Page 62 of A Matter of Time

“I saw your name on the board when I came in, but, honey, where are you?”

“I left.”

“Obviously. Do you know you can’t just take out an IV and walk out of a hospital?”

“Oh no?”

“Jory, you’re⁠—”

“I’m fine.”

“Jory, you’re hurt worse than you think, honey. You can’t be alone right now. Tell me where you are. Are you home?”

No, I wasn’t home, I thought, and wanted to yell it at him. Because for whatever reason, as it always did, his voice had gone from sounding sultry and sexy to whiny and needy in a heartbeat. And it wasn’t Nick, I knew it wasn’t Nick…it was me. I just didn’t respond well to begging or pleading or anything that sounded weak or clinging. I responded to power and dominance and demands for my time and my body. The gentle, sensitive guy did nothing for me. I was a mess, but realizing that did nothing to prevent my honest reaction.

“Jory…honey…can I come pick you up?”

“No,” I said as I started shaking. I was so cold. “I’m gonna call somebody, Nicky, don’t worry.”

“But I do worry. You have a concussion, and you’re bruised and battered, and I really need to⁠—”

“But I’m all right.”

“Honey, I’m afraid you’re gonna pass out and⁠—”

“I’ll be okay,” I assured him. “I’ll call ya later.”

“No, no, no. Jory, baby, just tell me where you are, I’ll pick you up, and you can come home with me and⁠—”

“How ’bout I call you tomorrow?”

“Jory, whatever you’re mixed up in, I can handle it. Please, baby, let me take care of you.”

“Nick, I⁠—”

“Jory.” He sighed deeply. “I am crazy about you. I think about you all the time.”

“You do?”

“Yes. God yes. I just… You need to give me some of your time. I know I’m not as exciting as whatever else is going on in your life, but, Jory, I’m good for you. I want to be with you.”

It was hard to breathe suddenly, partly because I was turning into a Popsicle and the rest because brutal honesty wasn’t usually my gig. I favored the disappearing act in most cases. “You know, Nick.” I began quickly because it was better to do it like pulling off a Band-Aid—just really fast. “We’ve got no chemistry at all. You know we don’t.”

“Is that right?”

“You know it is.” I winced. This was just as painful to say as it was to hear.

“Well, I think you need to give me another chance to impress you. Because if we’re being honest, being in bed with you was amazing.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m not flattering you, it’s a fact. I didn’t want it to end.”

“That’s nice.”

“Nice? Jesus.” He laughed dryly.

I chuckled because he sounded so deflated.