Chapter 9
For the next two weeks, Stacy tried to accidentally run into Evie at Gabriel’s yet again, but no such luck. At one point he even considered going into the hospital and asking her out, but he felt like that would be too forward and it might scare her off. Besides, he had no idea what his endgame was anyway. Was he really going to take her out on a date? Pursue her? No, he couldn’t do that, at least that much he knew. Then why had he stalked her for two weeks and forced his company on her during her break? He should be running as far away from this woman as he could. Still, he knew what kept him coming back—she made him feel something that day in the hospital, only he wasn’t quite sure what. All he knew was that it wasn’t bad.
What’s more, how could he chase Evie when he had not completely severed ties with Kelly. Kelly lived about seven blocks from the hospital, and despite their argument and his honest omission to her, somehow they were still together…..or at least still having sex.
One evening, exactly two and a half weeks after his meeting with Evie, Stacy was off duty and doing the favor of dropping Kelly off at home. She only live a couple of blocks from the hospital and despite himself Stacy drove by there on his way home. That’s when it happened: he stopped at a red light and glanced around, when he spotted an old Honda Civic stopped on the side of the street. Someone in bright pink scrubs was shielded by the popped hood. Just seeing pink scrubs these days gave him hope that it could be Evie. Unable to get a clear view, he couldn’t tell if it was her or not, but his heart nearly leapt out of his chest at the possibility. As soon as the light changed he made a sharp right, parked his car on a side street, hopped out and jogged over to the mystery person. Just as he reached her, Evie pulled back from under the hood and let it slam close. Stacy nearly jumped for joy. It was her. And this time their happenstance wasn’t even planned!
“Good evening, Evie,” he said walking up to her.
Startled by the greeting, she spun around. There was alarm flooding her face.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he countered quickly.
She placed her hand over her chest and began to laugh.
“No, it’s okay. You did scare me though.”
He smiled and raked his hands through his hair. He noticed she watched him intently as he did it, and he felt heat flood his face. He was used to the way women looked at him and admired him. But having her watch him like that was a whole different story.
“You’re in regular clothes,” Evie suddenly said. “Are you off duty?”
“Yeah, I was coming from…” He stopped himself before he said his girlfriend’s house. For some reason he did not want her to know about Kelly. Perhaps he didn’t want to jeopardize spending time with her by mentioning a girlfriend that he no longer wanted.
“From a friend’s house,” he finally continued.
Surprisingly, she seemed to except this and turned back towards her car.
“Since you’re here maybe you can help me figure out what’s wrong with my car.”
“You see, I only really stopped because you owe me a date now.”
Evie whirled around and stared at him.
“You thought I forgot?” he grinned.
Her mouth dropped open.
“I…I didn’t forget,” she stammered.
Stacy casually leaned against the closed hood of her car and folded his arms across his chest.
“Let’s make a deal. If I can help you with your car, then will you go out with me?”
He watched Evie break eye contact and look around for a moment. He could tell she was flustered. Evie suddenly took a deep breath, looked at him and said, “Okay. We can have lunch together.”
Stacy didn’t expect to feel that sudden unidentifiable feeling hit him again. Yet there it was with the acceptance of his proposal.
“Deal! Just not Gabriel’s please. I’ve had lunch there for the last couple of weeks.” Stacy mentally kicked himself because he had just let on to the fact that he had been frequenting the establishment in hopes of running into her. But, did she know that was why?
He watched as Evie bit her lip and scrutinized him. As he always does when he’s nervous, Stacy began running his hands through his hair again. By her reaction, he fully expected her to cancel their impending date now. How could he blame her? It was a bit creepy.
“Ok,” she finally said.
He breathed a sigh of relief, and before he could stop himself said, “Ever since that day I met you in the hospital I’ve wanted to see you again. I hope I’m not out of line by telling you this.”
“You’re fine,” she said. Those sentiments put a small grin on her face.
“I’m off work on Saturday. Does the afternoon around two o’clock work for you?”
“Saturday works for me.” She agreed, then hesitated for a moment as if she would change her mind. “Yeah, Saturday is OK, I guess.”
“So, um, at the risk of sounding like a sixteen-year-old boy, do you think I could have your phone number?”
“Yes.”
“Yes?” he asked. Somehow he needed reassurance.
“Yes, you sound like a sixteen-year-old boy, and yes you can have my number.”
Stacy chuckled as he watched her retrieve her cell phone from the car. Once they exchanged phone numbers he placed his phone in his back pocket, then turned and looked at her car.
“So what happened with your car?”
She sighed, “Well, besides being a piece of crap, on my way home from work it started making this funny jerking motion and then cut off. It hasn’t cut back on since.”
Stacy looked at the car and stroked his chin.
“Do you know what’s wrong with it?” she asked. “Do you know much about cars?”
“Go and pop the hood, and I’ll take a look at it.”