20 Questions

Chapter 12

I can't figure out where to go from here. This vacation has not started off quite the way I thought it would. I look around the room at the people gazing my direction, smiling at me with admiration and gratitude. I counter back with a shy nod, trying to avoid coming across strange or rude. This may be a story they call their loved ones tonight and tell them about, but to me, it's just another day in the office. It takes a special kind of person to be a nurse, but I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. There is no greater honor as a professional than to be there during someone's first moments of life and their last moments as well. I was never confident growing up, but being a nurse changed that for me.

"Jen. Jen. Earth to Jen. Come back to me, Jen," Hunter chuckles.

"I'm sorry. I zoned out. What were you saying?"

"I was just saying that the guys and I are going to sit at the bar and watch the game if you want to join us. I think they all want to marry you now that they saw what just happened. They all knew that you could kick their ass, but now they know you can save it too," he jokes.

"Um yeah, let me see if the bartender can warm up my food. I'll be over there in just a minute."

He gives me a smile and a nod as I turn around to retrieve my food from the spot where I was sitting and make my way up to the bar. The young bartender at the counter greets me with a handshake and a huge smile. I wish everybody would stop being weird around me. It's starting to make me uncomfortable.

"Hi, I was going to see if there was any way you could just pop this in the microwave for me. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"Ma'am, it is no inconvenience at all. Please just let me have the kitchen make you a fresh one. I mean, it's the least we can do for our lodge hero."

"Thank you, but I am no hero. I appreciate your kind words. You really don't have to make a new one, it's not necessary. I know you are busy- ".

My rebuttal is cut short by him insisting to make me a new burger. I really don't have the energy to argue with him and I do appreciate his kindness. I agree and tell him that I will be at the end of the bar with the unusually loud group of guys screaming at the football game. I walk over to where the guys are sitting and plop down on a barstool next to Hunter. He runs his hand up and down my back and I take this moment to savor in his strong hands touching my body.

I open my mouth to say hello to the guys when the brown-haired guy cuts me off. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the hot nurse and her mad life-saving skills. You know, I was almost convinced that you were going to take me up on my marriage proposal, but it seems our little Hunter here already marked his territory."

I can feel my cheeks turn a warm shade of pink as I look over to see Hunter's have done the same. This guy deserves a sucker punch to the nut sack and I would happily volunteer as tribute. It's possible his toddler-sized shirt is cutting the oxygen supply off to his brain.

Hunter quickly replies "Knock it off, Bryson. She is nobody's territory and I should knock the shit out of you for talking that way in front of her."

Yeah, bitch, what he said.

"Chill, bruh. I was just messing around. Besides, I may need mouth to mouth later and it looks like she may be the most qualified candidate," Bryson smirks, his eyes raking up and down my body.

Hunter's mouth pulls into a hard line, his caress on my back stopping abruptly and just as I open my mouth to express my disgust about him and his mouth, the food arrives. I eat my meal while the guys argue over the game and their fantasy football league. This isn't so bad. I know I came alone on this vacation in search of solitude and relaxation, but having the guys around is sort of fun, sans Bryson of course. I finish every bit of my meal and the red-haired boy comments on how it is nice to meet a girl with a hearty appetite instead of all the girls that he dates who order salads and water. That was never me. I love food way too much. Put all the tacos and burgers in my mouth. I find out that the red-haired boy is named Patrick. In addition, there is a Justin and a Kevin.