Road to Redemption (12 page)

“I was starting to get worried for a minute,” Cori heard, stretching her arms over her head several hours later.

She blinked a few times, and became fully awake and aware of her surroundings. Still on the couch wrapped in her blankets with Jack sitting in the chair across from her watching TV with the volume turned down low.

“What time is it?” she asked groggily, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

“Almost ten.  You’ve been out for about four hours.” He got up and came to feel her forehead. “You don’t feel as warm now. Maybe your fever finally broke.  Aches? Pains?” he asked.

She stretched once more. “Nope, at least not like earlier.” She sat up too fast and watched the room spin in front of her. “Whoa. That was a fun ride.”

“Dizzy?”

“Yeah. I need something in my stomach I think. It’s been twenty-four hours since I’ve kept anything down,” she said in a whiny voice.

He frowned in concern. “I went through your cabinets while you were sleeping.  They are almost as pathetically bare as mine.”

He walked out of the room and returned a few moments later with a blue sports drink. “This was the best I could find.  Milk and grape soda don’t seem like good options.” As an afterthought he stated, “You are the only person I know who actually drinks grape soda. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised though.”

“It’s good. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it,” she said, then took a tentative sip of the sports drink.

“Keep drinking,” he urged, placing his hand over hers and lifting the bottle to her lips. “You need fluids. The electrolytes and sugars will help right now, too.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I want to make sure it stays down before I drink anymore.” The growl of her stomach interrupted the momentary silence. “Well, I guess that might be a good sign,” she said joking.

“I didn’t see anything appropriate for you to eat. If I didn’t know better I would have thought a house full of kids lived here. I’ve never seen so many boxes of sugary cereal in one cabinet before. That wasn’t even what shocked me though. It was the Twinkies.  Seriously, they still make them? I thought they were discontinued.”

“They were, and it was a day of mourning for me.” She pushed her bottom lip out slightly. “But they’re making them again. Besides, Twinkies last forever and I bought the stores out when I heard they were going to stop making them,” she told him proudly.

“That’s gross.”

“Hey, I can’t cook.” Satisfied that the blue liquid was going to stay down, she took a big gulp, then lowered the half-empty bottle. “And I’ve seen how you eat, you aren’t one to judge. You eat from the cafeteria as much as I do.”

“True. But it’s food. You know. A burger, a salad, or a piece of chicken now and again.  Sometimes I go crazy and get a sandwich.”

Pleased, she smirked at him, feeling a little bit more like her normal self. “You have a sense of humor.”

He ignored her and went back to the small kitchen and returned with a box of crackers.  “Hopefully these aren’t stale,” he said, placing the box on the table in front of her. “Even if they are, it’s probably your best bet for now.”

“I want a burger. Will you go get me a burger?” she asked sweetly.

“You’re joking, right? You said you haven’t kept anything down in twenty-four hours and you want to eat a greasy burger?” he asked as if she had grown two heads.

“I have a rock solid stomach.” When he looked at her questioningly she added, “Well, I normally do. I bounce back fast. If I’m hungry and craving it, I can eat it.  Besides, you started it. You’re the one who brought up burgers.”  He wasn’t going to win this argument. You couldn’t argue with someone who was so illogical, she knew that and used it to her favor.

He frowned at her and shook his head. In response he leaned over, opened up the box of crackers and pulled one out to offer her. “Here, have a cracker.”

“What am I a parrot? No.” She pouted and crossed her arms in front of her.

She saw him try to hold back his laugh. She knew she looked like hell. She was still wrapped up in her blanket, half of her hair had fallen out of her ponytail during her nap, and what was left in the rubber band was most likely matted down. And she sat there, arms crossed, agitated over wanting a hamburger.  She didn’t care. She wanted a burger and she deserved it after being so sick.

“Fine, I’ll go get one myself.  That is what a drive-through is for,” she said stubbornly.

