Car—” The words froze on my lips. Instead of looking down on a cute little blonde in pigtails, I was staring at a set of long, tan legs that were bare under the hem of a wispy floral material several inches above the knees. Her feet shifted their weight from one to the other. There stood the very woman in my thoughts. “Jen,” I stated quietly. I shoved my hands in my pockets and leaned against the door frame. “I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

“I . . . I’m sorry just to stop by. Obviously, you were expecting someone else. I just wanted to give you these.” She held out a white box about the size of a child’s lunchbox.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“The beginnings of an apology and an explanation, I hope,” she answered.

I stepped aside and gestured for her to enter the house. I walked to the kitchen and knew by the sound of her flip-flops that she followed me. I placed her peace offering on the counter and turned to face her. I leaned back against the counter, crossed my arms, and waited for her to speak. I knew I was behaving like an ass by not making this easy on her, but I defended my actions by reminding myself how many times she’d run out on me.

“Look, Tyler,” she finally said, dropping her purse and keys on the kitchen table. “I know I don’t deserve your time to listen to me. I know I’ve run away and offered confusing explanations. I’ve been a royal bitch to you, more times than I can count, starting when we met the night at Back Draft. I don’t have a good excuse, and I admit I was biased by the rumor mill at the hospital.” She paused before continuing in a quieter, more tremulous voice. “You’ve tried to show me a different side of you, and I treated you like crap because I was afraid it was all a front just to get me to sleep with you. The truth is I’m the one putting on an act.”

I uncrossed my arms. I wanted so badly to take her in my arms as I saw her chin quiver, but I didn’t. She was finally talking, and I didn’t want to distract her. “I don’t understand.”

She played with the back of a kitchen chair as she spoke. “A couple years ago, I made some really stupid decisions, and now I have to live with the consequences. I promised myself I’d never put myself in that position again.”

“What do you mean?” Did this have something to do with her reaction to the abused woman I had treated a couple days ago? Her half confession made me wonder just what had happened in Jen’s past.

My phone chose that moment to ring. I glanced at the screen. Shit, in the few minutes that Jen had been here, I’d forgotten that I had a date tonight. I hesitated, but Jen said quietly, “You should answer that.”

I didn’t want to, knowing Jen was finally starting to open up to me, but it wasn’t a call I could avoid, either. “Hello,” I answered. A high-pitched voice squealed back at me. From the grimace on Jen’s face, she’d heard it, too. “No, I haven’t forgotten. I’ll see you soon.” I ended the call. Jen scooped up her purse and keys. “Jen, wait. You don’t have to go.”

“No, you obviously have plans. I knew that when you answered the door. I appreciate you giving me a chance to talk. I just wanted to say I’m so sorry for my actions. You’re a great guy, and I don’t want things to be awkward between us when we see each other. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior from now on. I’ll see you around, Doc. Enjoy your evening.” She hurried from the kitchen and was at the front door before I was able to collect my thoughts.

“Jen,” I called after her.

“Good night, Tyler.” She was out the door.

My fist hit the front door. Damn it! She’d run away from me again.

The rest of my evening wasn’t any better. Kimberly squealed over everything that excited her, starting with the ‘sexy car for a sexy guy’ comment when I picked her up. It had my nerves on edge right from the beginning. She talked incessantly throughout dinner about anything and everything until I wished I had brought a set of earplugs. She told me about her plans for the future, all while waving her fork enthusiastically and insisting I try what she’d ordered. Why she ordered a salad only to ‘share’ half of what was on my plate baffled me. I tried to remember why I had even invited her on a date. Oh yeah. Because the woman I wanted to be with had shut me out. I spent our entire evening wishing it was Jen who sat across from me. I missed her sarcastic humor and down to earth conversation. Instead, I was stuck across from ‘Kimberly the Squealer.’ I only hoped she finished quickly so I could end the date with some dignity. However, when she asked me what I wanted to name my future children, I was done. I went so far as to pretend the hospital called and needed me to check on a patient. She continued to talk non-stop the entire drive back to her house. I saw her safely to her door, but when she leaned in to kiss me, I turned my head so she only brushed my cheek. I backed away so fast I almost tripped over a flowerpot and scurried back to my car. By the time she inserted her key in her lock, I was putting the car in gear and pulling away.

My ears still ringing, it had been my original intention to drive home and take some late night laps in my pool to burn off some of the restless energy I’d been feeling ever since Jen had shown up at my door. Instead, I found myself standing in front of her apartment door armed with a large sausage and pepperoni pizza and a half gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream. I knew they were two of her vices and I hoped it would gain me entrance to her home.

My knock went unanswered. Disappointment filled my veins and flowed throughout me. I should have called first. She was probably visiting with Kayla. Then another thought hit me—she might be out with another guy. The thought punched me in the stomach. Just the thought of someone else touching her nearly had me curling my fist for some imaginary fight. I knocked one more time, just in case. Sighing, I started to turn away when I heard a noise from inside that sounded like glass breaking.

“Jen?” I tried to open the door, but it was locked. I banged the door with my fist. “Answer the door, Jen.” I pressed my ear to the door to listen for more sounds. “Jen?” I could have sworn I heard a groan. “Open the door, sweetheart. Please! It’s Tyler!” I banged some more.

I grabbed my phone to call her just as the door across the hall opened as far as the security chain would allow it. I saw an eye below a cap of grey curls. “Do you know Jennifer Mitchell who lives here?” I called to the eye. “Do you know if she’s home?” I called Jen’s cell while I spoke. Jen’s voicemail answered in my ear. I turned back to the eye. “Call the police. I’m sure I heard glass breaking inside.” I stood back and readied myself to kick in her door.

“Wait,” a voice said. “I have a key.” The door shut and reopened completely. An elderly woman appeared with a key. “I don’t see how anyone could have gotten in there but her, but I’m ready to call the police on you if you hurt her.” I looked at the hand she held up and saw a can of mace clutched there. Another time I would have appreciated her feistiness, but now I just wanted to get inside Jen’s apartment.

“Fine, just let me in. I’m Tyler Cranston, a doctor and Jen’s friend. I just want to make sure she’s okay.” I hurriedly pulled out my hospital i.d. as proof.

I must have passed her assessment because she handed me the key. Thankfully, the chain wasn’t on as I burst through the door. At first, I didn’t see anything. Nothing looked out of place. I took another step. Could I have been wrong? “Jen,” I hollered. A moan drew my attention toward the kitchen. I hurried over. There on the floor, surrounded by broken glass and lots of water lay Jen, curled up in a fetal position. “Oh, sweetheart, what happened?” I whispered while automatically checking for any trauma to her body.

“Migraine,” she whispered. “Hurts bad.”

“Aww, poor thing,” her neighbor whispered. “She gets them once in awhile. I think she keeps some medicine in her kitchen cabinet.”

I nodded my thanks. “Jen, baby, I’m going to pick you up, okay?” I slid my arms under her body, careful to make sure I didn’t cut either of us on the shards of glass. She whimpered as I cradled her close to my body, doing my best not to jostle her. Her neighbor led the way to Jen’s bedroom and turned down the sheets to her bed. She was so pale as I gently laid her on the sheets.