“Sure, thing! I’ll be right there.” Everleigh patted my shoulder as she stepped around the table.
“Hey, Everleigh?”
She paused while Bram waved once and stepped outside the room giving us privacy.
“Did you need something, sweetie?” Everleigh glanced up and down the length of my body, ready to assist as always.
“I… ghosted Dr. Thorsen.”
“What?”
I was fairly certain she’d comprehended what I’d said, because her face paled. “The someone that I met at the holiday party? It was Bram. I didn’t know he worked here.”
“You… met Dr. Thorsen at your party?” Everleigh blinked.
“He drove me home, we had an absolutely amazing connection. He was kind, considerate, sweet, patient, and then I completely ghosted him.” I said all the things I’d told her already.
“Savannah. Why didn’t you say anything? Dr. Callahan could have examined you instead or I could have, I don’t know, held the plug steady with those tongs while we waited for him to arrive. Are you upset? Do we need to talk about safety?”
“No, it’s okay. Yes, I was embarrassed but he already saw all those… parts of me. I just wanted to explain to you why I was acting so odd. I really had no idea that he worked here,” I said again for her benefit more than mine.
“Right. I understand now. Dr. Thorsen started a few weeks ago but he’s been around the clinic for about a month,” she said, leaning against the wall. “Are you sure you want him to bring you home? If you were just being nice, we can find another arrangement.”
“I’m comfortable with him driving me home. It will give me a chance to explain why I was so dumb. And I really like him.” I fiddled with the edge of the sheet.
“You poor thing. No wonder you’re embarrassed. Would you like a hug?”
“Yes, please.”
She moved to my side and embraced me. Everleigh really needed an award for her bedside manner.
“Do you have my personal cell?”
“No, I don’t have it.”
“Let me give it to you. If you need anything, anything at all, even if it’s to talk about what happened or relationships, you text, call…. whatever. Okay?”
“Okay. Thanks so much for being here with me through all that. I appreciate you.”
“Anytime, sweetie. I’ll get you those pants and be back in a few minutes.”
As she left I let out a long breath that I didn’t realize I’d been holding. She was so understanding, but everyone at the clinic was. It was like my home away from home. They treated me more like family than anyone else ever had.
Though the day had started with a stuck plug, maybe it was a dumb metaphor to remind me not to stay in my same routine. That change was good for me. Moving toward a relationship with Bram might be the best step I’d ever taken.
Five
Savannah
Sitting in the quiet comfort of Bram’s SUV felt completely different than it had two weeks ago. I didn’t have liquid courage in my veins encouraging me to step outside of my comfort zone. But after he removed a butt plug that had been lodged inside me, there wasn’t anything worse that he could do.
“Thank you for the pants. I’ll wash them and bring them back. And, um, thanks for offering to drive me home.” I finally broke the silence.
“You’re welcome, Savannah.” Bram glanced at me as he drove. “I hope my being your doctor today didn’t make you uncomfortable.”
“Not in the way you might think. I’d like to explain, if you care to hear me out. Of course, you don’t have to. You don’t owe me anything,” I added quickly.
“I’m willing to listen. Everything I told you the other night was true. Even if you didn’t believe it.”