She stood up slowly to test her balance. Satisfied she was fine, she unwrapped herself from the blankets and went to grab her purse and jacket.

“Stop. I’m not letting you go outside at night in the middle of the winter, when you’ve been sick, no less.”

“I’m hungry though. And like you so kindly pointed out, I don’t have much to eat here.”  She stared him down, giving every indication that she was indeed going to leave the house for a burger. But she really wasn’t. She wasn’t
that
stupid.

“Sit down. If you are so set on having one, I’ll go get it. But a small one.” He grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair where he tossed it hours earlier. “And if you vomit, you’re cleaning it up yourself,” he said, shutting the door behind him.

“But you’re a doctor. You’re supposed to take care of me,” she mocked at the closed door. Then smiled for the first time in twenty-four hours. That would teach him to come and wake her up when she was sick. He should have just left her alone.

***

He returned shortly carrying a white paper bag. She was still sitting on the couch where he had left her.  Standing in front of her, he opened the bag, pulled out her small burger and handed it to her, then took the bag and went to sit in the chair across from her, pulling out his own double bacon burger and fries.

She looked at his burger longingly, then stared at him when he popped a few fries in his mouth, reminding him of how Roxy watched him eat. “Don’t even think about it,” he warned her. He knew she maneuvered him into getting her food. But he was hungry and there really wasn’t anything to eat in her house.

“What?” she asked innocently.

“You aren’t having any of mine.”

“But yours looks better.  And potatoes are starch and that’s good for you when you’ve been sick,” she said, trying to tease him into giving up his food.

“Not fried. Don’t test me. I can’t believe I even went out and bought that for you. I need my head examined,” he muttered. Let her think she played him, he thought.

“I know why you did it,” she said sweetly.

He ignored her and continued to eat.

But she continued to smile at him, then took a big bite out of her tiny hamburger. “Want to know why?” she asked around a mouthful.

“No.”

“I’m going to tell you anyway,” she said cheerfully.

He polished off his fries in silence while she frowned at the disappearance of them. “You’re mean.”

He smirked. “That’s why I did it? Because I’m mean?”

“No,” she clarified. “You’re mean because you didn’t share your fries.  You went and bought me a burger because you care.”

He stopped and stared at her, deer caught in the headlights, then finally said, “Of course I care. I’m a doctor.”

“Not all doctors care. You know that.”

He wasn’t sure he liked where this was going.  He did care, not because he was a doctor, of course he cared for his patients. But he cared because it was her, who she was. Somehow she’d managed to wiggle through his defenses without him even knowing.  He had to admit he didn’t fight very hard. In the beginning he did, but he knew when he was losing ground. He finally caved at a weak moment in the form of a fitted black dress and sexy dance moves.

He still didn’t think he could give her what she wanted. He wasn’t good at relationships, wasn’t sure he even wanted to try. But he couldn’t seem to stop the freight train he was riding at the moment, either.

She broke through his thoughts. “No need to look so horrified over the revelation.”

The fact that she could read his mind scared him even more.

She climbed off the couch and went to sit in his lap. He froze. “Don’t worry,” she said with a grin. “You’ve been exposed to my germs already.” He relaxed slightly when she snuggled into his chest. “I care too, you know,” she said in a whisper.

He held her silently until she fell back to sleep, curled against his chest.

An hour later, Jack carried her to bed, tucked her in, placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, then let himself out the front door. Returning home, he found Roxy on his bed. After undressing, he climbed under the sheets and allowed her to move to the end of the bed for the remainder of the night, too tired to push her off. The second female to get her way with him tonight.

“It was so embarrassing,” Cori stated, plopping down in the chair across from Brooke’s desk before her Monday morning shift.  “It’s a good thing I didn’t know what I looked like when he showed up, or I would have run screaming into the other room. Well, maybe not,” she mused. “I didn’t even have the energy for that.”

Brooke chuckled and proceeded to boot up her computer to get ready for the start of her day. Cori knew Brooke would be expecting her this morning. “I’m glad you are feeling better though.”

