Page 55 of Accepting Fate

Dropping my phone in the cup holder, I head home. I blame my mood swings on my after-work tiredness.

If things progress with Grayson in the future, I can already tell it’s going to cause some interesting conversations. My post-work attitude, mixed with his caveman cockiness, is a recipe for a very eventful night.

I get home and go through my routine. When I fall into bed, I text him that I’m going to sleep. Instead of making some stupid comment that I’m learning to love, he tugs at my heart more than he already is.

Grayson: Goodnight my beautiful Angel.

Dammit. If I’m ready to give in after a day, by day six – I’m going to be jumping his fucking bones the second I see him.

Chapter Seventeen

Logan

Shit.Fuck.Shit.Fuck.

I hate this goddamn stupid ass road. I was so focused on not falling asleep while driving I didn’t notice the mud covering the road. Before I had the chance to react, my Jeep slid off the road and now I’m stuck in a mud pit.

This is what I get for not leaving work when Laura said I could go. But I couldn’t leave. I was dropping off paperwork to Ms. Nancy at the check in desk then to the nurses’ lounge to clock out, when I saw the sweetest looking old man run into the ER with his wife lifeless in his arms. Tears streamed down his panicked face as his eyes locked with mine, and I immediately ran over.

I should have seen the bad night coming because after doing everything we possibly could, we couldn't get her back.

Patients like this are part of the job, but the look on that poor man’s face when we told him his sweet wife was gone was devastating. He collapsed in my arms and sobbed. Luckily, Laura and my coworker, Sidney, were standing right next to me and caught us, or we would have hit the ground. He wasn’t a big man. He was tall and skinny and around Grayson’s height.

I just got over being sick. I didn’t need to add a bruised hip or worse to my forever aching body.

I volunteered to sit with him until his daughter arrived, then finally clocked out, barely making it to my car before I lost control of my emotions and broke down. I sat in my car for twenty minutes to get my emotions in check.

I was so tempted to give in and call Grayson to come over.

He has been amazing this entire week. After the first day, he kept to himself until it was check-in time. Every text he would either call me his girl, beautiful, or Angel. Once day four hit, he started sending treats which I didn’t complain about. One time it was coffee and a brownie to the hospital. The next was a sketch of a wolf drinking from a lake at the base of a mountain. This one was stashed in my mailbox. The drawing resembled the tattoo on his arm. As soon as I got inside, I flattened it under some books and placed it on the fridge.

I could sense his patience growing thin as the week progressed. Today was my last day of work and I knew he was ready for this space to be over. Instead of a gift, he texted me.

Grayson: Your time is up pretty girl. I agreed to wait until your work week was over and I did. It’s time. Whether you want to or not, we will be seeing each other tomorrow.

I can’t say I blame him. I thought about every possible scenario as to why giving him a chance would be a bad idea. Other than the constant threat of my past coming back and harming him, I couldn’t think of anything.

I don’t know if I’m ready to fully jump into a relationship, but I know I’m willing to start where we left off before the no-show night.

But now, I’m here on the side of the fucking road, three hours after I’m usually in bed. Harper is about as useful as a damn doorknob in this situation, so I only have one person I can call that I know will help me.

I texted him a few hours ago, saying I would be getting home late. He responded and told me okay and to text him when I left and got home. I don’t know his schedule, but I know he’s most likely asleep right now.

I lean over to open the glove box and grab the silver flashlight. Taking a quick look at my surroundings I hop out of the car and start walking around to check for damage. Goosebumps spread down my arms as the crisp air hits my bare arms.

The sounds of rain hitting the trees above and the wind lightly whipping through the trees. In any other situation, this would be peaceful. The only exception is the fact that it’s pitch black, and I can’t see much, but the sounds of nature are beautiful.

It’s so dark, only my little flashlight and headlights illuminate the area around me.

While walking around, I hit Grayson’s contact and hope he picks up.

To no surprise, he answers after the second ring.

“Logan?” He must have been sleeping because the way he just said my name in a sleepy growl is so damn hot. Panty melting hot.

Snap out of it, Logan. You can’t be thinking about how hot Grayson is when you’re stranded on the side of the damn road!

I must have been quiet for too long because Grayson interrupts my thoughts.