“Oh you’re so going to eat those words, brother.” And then Jake let out a hearty laugh. “Oh, god I don’t think I ever heard that word come out of your spotless mouth.” He elbowed his brother in the side. “Who’s got the filthy mouth now Mr. Clean?”
Luke pretended to double over in pain but grabbed Jake in a headlock and ruffled his hair instead, both of them laughing and horsing around. Luke’s eyes averted to Cara and he gave her a slight nod. She smiled and let out a sigh of relief. She had Luke in her corner, between the both of them Jake was going to a doctor, come hell or high water.
Chapter Fifteen
Cara glanced up at the clock she was working the early shift today, much to her dismay. She had wanted to be able to go with Jake to his doctor’s appointment but with the other bartender out sick, and the Subway Series game on tonight, she would be lucky if she made it out of there when she was scheduled to. Being as it was mid-afternoon; the bar was relatively slow so she took a quick assessment of all her patron’s glasses, made sure they were full, before slipping into the back to call Jake. It was three o’clock and his appointment wasn’t for another half hour, but he should’ve at least been on his way, she figured.
It didn’t matter that she spoke to him an hour ago, and he assured her that he would be going, that he was just wrapping things up at the tattoo parlor. Still she couldn’t help it, call it nagging, and call it annoying or whatever you want. She couldn’t shake this awful feeling in her stomach. She was actually becoming physically ill worrying about the outcome of this doctors visit. This morning when he left her apartment to go to the shop, she tossed her cookies the minute he was out the door.
“Yes, Cara.” Jake said into the phone, amusement apparent in his tone.
She instantly felt her cheeks redden, so she chewed on lip to steady her nerves. “Hi. Sorry I’m bugging you.”
“It’s okay.” He said softly. “What are you doing?”
“I just took a break to call you.”
“You’re taking a lot of breaks today to call me” He reminded her.
“I wish I could go with you.” She whispered.
“Oh yeah, about that, I decided to cancel the appointment. Instead, Luke and I are going to a casino up in Monticello.”
She dropped the phone and quickly bent to retrieve it. She better have misheard him. “What did you say?”
“I’m kidding. Tell her I’m kidding Luke.”
She heard Luke, grab the phone. “Cara, relax. We’re pulling into the office lot now.”
She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks Luke. Do not let him out of your sight, please.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got everything under control. I brought handcuffs, if I have to restrain him down, I will.” He joked, and she relaxed a bit. “Nah, but in all seriousness, I’ll make sure he’s examined by the doctor. I did pack him Ava’s lunchbox full of snacks in case there is a wait. He’s not going anywhere.”
She smiled and could almost picture Jake digging through Ava’s Cinderella, lunchbox perusing a snack. Give that man a bag of junk food and he was at your every command. “Will you call me when you guys see the doctor?”
“Yes.”
“See, I told you I would go.” Jake said into the phone, obviously taking it out of his brother’s hand. “Now promise me, you’ll stop worrying.”
“I’ll try.” She knew he always kept his promises to her, and she never wanted to go back on her word with him.
“Good enough. I’ll try and come over tonight, but after this doctor crap I have to go back to the shop. Pete needs help with a piece he’s working on.”
“Okay.” She paused. “Jake?”
“Yeah?” She heard the door of the car slam.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, babe. Now get back to work, we’re all good over here.”
She nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. She ended the call and stared at his picture on the home screen of her phone, her fingertips tracing his face. She closed her eyes and willed the queasiness to stop before she slipped the phone back into her pocket. He would be fine, right? He had to be.
Jake walked into the doctor’s office, and grimaced. There was nothing he hated more than a doctor’s office. It didn’t matter what time your appointment was, and if you were on time or an hour early, you would still wait at least a half hour after your scheduled time. The atmosphere sucked, who wants to be in a room with soap operas on the lone television and magazines that were issued six months ago. Not to mention you’re surrounded by a room full of sick people, he’d probably catch the flu while he waited.
He looked at the receptionist. A cute little thing with dark red hair or was it black? It reminded him of black cherries, maybe if he made nice with her, she’d slip his file to the top of the stack that sat on her desk waiting for the doctor’s attention.
“Hey sweetheart, how are you today?” He purred as he leaned his hip against her desk.