“Me, too. Because it sucked, let me tell you. I’m glad it was one of those twenty-four hour things.”

She was thrilled when she woke up the next morning feeling almost normal.  But making her way into the bathroom to start her shower steam ritual, she passed by the mirror and actually screamed. 

What hair was left in her ponytail was standing on end like Pebbles from
The Flintstones
. The hair that had fallen out was clinging to her face and neck, looking greasy from the fever she had sweated out the night before.

She started to have flashbacks of the night. Flashbacks of Jack in her apartment caring for her, arguing with him over food, and curling into his lap.  For a few moments she realized it was all too ridiculous to have occurred and thought she had dreamed it all.  But when she walked into her living room and saw the hamburger wrapper on the coffee table she groaned in embarrassment.

“Well, be thankful it was only twenty-fours then,” Brooke agreed, ever the peacemaker.

“I think I said some things I shouldn’t have.” Cori groaned, dropping her face into her hands. “I’m so embarrassed,” she repeated.

“Like what? Somehow I can’t imagine you being embarrassed by anything you say,” Brooke said with a laugh.

“Seriously, Brooke, it’s not funny,” she mumbled through the fingers still covering her face. Cori wasn’t amused that Brooke found this whole thing funny. Cori was always the one teasing people and making jokes. It was rare for her to be so serious, let alone embarrassed over her actions. And she didn’t care what Brooke thought. It wasn’t fun to have the shoe on the other foot right now. This embarrassing feeling was well...embarrassing.

“Sorry. What was so embarrassing this time?” Brooke asked with a straight face.

“I’m sort of fuzzy on the whole night.  I don’t even know how I ended up in bed. I think I might have curled up on his lap, looking my best and all. I can only imagine how bad I smelled after spending the day vomiting.” She looked at Brooke horrified. “I think I accused him of caring about me, too,” she mumbled quietly.

“What? I didn’t hear what you said?” Brooke leaned closer.

“I said,” she repeated more firmly. “I think I accused him of caring about me. And then told him I cared about him, too.  I’m pretty sure he was horrified. Here I am curled up on his lap, sweaty and stinky, telling him he cares for me. Argh.” She groaned louder and laid her head on the back of the chair to stare at the ceiling. “I can’t even blame it all on being over-medicated. Maybe it was hunger. I’ll blame it all on hunger.”

Cori caught Brooke trying not to laugh.  “It’s not funny,” she said with a scowl in Brooke’s direction.

“I have sympathy for you. I really do, but I’m enjoying this moment.” Brooke ignored Cori’s glare. “Sorry, Cori. But you never rethink your actions. This has to be a totally new experience for you. You are down here with the rest of us now,” she said with a grin.

“I’m so confused. And you know me. I’m
never
confused about things. ‘Just go with the flow’ has always been my motto.”

“I thought ‘smile, be happy’ was your motto,” Brooke teased again, trying to lighten the mood.

Cori glared at her and then gave up since she wasn’t good at getting mad. Never one for sitting still, she pulled herself up higher in the chair and crossed her legs Indian style. 

“How is everything else going with the two of you?” Brooke asked.

“That’s another problem. I don’t even know.  I mean we’ve spent three nights together and it’s not like we spent much time talking.  If we weren’t getting it on, we were sleeping or he was taking care of me.” She leaned forward and placed her elbows on her knees and put her chin in her palms. “It was some of the most amazing sex ever. He is so big and strong,” she remembered dreamily.

Brooke cut her off. “Stop.  I don’t want to know.”

“You’re no fun.” Cori laughed and wiggled her eyebrows. Trying to keep up with her moods was almost impossible. But Brooke was trying, Cori knew.

“You know what you need? A date.”

“A date?” Cori snorted. “Like he’s going to ask me out on a date. Please,” she said dragging the word out.

“So, you ask him,” Brooke said.

