Butchered Beasts 1: Darren & EJ

Chapter 15

EJ POV

There was a zoning meeting today at the house. And I was stuck in a meeting at work. I wanted to know what was happening at the house. That was more interesting than this meeting that should have been a fucking email. Honestly.

We all know about HIPPA and we also all know that we are to be polite to all of the visitors who come to our floors. I guess the receptionist from the sixth floor made an impression if the rumors and meetings were anything to go by. It was also apparently the cause of another rumor, that the hospital will not be using agency staffing anymore because they aren't fully observing the rules and letting things slip. They're usually only here for a shift or two. They aren't here all the time. As the manager was wrapping up the meeting, and passing around the papers saying we were here for the meeting about blah blah blah, we were free to go.

My phone buzzed.

Darren: Destiny is trying to use the zoning guy, Jed, to say things are wrong with the house or something so we're coming up on a pause. I'm sorry. This is my fault.

Huh? His fault? What is?

EJ: Huh?

My phone started ringing.

"What are you talking about, Darren?"

"I was sleeping with Destiny, the woman who came to do the initial inspection with Jed."

"The creepy guy and the girl who's clearly with him and you?"

"Yeah. Her. Anyway," he cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable, "She's trying to make trouble. I have copies of all the permits, so she can't really do anything, but Jed is going to have to come out tomorrow and measure everything himself to make sure it's all within limits."

"Seriously?"

He sighed, heavily, "Yeah. Look, I'm sorry. I'm trying to be your friend before I ask you out. I'd like to know you as a person before I decide I'm ready to ask you on a date, and that's the honest reason why she's being such a bitch right now. And I don't like calling women that unless they deserve it, and she does."

Stunned. I was completely quiet because how do you...I mean...he just...I blinked a few times. Did I really just hear that? I looked at him. Really looked at him.

"Why?" It was a simple question, but it was so much deeper than a simple 'why do you like me' and getting a high school answer. This was a 'Why me? I'm a divorced single mom of two. Why would a guy with no responsibilities want to be with me?' question.

"Why what? Why do I like you? I don't know. I don't know you well enough to answer that. Yet. I want to get to know you. I want to be your friend first. That way, if this is to become something, it has a solid foundation."

I was thoroughly confused now. I didn't think he was this much a gentleman. I saw the kind of woman Destiny was. She was the 'I only care about me' type but she was also the type to play dirty to get what she wanted. She seems like an all-around foul person.

"Why do I want to date you? Again, I don't know. But I want to. I want to know what your favorite color is and flowers are. I want to know if you prefer to read a book on a snowy day, or if you're the mom who's out there sledding down the hill with her kids. I want to know what you like for breakfast, and if you have food allergies, any really, but mainly so I can cook for you. I started taking cooking classes as a hobby. My therapist said it's good to try different things all the time, for the experience, and because our tastes are always changing."

"Blue. Peonies. I'd rather be inside, but that can come after the kids are in bed, worn out and happy from a full day of sledding and dragging ass up that damn hill. I really like this crustless quiche I make. I can teach you after we're moved in and my kitchen is done."