Chapter 3

I found it hard to drift to sleep that night as every time I closed my eyes, I saw those piercing blue eyes again staring at me, sending shivers all over my body.

As soon as the alarm went off, I tossed the covers aside and headed toward the bathroom to take a shower when I heard giggles coming from the other side of the door.

-Piper, are you in there?

I asked, confused by the muffled sounds of different voices. When I didn't hear a reply, I twisted the handle and walked in, then immediately wished that I hadn’t.The second the door swung open, I came face to face with a butt naked guy bent over the sink shaving his beard. Our eyes met in the mirror and he narrowed his eyes in shock. I gasped and slammed the door shut apologizing, squeezing my eyes shut in an effort to erase the last second from my head.

Piper and I didn't have a code for when guys came over because it never happened before. My love life was nonexistent and Piper had this rule of never bringing anyone home.

I decided to skip the shower and get dressed to go to this café I loved to get some work done like I did every weekend. It was a habit that I had developed since Piper was almost never home and it felt lonely to just stay at the apartment all day.

I peeked through the door to make sure that it was safe for me to go out without bumping into any more naked people before I made a run for the main door.

The café was only four blocks down the streetand since it was sunny outside, I decided to walk there. I sat on my usual table at the back in a corner when the waitress, Molly, noticed me and brought me my usual order with a cookie on the side.

I drummed with my fingers on the table not able to decide what subject to tackle first and remembered my uncle's words when he said that I should choose a field to focus on. An idea suddenly came to my mind and I found myself typing the words in the searching box without thinking.

The Howard Private Practice.

Time flew by as I scrolled down the web pages reading everything I could find about one of the most famous health care centers in the city.

I spent the whole day at the café until it was time for my usual Saturday night dinner with my dad. I went back home to take a shower and change before I headed out again, taking a cab to get to the Mexican restaurant my dad and I loved, called The Nine Ways. It served the most delicious dishes we've ever tasted in the city and so it was the place where we established our weekly date.

I found my father waiting for me at our usual table as I walked in and when he spotted me, he stood up to hug me.

My father was physically intimidating. He was a big guy, tall with broad shoulders and muscular arms, a little showing belly, consequence of the frequent drinking with the crew while watching the game every Saturday night. He was bald but had a thick mustache and beard. I, on the other hand, didn't inherit anything from my dad's looks. People always told me that I was the spitting image of my mother because I had her long red hair and green eyes along with her petite frame. I just hoped that looks was all I had inherited.

-Have you ordered yet?

I asked taking a seat across from him.

-Yes, the usual, right?

I nodded, putting the menu back and leaned back in my seat.

-So, how are the guys doing?

I asked, referring to his crew.

-Same old, same old. What about you? Anything exciting going on that I should know about?

-Nothing much, I replied. Except that mom wants to spend Christmas with us.

I added, waiting for his reaction. He didn't say anything at first. He just stared back at me with eyes narrowed.

-Aren't you going to say anything?

I asked, frowning. Because the truth is I was hoping to hear him say that it was a bad idea and that he didn't want to see her too.

-What do you want me to say? Do you want her to come?

-Do you?

I shot back. He shrugged, still not wanting to say anything.

I admired my dad for always having my mother’s back even after everything she put him through. But right then, I just wished he would have my back instead.

-You could go to California if you want to. I can spend Christmas with the crew.

I narrowed my eyes at him and he smiled, shaking his head.

-Come on now. She's not that scary.

I huffed and crossed my arms against my chest defensively.

-Alright. Your choice.

He said, giving up because he knew as well as I did that going back to California was out of the question. Just the thought of walking in the streets of that neighborhood made me shudder and that would ruin all the progress I've made since I had left that city. Everything I've been working on for the last five years would be for nothing.

After our dinner, my dad dropped me off at my building and I was welcomed with a dark empty apartment. I changed into my pajamas and binge watched a show on Netflix until I drifted to sleep on the couch in the living room.

The next morning I went for a run, earphones plugged in, making my way through the huge buildings of the city, enjoying the sun of early October. Somehow, I caught myself thinking of those blue eyes again, the way they stared at me and made me feel. I hadn't realized how hard I was pushing myself until I felt the need to stop and catch my breath when I noticed that my legs had led me to where my thoughts were: at the clinic where Piper worked. Suddenly, I felt my head starting to spin, my ears to whistle and before I knew it, my knees betrayed me and wobbled.