“With anyone else I would.” Cori uncrossed her legs and let them swing in front of her brushing the floor back and forth. “I’m trying not to push here. I want him to make some moves.  I don’t want him to feel like I’m calling all the shots. Besides, he’s the man. He should ask me,” she said stubbornly.

“Good luck with that.” Brooke looked at the clock on the wall. “And you need to go punch in.”

***

“I think we should go on a date,” Cori announced, sliding into the chair opposite Jack in the cafeteria.  She had thought about what Brooke said for four days now and realized if she didn’t bring it up, it wasn’t going to happen. 

She and Jack had been texting short little messages back and forth for days. She had been tiptoeing around the subject with him and he wasn’t making any moves. Just keeping in touch, but keeping his distance at the same time.  It was time to push, and when she saw him sitting alone eating his lunch just now she decided there was no time like the present.

“A date?” He looked up from the burger he was holding by his mouth when she interrupted his first bite.  He set it down and looked at her sitting across from him.  She knew he was looking at her outfit. He always tried to hide it, but she always caught him. She was wearing a bright purple top and had a purple and black polka dot bow wrapped around her ponytail.

“Yeah. You know. That thing people do prior to getting naked together.” She grinned, hoping to get a reaction out of him. Thankfully, the cafeteria was packed and loud, so unless someone was actually sitting with them, they wouldn’t hear their conversation. Besides, she’d looked around before she sat down and noticed that there wasn’t any hospital staff nearby. Just visitors.

“I’ve already seen you naked,” he said with a grin. “Twice now.”

“So you have.” She grabbed one of the fries on off his plate and popped it in her mouth, swallowing it after two quick bites. “I figured you might want to again.” She grinned at him. He would be crazy not to. She knew she was looking forward to seeing him naked again.

“What kind of date?” he asked, hedging.

“Surprise me,” she said. His face went white and she tried not to giggle.  Geez, how hard was one simple date?  He looked so cute sitting there trying to think of a response. Unfortunately her cell phone went off when he started to speak. Glancing at it quickly, she cursed under her breath. “There goes my lunch.” Standing up, she started to walk away, then stopped. She turned back, picked up his burger, took a huge bite and pilfered a few more fries. “Thanks.”

***

He was clueless and couldn’t remember the last time he had been on an actual date.  And even then, he was married at the time.  Tracy and he didn’t really go on dates in high school. Not unless he counted school dances or group movie outings. 

It was more of the same in college. Between med school and Tracy’s job after she graduated, they had little time for each other. When they did, it was often hurried dates that she pressured him into.

She was famous for wanting to be surprised and he never seemed to get it right. He tried. He really did. But could never give her what she wanted.

She would mention she liked the movies. So months later he would find time to take her and she would complain that she really wanted a quiet romantic dinner.  He would make reservations at nice restaurant the next time he could carve time off and she would say she was in the mood for burgers at the bar instead. 

He couldn’t figure out why women couldn’t say what they wanted. Why did he have to guess?

He thought about going to the movies with Cori, but the idea of going to the mall on a Saturday night with a bunch of teenagers held no appeal.  And she would probably want to see some chick flick. The idea of that alone made him want to pull his own teeth out without Novocain.

In the end he made reservations at a new restaurant. 

He had overheard a bunch of the nurses in the break room talking about a new French restaurant that had opened up, sighing at how elegant and romantic it was. As much as it pained him to put another tie on, he figured he could at least take her to a nice restaurant. After all, he had seen her naked. Twice now, as she had so helpfully pointed out, and he hadn’t done anything special for her.  Unless he counted the small burger from the fast food restaurant, and he was sure she didn’t.

Once he finally decided on what and where they were going, he texted her details of the date and time only. Trying to surprise her like she asked.

She texted back.
How should I dress
?

He responded with.
Nice
.

In typical Cori fashion she teased.
Nice, pretty or nice, sexy
?

Thoughts of seeing her naked again danced in his head and he typed back.
Pretty sexy
.