DanaI dropped my phone on the bedside table and let out a long sigh as I lay in Kendal's bed the next morning. The smell of him rolled over me and I flipped over to lay on my stomach so I could press my face to his pillow and breathe in deeply. I was class-A stalker material, and didn't give a shit about getting caught. Not that it would be him catching me. He was out playing golf with a few friends from what his note said.After snuggling down into the covers for a few more minutes, I decided it was time to get my happy ass up and get to the hospital. I had another hour before I had to be there, but being in someone else's house without them there was less than comfortable.The kitchen was stocked with all kinds of fruits and goodies, like Kendal had a private chef that came. Did college professors make that much money?"Maybe so," I mumbled and made myself something quickly, cleaned up and changed into my scrubs. I realized as I walked toward the front door that I was stranded with
Dana"Here you go, hon. Let me know if you need to talk to a grief counselor. Sometimes being new to all of this is a little overwhelming. Most of the other nurses will tell you that it's just better if you don't get emotionally involved with anyone, but I think that's hogwash. I love letting my patients know that they're cared about. It's too sterile in here in the first place." She sighed and dropped back down in her seat."Thank you. I appreciate it." I lifted the letter in the air and turned to go. I needed to find a quiet place to sit down and read the letter, but now wasn't the time. Even though my heart ached for my loss, there were things to be done. If Jackie could move past falling for a playboy doctor and being made to feel like a piece of ass and still get her rounds done, then I could too.I made my way back to my side of the floor and stopped beside Jackie as she counted out pills."You okay?" She glanced over at me."Yeah, I think so. I just really liked that old man."
KendalGolf with my friends was exactly what the doctor ordered. Between listening to Matt whine about Erica being too much woman for him, and watching Damon mope around the fucking golf course all day, I was reassured that dating Dana was a great idea. I didn't wanna search for someone else who might be a little older, or look less like Ana. Neither of those things mattered seeing that the level of physical attraction I felt for her was off the charts. That combined with the fact that I loved her sweet spirit, her honesty and innocent persona, and I was sold. The thought crossed my mind to call the apartment and tell them to not fix the locks until Monday, but that would have been a dick move and knowing my luck, I would have been caught in the center of it all. I rarely got away with anything and usually got blamed for things that I had nothing to do with.I walked into the house and called out to her, hoping that she was still there. "Dana?"Nothing. I realized after searching the
Kendal"No. His mom died awhile back from cancer. About the time Damon decided he was going to tell his dad everything, his mom got sick and that ended his bravado." I shrugged and let out a soft sigh. "The poor guy just can't seem to catch a break either. He's never been in love before, but finally found the right woman."She turned and lifted her eyebrow. "Uh oh. Why does this feel like the good part isn't coming?""Because it's not." I pushed the meat around the pan as my stomach contracted tightly. "He's fallen in love with his father's new wife's daughter.""Wait..." her eyes moved around my face slowly, "... his stepsister?""Exactly, and things were fine between their family because they're not blood, but who knows what the hell went wrong. Beth is a young woman with too much fear over losing everything and Damon is a hothead who doesn't think he should have to explain himself. Their communication sucks and it's going to be the end of them.""How serious were they? Sounds like
DanaThe rest of Saturday night had been spent around the dining room table, eating pasta until our sides hurt, and telling stories until we knew each other better than we might have wanted to. We fell asleep snuggled up on the couch, and after a long kiss at the door on Sunday morning, I headed home. I wanted to get my life back in order and to make sure that I was still capable of breathing without Kendal snuggled up beside me.I missed his warmth the minute I left. It wasn't until I woke up alone on Monday morning in my bed that I realized just how guilty I felt for spending the whole afternoon and evening with him on Saturday and not mentioning anything about Amanda. I just couldn't force myself to share an estimate that had turned out to be wrong. She wasn't dead or the hospital would have called him. I urged him to go up and see her a few more times in the coming week while we snuggled on the coach and he promised that he would, but of course questioned my reasoning for poking h
Dana"Have you guys spoken since he left in a hurry?" Worry clouded my thoughts as I tried to figure out what it was about Parks that had my friend acting like a lunatic stalker. Surely he wasn't that great in bed."No. I told you that he didn't give me his number before he left me hanging.""And he doesn't have your number either."She didn't answer, but pinned me with a hard stare."Okay. Okay. Shit." I lifted my hands in the air. "What if we went up there over Christmas and tried to find him? Maybe it would be better if we visited first and then made the decision to uproot everything for this dude after you see if he's wanting a relationship.""And if he doesn’t?" Tears filled her eyes and my worry crept up another notch. She was close to going off the deep end."Then we'll find another guy who's way better for you, Jackie. You're not yourself at all. You need to get some sleep.""Maybe you're right." She pressed her hands to her face, and I took the opportunity to move up beside h
KendalI wasn't sure anything could get my mood down as I walked into the classroom on Monday morning, not even having to meet with Heather later that day. She could push and shove as much as she wanted to, but I had Eliza on my side, and I would soon be meeting with Mark to let him know what was going on. If she made it to him first, I would count my blessings and explain my side of the story. Though sexual harassment cases were rare with a male being the victim, it still happened. I would just start being smarter about my private interactions with Dr. Turner and would tape them on my phone from here on out."Bethany." I stopped at the opening to the large auditorium where I taught."Hey, Dr. Tarrington."I closed the door behind me, and almost told her to call me Kendal, but we both knew better than to be too casual with one another on campus. We could be friends outside of UT, and would be a part of each other's lives for a long time thanks to her being part of Damon's family now,
Kendal"What girl?" I glanced around. Was she on campus? If so, how did she find me and why was she looking for me? What was going on?"The pretty brunette you had pinned to your chest a few minutes ago.""No, baby. That was Damon's girlfriend, Bethany. She's my TA.""I know what I saw." She sniffed. "I'm outside. Come out here please.""Of course. Wait right there." I put the phone in my pocket and moved out into the hall as students started to file into my classroom. The phone buzzed again and I pulled it out as I side-skirted running into a handful of kids and finally got outside."Hey. Where are you?" I stopped and glanced around, unable to find Dana in the mass of people milling about."I'm at the hospital. It's Tinsley, Dr. Tarrington. We need you to come up here now.""Is it Amanda? Is she okay?""Just get someone to bring you up here, Kendal. No rush, okay?""What? Why isn't there a rush? What the hell is going on?" I glanced around as white-hot fear filled up my insides."Did