“Nick,” Jim’s jovial voice came over the phone. “How many did you save today?”
It was a question that always surprised me, considering the hospital hadn’t been able to save his wife. It was a testament to his glass-half-full outlook in life despite the fact that his glass seemed to have a hole in it.
“I saved them all, Jim. How are you?”
“Good, good. My baby girl is home.” His voice was softer, and on occasion slurred, a symptom of his Parkinson’s.
“Yes. You didn’t tell me she was moving back.”
“Didn’t I? It was last minute. I think Eli is worried about me. She probably half expected me to be on my deathbed. I wish you two were still friends. She needs help lightening up.”
“I wish that too. I’m sorry I—“
“The heart wants what it wants, right? At least he doesn’t hold it against Mia.”
I had to agree. It suggested that Eli thought I took advantage of a young and innocent Mia, which wasn’t the case. Granted, she’d been a virgin, but she knew what she was doing. And when it was clear our friendly feelings had morphed into more, I’d taken my time with her so I knew she’d be sure. In the end, she jumped me wanting to know why I was taking so long to sleep with her. Still, I was glad her and Eli were able to maintain their relationship.
I was relieved that neither Jim nor his wife had the same reaction that Eli had. They liked me and my family, and so didn’t see my relationship with Mia as being bad. With that said, I could see how Eli would feel betrayed. He’d asked me to watch out for Mia, not sleep with her.
“How’d she do on her first day?” Jim asked.
“I only saw her for a second. She works on a different floor.”
“I’m sure she did fine. She’s a smart girl. Listen, when are you going to come play chess? Are you avoiding me because I kicked your ass last time?”
“You didn’t kick my ass, Jim. You demolished me. My ego is still shattered.”
He laughed. “Come redeem yourself.”
“I will soon,” I said.
After our chat, I headed into the house and grabbed a quick dinner before going down to the Ole Miner. It was a Monday night tradition that emergency room staff not on duty go down for a few drinks.
I walked in and looked to our usual corner, seeing Peggy, two other nurses and Dr. Comstock, a middle-aged doctor who recently started joining us after his wife left him. A front desk staffer and two CNAs were there as well. But I’d only barely noticed them, because my attention immediately went to Mia. She was still in her work clothes, although she’d taken her coat off. Her thin light pink blouse hugged her fantastic tits. Immediately, my brain, or maybe it was my dick, flashed to all the times I’d lavished attention on those magnificent globes. They’d always been so responsive, her nipples hardening to peaks that begged to be sucked.
Down boy, I said to my dick.
“Nick, hey,” Peggy said waving at me.
I nodded, but stopped by the bar.
“Hey Nick,” Julie, the bartender, said. She always had a smile for me that suggested she was willing to get naked with me again. As fun as that had been a year or so ago when we’d spent a week snowed in at my cabin, by the time I dug us out, I was ready for solitude. “Your usual?”
“That’d be great.” I headed back to the group occupying two tables.
“I hope you don’t mind I included Mia. It seemed like we should welcome her home,” Peggy said.
“I don’t mind,” I took a seat that put me across from Mia. “How was your first day?”
“Not bad.” She took a sip of sort of a froo froo looking frozen drink. I nearly rolled my eyes. “What?”
“City girl,” I said grinning as I sat back while the waitress set my beer in front of me.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
I laughed. I’d always loved how Mia would own her quirks and interests, even if they were different. She was a woman who knew herself, which was why I hadn’t been able to convince her to come home with me four years ago.
“It’s not bad, Nick. I may have one the next round,” Peggy said. “What do you suppose Joyce drinks?”
“I’m sure we’ll find out,” Candace, a CNA said. “She’s shown up here a few times looking for Nick. I don’t know why you don’t put her out of her misery and give her a little taste of what she wants.”
I sipped my beer as I glared at Candace. “You gonna give old smokey Joe a taste of what he wants?”
She made a face at my mention of the grizzled old man that used the ER as his primary care provider and had a special fondness for Candace.
“What’s wrong with Joyce?” Mia asked. “She’s pretty enough. She’s well-endowed. What’s not to like?”
I could only gape at her.
Peggy snorted. “Those tits are store bought and our Nick here prefers natural girls.”
I turned my glare to Peggy. “You do know that I’m here, don’t you? I don’t need you talking about my sex life in public.”
Peggy shrugged. “Word is you don’t have a sex life anymore.”
“Jesus.”
Mia pulled her lips in like she was trying not to laugh. “This sort of thing doesn’t happen in the big city.”
“What? Sex talk?” Peggy asked.
“Everyone knowing if and when you’re having sex … or not.”
As a man, I felt the need to defend my sex life and yet, I didn’t want to come off as a horn dog either.
“I haven’t had sex in a while either, Nick,” Candace said. “Unfortunately, you and I aren’t compatible in that area or we could help each other out.”
“Tell me again why I hang with you guys?” I quipped.
“Because you love us. And we think you’re
