Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Aspen

Rubbing my eyes, I saunter toward the entrance. Hugo is waiting for me, barking to whoever has disrupted our sleep.

"Who the fuck is ringing the bell at six in the morning?" Scarlett complains. "If I wanted to be up before eight, I'd be at the ranch."

"How do you survive that life?" I frown, she's not a morning person.

"Coffee and no human contact for the first five hours." She sighs.

I swing the door open to find our next-door neighbor. Anderson is wearing a pair of basketball shorts and a tight muscle shirt. Hmm, I could get used to seeing this in the morning.

"Wanna go for a run?" His question shakes me out of my irrational thoughts.

Tilting my head to the side and pursing my lips, I stare at him. Running is a foreign concept to me. I'm up for Zumba, some kickboxing or cycling. If I'm desperate, I'll go with Brynn to her yoga classes. Walking Hugo is acceptable, but running doesn't appeal to me. Where am I going? Who's chasing me? I don't understand the point. Unless I'm running for my life, it's not happening

"Mm, nice tats," Scarlett utters with that raspy voice that makes men fall for her whenever she's trying to get laid. Turning my head slightly, I notice she's wearing close to nothing. Panties and a see-through tank top. I hit her with a ‘keep your panties on' glare. We have rules; we don't hit on each other's friends. No, we have a rule for her . She can't sleep with our guy friends. Mrs. "One Night Stand" leaves them broken and wanting more and we end up losing friends. "I wouldn't go for a run, but I can take you back to my room."

Surprisingly, Anderson's eyes widen with panic. He shoots me a "please, help me," stare. Hmm, he's not going to take her suggestion, offer a rain check, or flirt with her. Hugo, who sits by my side, gives me an idea.

"He means Hugo, Scarlett, not us."

"Oh well, the invitation is open. I'll be in my room." She winks at him and goes back to the guest room.

"I meant you," Anderson whispers, brushing a strand of loose hair behind my ear.

"No, thank you. I'm not a runner." I yawn again.

"Not a runner?" He gawks. "Running is the easiest way to exercise. Come on, join me."

"What's my motivation?"

"You need motivation?" I nod once, angling my face as I wait for him to come up with something. "There are many benefits to running."

I hold up a hand, stopping him right there. "There are different ways to achieve the same benefits. Do you know that sex is the same as running?"

A slow smile spreads across his face. "So you want us to have sex?"

"What?" I crinkle up my face, confused why would he… oops… "No, I didn't mean let's have sex. I just threw out some knowledge—a way to explain that running isn't the easiest way to exercise. I wouldn't offer to have sex ‘just because', I have a boyfriend."

"Yes, you two are the picture of the perfect couple. How's the sex?"

"How's the sex?" I squint, chewing the inside of my lip. How did we end up having this conversation?

"Interesting." He bobs his head, holding his arms behind his back, assessing me. "Poor sex."

"Why are we analyzing my sex life? How's your sex life?"

"My sex life?" He licks his full bottom lip before that stupid smirk appears. Staring at me, he scratches the stubble under his chin. "It's healthy, Doc. I could demonstrate if you're worried about my well-being."

"Friends don't have sex," I say, my tone comes out defensive; or maybe I'm trying to convince us both that sex is off the table. Yes, there will never be sex between us. He's my friend.

"So, we are friends."

"I like to think so." I bow my head slightly.

His eyes lock on me, the lightness disappearing. My heart's pulsing up my throat as my cheeks heat up. Alarms sound inside my head. "I don't want to interrupt you anymore," I blurt.

Pointing toward the kitchen, as if something is waiting for me I start walking backward. "I need three more hours of sleep before heading to the free clinic." Then, I pretend to look at the clock on the opposite wall. "My shift starts at noon. I won't be home until tomorrow morning, if I'm lucky."

He frowns. "Okay, that's a crazy schedule. Why would you work so much?"

Because keeping busy is the best way to survive, it distracts me from him. It's time to call a new therapist. This man is shifting my emotions, and that's not good for my system.

Looking at his watch, he nods four times. "You owe me dinner and a movie. When am I cashing that in?"

"Soon?" Never. "We can check my schedule tomorrow night."

"Actually, I leave town tomorrow night." He exhales, tossing his head up and looking at the sky.

"In three weeks when I'm back," he declares, then shakes his head. I relax. Maybe he'll be gone for good. How do I feel about it?

Don't feel!

"Mom and I are going to see another doctor." He gives me a funny look, narrowing his gaze. "Do you have time to accompany us?"

