The Impact of Intimacy

Chapter Twenty-One - Fine Dining

Between Ms. Wilson's failure to tolerate clear liquids, and a shift exchange with a travel nurse who seemed less than interested, I was tired. Down to my very marrow.

It was well past eight o'clock when I dragged my sorry ass through the front door, and trudged toward my bathroom dropping my items all over the living room. A scalding shower, a tub of Chunky Monkey, and the new season of Bridgerton were calling my name.

As the water ran down my sore shoulders and back, my mind drifted to the white envelope shoved in my bedroom nightstand. The one offering me placement into Texas Tech's Nurse Practitioner program. Initially, it was my dream to attend their NP school, especially after I saw the astronomical cost and commitment of medical school.

I had red and black hearts in my eyes, tirelessly attending every class, cramming for every test, even after Bryce Hall broke up with me and I tore my ACL six months into college - effectively ending my basketball career. I soaped the thin white line directly over my right kneecap with my rose and white tea body wash at the memory.

It had hurt like a bitch when I'd torn it against Paris Junior College. It's been the best game of my career - twenty-three points, on my way to a double double, until I came down with the rebound, twisted, and it was all over.

My teammates said I could 'totally rehab after my surgery and come back next season', but six months later Gran was dead, and it felt like it didn't really matter anymore. I came home, moved back in with Pops, finished my LVN, and later my RN with a slew of night classes and online education.

The things I once considered dreams now seemed so trivial. Still, my back hurt from years of bedside nursing, and my heart raced at the acceptance letter.

That is, until I shoved the paper in my night stand three minutes later, and vowed I wouldn't think about it again. It was stupid I'd applied. I didn't have the money for the tuition unless I sold Gran and Pops house. Which I would never do. So why couldn't my stupid mind stop thinking about it, and the decision deadline next week?! I wasn't going. It didn't matter.

I shoved the lever for the hot water into the off position, and studied my reflection as I toweled off. My brown eyes and curly brown hair were the same as in high school, but my bust and hips had shaped out nicely, giving me a bit of a pinup look. A look men never seemed to mind, not that I cared. I loved my body, and that was all that mattered. The male gaze could go and fuck itself.

I wrapped the towel under my arms and made a small sloppy knot in the front that would carry me to my underwear drawer. After ditching the towel and shoving on a pair of white cotton panties and fraying old grey sweatpants, I grabbed for Bryce Hall's maroon, two sizes too big, West Texas Christian sweatshirt I kept all these years later. The soft cotton was easily the best part of our tumultuous relationship, and felt nice against my bare breasts.

"Chunky Monkey!" I clapped my hands together, said breasts bouncing a little as I galloped back through the hallway to the living room. I turned on the TV, knowing the sound would take a few minutes to warm up, before backtracking to the kitchen and my prize.

I could practically taste the chocolate goodness dripping down my throat and feel my softest blanket wrapped around me as the Duke wrapped himself around Daphne. It was my idea of heaven.

I shrieked as I encountered a demon standing in my kitchen instead, eating my Chunky Monkey, not even bothering to close the freezer door. The cold air puckered my nipples, but I was too on fire to give them any mind.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I slapped my hand against the freezer, and ripped my beloved carton from his grip. Half of it was gone! Hudson Kincaid had eaten half a tub of ice cream in the short time it took me to shower. And yet he still looked like that. All strong tattooed arms and chiseled abs beneath his black button down. Wait, why was he in my kitchen all dressed up like he had somewhere to go?!