Gold Rush

Medical: Part 2

Jack winced as Sophie placed the freezing cold ultrasound jelly in the centre of his chest.

'Not a chance ya could have warmed it up, no?' He laughed

'No preferential treatment for number 10.' Sophie smiled 'Now, slightly lean to your left, right arm relaxed at your side and left hand in a fist resting on the table next to you'. He obliged.

Taking a deep breath she placed the ultrasound probe on his chest, spreading the jelly. She noticed his nipples harden and his chest hair spring up. Her arm naturally rested on his ribs, elbow on his hip as she rotated her hand to capture the imagery of his heart. Beating away. Thumping.

Jack was silent as Sophie took all the screenshots she needed. His head relaxed to the left and he observed and watched her every move reflected in the mirror next to him.
He wondered if she knew how beautiful she was?

'Everything looks good Jack, I'll send it over to the cardiologist to get it signed off but I'm happy.'
She grabbed some paper towels and started to wipe the jelly from his chest. When Sophie looked down, Jack was staring at her, his expression unreadable.

'So you gonna tell me what's going on? I take ya back to mine, give ya a good time and we had a chilled day after.. everything was sound when you left, no?'

She sighed, her hand still rotating around his chest, even after the remains of the jelly had been wiped away.

'Jack, that night was...'

'Incredible' he flashed her his wonderful, genuine smile.

'...incredible yes, but also a much welcomed distraction that I needed. Not that I should have to tell you, but I'm going through some stuff with an ex... and to put it bluntly, I don't need you playing games with me. I've seen the articles, and the type of girls you go for. It's not me.'

Jaw to the floor. He looked a little hurt.

'Sophie, Ya can't judge me from that shit online, you know it's click bait!' He put his warm, solid hand over hers which was still on his chest, she didn't move away. 'Listen, yeh I've enjoyed myself in the past, I'm a young lad in an industry where girls throw themselves at ya. I was on and off with a childhood girlfriend for a while but it got messy, we both made mistakes so we ended it. Nothing dramatic. We just grew apart.'

She'd never heard him speak with such passion, he's usually so laid back he's horizontal. Nothing phases him.

'I'm sorry if I offended you, that was never my intention, it's more to do with me and my situation Jack' Sophie spoke softly.

'Ya not really giving me the 'it's not you it's me' line' he kept grip of her hand and sat up on the bed. 'I'm forever tarnished with the same brush, just gets too much sometimes, you get me?'

Talk about guilt trip.
He was rubbing his forehead in frustration with his free hand, moving down to pinch the bridge of his nose between his thumb and finger.

'Listen, I didn't want to say but the first day I met ya, I've not been able to stop thinking or talking about ya since. Ask Stonesy! He says I've been like a lost fucking pup! I had to tell him, but he reckons you're too good for me' Jack visibly cringed at himself.
'god it's embarrassin, this ain't me Soph!'

She studied his hand in hers. Large, well made, long wide fingers. Perfect condition, the lad had never done a days real graft in his life, his hands gave him away. Immaculate nails. She placed a finger on his bouncy raised vein and lightly traced it up to his inner elbow.

Goosebumps formed on his freckled arms, her doe eyes looked up at him. Those hazel eyes now black, his floppy curtains fell over his forehead and his lips slightly open. The atmosphere changed, Sophie sat on the side of the bed, still holding his hand. Those butterflies she felt that night had been awakened. Bouncing off her rib cage and flying manically until her insides physically tensed.

This was unbearable.
She felt nauseous and foolish that she thought she could be alone with him and be strong.

Jack positioned himself upright so he was level with her face. Sophie's hand dropped from his chest and rested on his hairy thigh.

Once again, why did she find herself unable to speak to him? His aura. Everything about him. It all floored her.

A large hand came into focus as Jack stroked along her jaw, stopping to cup her chin. Just like he did at the bar. Nose to nose. His hot breath millimetres away from her mouth. Sophie closed her eyes and breathed him in. The room was now filled with deafening white noise, the kind that sets your ears ringing and your toes curling in tension.

Sophie opened her eyes and was faced with the image of Ryan staring right back at her.
She knew it was Jack, her mind was cruelly playing tricks on her.

She crumbled.

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My mind turns your life into folklore,
I can't dare to dream about you anymore.