Page 17 of False Start
“Hey, I’m here for my physical,” he states with an uncomfortable tone, Brayden side-eyes me in question, but I ignore him.
“Hey, yeah, come on in and get set up on the table. I was just finishing upwith Bray.”
Brayden walks over and ruffles my hair as I let out a soft laugh. “I’ll see you at home for dinner, brat,” he teases. I pick up a pen from my desk and throw it at him as he runs out the door.
He laughs down the hall, leaving me alone with Jake.
I sigh as I close the door and turn back to face him. He’s sitting on the table, looking anywhere but at me, and the nerves start to creep in. I guess it’s now or never.
Oh, boy, this is going to be interesting.
Chapter 7
Kailyn
This isn’t the first time that I'm in a room with Jake again after coming back, but this time feels different. I feel more exposed, like he can see right through me without any barriers in place. I thought I was scared of how he would react on Friday, but this is even scarier. I have no place to hide and no one to run to when my nerves are about to get the best of me.
He’s shirtless, sitting on the exam table. And I have to sit here and act like a professional. I need to get through this exam without making a fool of myself or saying something that might cause an argument between us. I need to do my job, so I don’t lose it. But I also know that things will stay this way until we talk, and I need some answers.
I walk over to the desk, examining his chart as I gather myself. I know what needs to happen, but that doesn’t mean I’m not still holding a bit of anger at him for how things went down Friday night.
I peek over my shoulder and see him looking at me. Just like Friday night, I can’t read his expression. It makes my stomach bottom out. I’ve never not been able to read himuntil now. I can't tell what he’s thinking or feeling, and I don’t know which scenario is worse.
Squaring my shoulders and taking a deep breath, I turn back to him, unsure of what’s about to happen.
“Go ahead and lift your arm. I’m going to take your blood pressure and heart rate. Then, we’ll go from there.” My voice sounds foreign to my ears. It’s almost as if I’m under water and no one can hear me.
I walk over to the exam table, not making eye contact as I place the blood pressure cuff on his bicep and pull my stethoscope from around my neck, gently placing it on his wrist as I take his readings.
There’s an uncomfortable silence between us, one that I’ve never experienced in his presence before. It feels tinged with anger and resentment from both ends, and that makes it ten times worse.
Once I have his readings, I place the equipment to the side, before writing everything down.
“Okay, now I’m going to listen to your breathing. I just need you to take some deep breaths while I move around.” I place the bell of the stethoscope on his chest, listening as he breaths in and out. All the while, I don’t make eye contact with him, wanting to get through this before I say the wrong thing.
He reaches forward and grabs my hand, causing me to stop my movements and look directly into his eyes. They’re the same deep brown eyes I remember getting lost in countless times when we were together. He’s gained more muscle over the years. His face has more stubble on it, but I can tell it was recently shaved. His presence is more domineering, and it makes me want to sink to my knees as he tells me exactly what to do for him.
I search his face for any signs of what’s about to happen and come up blank once again.
“So, this is what it takes for you to finally look at me?”
“Jake,” I whisper back, afraid if I try to speak any louder I’ll lose my voice.
“I guess that’s all you know how to say to me?” Bits of anger and pain flash over his features before he blinks and they’re gone. I hate that he feels like he has to shield himself from me.
“I guess I’m trying to make sure I say the right thing, because I’m still angry at you,” I bite back.
“You’re not the only one that’s holding onto their anger, Kailyn."
He studies my expression for a moment, giving nothing else away in his. “Why do you get to be angry when you're the one that left, anyway?”
My breath catches, and I take a step back, but he swings his legs out to pull me in closer to him, so that I’m trapped right against his chest. I close my eyes as I involuntarily inhale his scent and my mind starts to race. He always smelled like cedarwood and apple, two scents that never smelled the same after I left.
“I left because you hurt me first.”
Confusion takes over his expression, and I have to fight back a scoff at his reaction.
“What are you talking about? I never hurt you, Kailyn."
