Hard Hit by Toni Aleo (IceCats #3) - Toni Aleo Page 0,3
single emotion runs through my body.
Anger—I really do hate that woman.
Sadness—Celeste deserves better than this.
Fear—How am I going to do this on my own?
But then Celeste leans her face on mine, moving her fingers along my jaw, and I feel the ultimate feeling.
Love.
“We got this, CC,” I whisper, but I know she doesn’t understand me or even know what I am saying. “Me and you, love bug.”
Really, I am telling myself more than I am telling her.
Chapter Two
Jaylin
* * *
“The cost of supplies from the Brinton Company is beyond ridiculous, and no matter how much I tell Jonson we need to find another supplier, he isn’t listening.”
I have no clue who Jonson is, or even the Brinton Company.
This is the third time I’ve been out to lunch with Malcolm Franklin, and I really don’t understand why he talks about his job at the hospital like I know anything about it. I may date a lot of doctors—since my mother sets me up weekly with all her church friends’ sons—but that doesn’t mean I know a thing about the hospital. Honestly, I don’t even care. I don’t even really care for Malcolm. He’s a very handsome man. Dark-brown eyes, a nice fade in thick, coarse, curly hair. He’s skinny, not much muscle to him, but he’s smart. Very smart. I like that. He wears thin wire frames. And I know we’re meeting during his lunch shift, but surely, he can leave his lab coat in the car. I don’t know why it bugs me that he wears it, but it does.
I don’t understand why my mom wants me to be with a doctor. She is hard-core setting me up with her friends’ brothers, sons, cousins, dads—I mean, if he’s a doctor and he’s a black man, I’m on a date with him. I could say no, but guilt eats me alive if I do. I know why she does this. She was there to take care of me when I had breast cancer, but she might not be there if it comes back, and she wants me to be cared for. I get it. I do. But I don’t think I’m meant to be with a doctor. Shit, in all reality, I may not be meant for anyone. I’ve been on twenty dates in the last couple months and no sparks. If I hadn’t felt that spark last year, I might not believe it’s attainable, but I did. Though, that didn’t work out…
“How’s the Collins’ case—”
“Why don’t you leave your lab coat in the car?”
His brown eyes meet mine, confusion filling his features. He draws in his thick brown brows, and he parts his lips a bit. He has the perfect complexion; he must have not had acne growing up. I did, which is why I wear makeup everywhere. He’s just too put together. I’m not saying I want a shitshow as a partner, but when I let my crazy out, I don’t want to be judged for it. “Sorry?”
“Your lab coat. You wear it every time we go out.”
“I’m coming from the hospital. It’s a part of me in a way,” he says with a wry laugh. “Does it bother you?”
“A little,” I say, leaning on my hand. “It reminds me of all the times I sat in chemo.”
Compassion fills his features as he nods slowly. “I’m sure it does,” he says, and then he takes his coat off. “Want me to take it to the car?”
Now I feel silly. “No, you didn’t even need to take it off.”
His lips move a bit at the side. Not a smirk but still a movement. “I wanted to. For you. I really like you, Jaylin.”
Fuck me. I smile kindly. “You’re great, Mal, and I enjoy our lunches—”
“But?”
I smile, even though he looks so dejected. “But I’m not feeling it.”
“It?” he asks, his eyes holding mine.
“The spark.”
“A spark, huh?” he says with a little bit of laughter. “There aren’t sparks anymore at our age. Now, it’s about finding someone to live life with. Have some kids before it’s too late. Be real, Jaylin.”
“At our age? What does that even mean?”
“It means we can’t be picky. It’s time to have kids.”
My jaw drops. “Malcolm, I’m only thirty-three.”
“And I’m almost forty.”
I blink. “Okay, well, for me, I want the spark.”
He nods before he gets up, grabbing his coat. “I won’t waste either of our time, then. It was nice to get to know you. Have a good life.”