"That's what I thought." He smirks and sticks his pointer finger into a circle he’s made with his hand in a crude gesture.
“Knock it off,” I growl playfully.
Ace can only go so long without thinking of sex.
I don't want to keep talking about it, mostly because I don't want to have to tell him that I don't know what's really going on between me and Autumn. It's hard enough admitting that to myself every day.
"Grow a pair and ask her to be your girlfriend,” he mumbles through his food.
I blink, surprised.
He swallows and takes a swig of seltzer water. "I've been your best friend for a long time, Owen. I don't need to know why you look all doe-eyed at the mention of Autumn, and then dopey when you think too hard." He finishes off his sandwich, sucking leftover sauce from the pad of his thumb.
"I don’t want to rush her."
Ace shrugs. "Just calling it like I see it. You need to have the talk with her before she thinks this is just some temporary fling and moves back to New York to marry some rich stockbroker."
At the mention of her moving back to New York and marrying someone else, my entire body clenches.
"This advice coming from a guy whose bed is a revolving door?"
"I wouldn't sayrevolving. More like an open-door policy." He winks.
I snatch my balled-up napkin and toss it at his chest. It doesn’t reach, falling ineffectually near the edge of my desk.
“You’ll change your mind one day. One day, a woman will come along and tame Ace Drakos, and I hope I’m there to see it."
Ace shakes his head, a sliver of sadness creeping into his voice. "No way, man. I learned my lesson. The hard way, remember?"
Unfortunately, I do.
Ace still hasn't recovered from the lashing his heart took at the hands of his college sweetheart. His open-door policy is proof. Miranda was a cheating whore and we don’t speak her name.
There's a knock and we both swivel toward my door.
"Come in," I call.
Nurse Theresa steps in, papers clutched to her chest. When I see that her eyes hold fear and anguish, my face falls.
"What is it?" I ask, my stomach knotting, the chicken threatening reentry. Theresa doesn't get affected by much and she never bothers me during my lunch.
"The lab sent over Faith Cummings' latest bloodwork. I emailed them to you, but…" She hurries forward, thrusting the papers in her hand at me. "I printed them out too."
I don't look at the papers first. I look to Ace. My best friend's gaze is on me, his lips pursed, eyes wide. His chin dips slightly, urging me on, telling me I can do this.
When I read the results, something inside me breaks.
With a shaky hand, I pick up the phone and call Faith.
* * *
This moment has been comingfor hours, and now that it's here, I don't know if I can do it.
I don't know if I can open the door and invite Faith into my office. How can I tell her I've failed her? Failed Autumn? Myself, even?
Wooden feet carry me across the tiled floor and to my office door, where a soft, hesitant knock comes through.
Breathe, just fucking breathe.