"Where?"

"San Jose, California," he explains. "One of the best oncologists in the world has a clinic there. There's an experimental treatment that might help Mom."

I open my mouth to say no but I remember when Dad was sick. Like with Anderson, it was only the two of us. My parent's marriage was falling apart. Austin, my brother, and I learned that they'd been having problems for years. My father and my brother had their differences. Meaning Austin stayed away from Dad. I was the one who looked for second opinions, alternative medicine, different procedures and traveled along with Dad to various states to find a doctor who might give us some hope. It was cathartic for me. If it hadn't been for Brooklyn and Scarlett supporting me during those days, I don't know if I could've survived. "Text me the name of the doctor and the dates."

"Thank you." He smiles, then turns to Hugo. "Do you think he'd like to go for a run?"

I take a step toward the coat rack and unhook his leash. "Hugo, would you like to go for a run?"

He nods, barking twice. I adjust his leash and hand him to Anderson. He leans closer, kissing my cheek. "Go back to bed." His warm, deep voice echoes through my chest, making my heart beat fast. "Rest, friend ."

I open my mouth to say something, but he leaves before I can think of anything smart to voice.

Me : I requested vacation time.

Anderson: I take that as a yes. You're going to San Jose with us.

Me: No, I decided to go to Hawaii.

Anderson: Can it wait? I'll take you once Mom gets better.

For a second, I imagine myself walking by the beach next to him. No wait, he's leaving for a couple of weeks. What's going to happen to his mom? She's doing well. She's keeping up with her daily activities. But what if she needs him?

Me: Who will stay with Sophia while you're working?

"Hello, stranger," Brynn places her tray next to mine, taking a seat.

"Heard that you had to drain a penis." She laughs. Ugh, I wish we had our own dedicated emergency pediatric unit so I wouldn't have to deal with shit like this. "Was it a hard procedure?"

I push my food tray away. "Thank you for reminding me. Nothing says ‘enjoy your dinner' better than ‘how thick was that dick'?"

She crinkles her nose.

"Yeah, you're not the first one cracking puns about it."

"A, you get the craziest cases." She continues laughing, handing me her apple pie and taking away my ice cream sandwich. "They are out of ice cream sandwiches, I know you don't mind."

"Can we discuss something else?" I shrug, grabbing my fork while moving the salad away from me and pulling the dessert closer. "The weather's a better topic than today's case."

"Scarlett texted me, she wants to fuck the next-door neighbor."

I arch a brow. "Mr. Wang?"

"No, Anderson."

"Of course, she does," I grunt, checking my phone. "We have rules. He's a friend. She isn't allowed to fuck our friends."

Anderson: She's doing well, but I'm hoping her beautiful neighbors will keep an eye on her?

Me : Yes, we can do that. Where are you going?

Anderson: I can't tell you.

Me: A tattoo emergency, I assume.

Anderson: Yes.

Ugh, can he say more than a few words?

Brynn glances at my phone and snickers, "yet, another one who wants to do the next-door neighbor."

I glare at her, moving my phone out of her sight.

"Do? What are we, in junior high?" I roll my eyes, stuffing my phone back inside my pocket. "No, I don't want to have sex with Anderson. He's a friend. I'd rather not lose him. Hence, Scarlett should keep her claws away."

Me: I wish you'd tell me what you do for a living.

Brynn bites on her sandwich, staring at me, chewing it slowly. After swallowing, she refutes, "I'm here for you. Whenever you're ready to talk."

"About?"

"It's okay to be attracted to a man who isn't Michael."

"I know. I'm attracted to Heath," I remind her as I pull my buzzing cellphone out of my pocket.

Anderson: You know what they say, curiosity killed the cat.

Me: That's so cliché!

"Anderson is hot. And from what Sophia says, he's a good man." Brynn continues eating her dinner while she speaks. "Yesterday night he humored his mother while we had a romcom marathon."

"You mean you want to do him?"

"Now look who's the one behaving like a junior high student." She chuckles, peeling her teeth. We laugh. Nothing like having your bestie around. "I won't continue this conversation. He's cool. I think he's an excellent addition to your life, and I hope you realize it when it's time."

"I have a boyfriend."

"Tell me about that penis again. Was the guy strikingly hot?"

I shiver shaking my head, springing up from my seat. "Leave me alone, Brooklyn. My break is over. What time are you off?"

"Nine, and you?"

"Eleven."

"I'll wait around for you." She smiles. "Anything to prevent you from staying until tomorrow morning."