Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Thinking back to how we got together, I remembered how he was so charming and sweet and though I wasn’t particularly looking for a relationship at the time, he literally and figuratively swept me off my feet.
I absolutely hated these events, but I promised my supervisor that I’d show up in support of the hospital as it was hosting a charity event to raise money to renovate its children’s wing. I hadn’t been at the hospital for quite a year yet, so I felt it would have looked bad if I refused. Though I preferred to work in a smaller setting like private health care and nursing homes, this particular hospital paid better than any position I had had, and it provided exceptional medical benefits, one of which allowed me to add my brother on the family plan. That was the biggest pull to working here.
I wasn’t crazy about hospital politics otherwise, but I did enjoy my job and giving patient care. I pulled my phone out of my purse to glance at the time. I’d only been here for an hour, and I told myself that I’d stay at the ball for at least an hour, long enough to be seen by the people I worked with.
I sat at my table that had been reserved for some of the nurses who were in attendance. I was stuck on purse duty because I wasn’t really up to dancing, and I always felt super awkward at fancy dress up parties like this event. Two of my coworkers returned to the table, Ian and Gillian, their foreheads dotted with sweat.
“Aren’t you bored just sitting here?” Gillian asks grabbing a glass of water.
I grinned. “Not at all. I’m enjoying myself just watching other people. Besides, I’m watching purses.”
Ian held out his hand to me. “Well, enough being a wallflower, let’s go dance. Gillian can watch the purses.”
“Gee, thanks for volunteering me,” the other woman rolled her eyes.
“Don’t be like that Gil. You’ve been dancing all night. Give our friend here a turn.” Ian winked and smiled at Gillian who seemed susceptible to his charm.
She let out an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. But I don’t want to be stuck here all night.”
“Just one dance,” Ian assured her before taking my hand.
When we were on the dance floor, he twirled me around until I burst into a peal of giggles. “You know, I never actually said I would dance with you. Gillian is going to be upset.”
He grinned. “She’ll get over it. Besides, I’ve been looking for an excuse to get you on the dance floor all night. And now that I have you, I going to relish every moment.”
I laughed again, but this time it more out of nerves than anything else. I didn’t know if he was just teasing me or being serious. Ian was of course a handsome devil with his smooth bronze complexion, pale gray eyes, a mop of curly brown hair. All the other nurses referred to him as nurse sexy, and often our female patients would request him once they caught a glimpse of that mischievous grin. In different circumstances I could probably see myself falling for him as well because he wasn’t just easy on the eyes, he had an easy-going personality. But it was always difficult for me to get close to other people because I felt as if every time I did, I ended up losing people.
Maybe it was my fault for shutting people off, but it was a block I couldn’t get past because I always seemed to lose the people I cared about. My biological mother, my grandmother and my adoptive parents. Some of my problems stemmed from being a black child adopted by white parents. My parent had been generous and loving but even though couldn’t shield me from the ignorance of the world. So for a chunk of my life I felt like I had to keep people at arm’s length to prevent myself from getting hurt. Only recently had I started going to therapy to address some of my issues, and I was in the early stages. I had a long way to go, but I did want to be more open healthy relationships with other people.
Maybe just for tonight at least I could let my guard down and have a good time instead of watching other people enjoying themselves.
Ian was a bit of a goofball, and he had my sides aching from laughter. We must have danced through three songs because I looked toward our table to see a fuming Gillian. The last thing I wanted was personal drama to affect my work environment. “I think we should probably head back. Gillian doesn’t look too happy.
Ian’s eyebrows shot up. “Or is it that you’re looking for an excuse to get away from me.”