Page 63 of A Matter of Time

“Listen, Jory, I’m starting my life, ya know? I’m an attending now at the hospital, I bought my first place, and I’m ready for the guy, the one guy who’s gonna be my partner and build my future with me. I don’t mean to scare you, but when I met you, I had a feeling that you were the guy.”

The man had definitely confused so-so sex with love.

“Jory?”

“Nicky, you think maybe you just needed to get laid?”

“You know, I’m gonna forgive you for being a total prick since you’re in shock right now and probably getting frostbite.”

“Sorry,” I breathed out. “That was a shitty thing to say.”

“Yes, it was.”

“Nick, I⁠—”

“No. Just shut up and listen. Do you know you never listen?”

It was true, I didn’t.

“Jory, I can get laid any night of the week. What I want is to be in bed with someone I can see a future with, not just a one-night stand. I wanna be your guy.”

“Why do you even care? Why not just call it a day with me?”

“No. We’re not gonna do that.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m crazy about you, I told you already.”

“But why?”

He chuckled. “You’re fishing.”

“I’m confused,” I assured him.

“Jory, you’re funny and smart, and those big dark eyes of yours are… And you told me my sunglasses were ugly.”

“They were ugly.”

His exhale was long. “Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?”

“Nick—”

“It’s your lips, they drive me nuts,” he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “I never wanted to stop kissing you.”

He was just the nicest guy who did nothing for me.

“I really…” His voice was hoarse. “Hey, do me a favor? Look up at the street sign where you are and read it to me. I’m heading for my car.”

“No. I’ll call ya tomorrow, I swear.”

“Jory, you need to sleep, and you need somebody to take care of you. I want to be that somebody. Besides, who’s better than a doctor?”

I smiled into the phone and promised to call the next day after work. I hung up while he was still begging me to tell him where I was. The phone rang again immediately, and I realized I had missed eleven calls while I was talking to Nick.

“Hello?”

“Where are you?” he asked, his voice icy.