Free Beyond Broken by Kristin Vayden

studied me.
    “More often? I do a lot.”
    “Not around me.” He continued to gaze at me. “Why?”
    “Why, what?” I asked.
    “Why don’t you smile for me, smile at me, Sophia? You’re too young to be so serious. You can’t be more than twenty five.”
    “Thanks.” I gave him a glare.
    “For?” His expression was unrepentant.
    He was baiting me.
    “You’re not twenty-five, are you? Didn’t think so. You’re twenty-two. Don’t be offended. I’m twenty-eight and totally comfortable with it. I mean, look at me.” He puffed out his chest.
    “Yeah…” I rolled my eyes.
    “So I need to be funny, and that beautiful face of yours will light up? Okay, you’ve got it.” He strutted away and plopped on the couch.
    I followed him and began to take his pulse. Since I forgot my watch I had to turn to watch the secondhand on the clock. “Ouch.” As I turned my neck I winced from a shooting pang reminding me of my injury.
    “Are you okay?” Greyson asked immediately, a concerned expression on his face.
    “Yeah, I just slept wrong. Nothing to worry about.” I reached up to rub the side of my neck.
    “Let me.” Greyson’s hands were on my neck immediately, kneading it and working the tight muscle. At his touch everything else in my body tensed up, then hummed with life.
    It took all of my self-control, but I leaned away from the pleasure, the skill of his hands. “Thanks, but that’s alright.”
    His expression was curious. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
    “Yeah, thanks though.” I cleared my throat again and stood, gathering my stuff.
    “I’ll be back later to check on you. Maybe later we’ll go for a walk?” I asked lightly.
    “That would be great,” he said, but his expression still held curiosity.
    As I left and walked down the hall it occurred to me that I had completely forgotten to finish taking his pulse, his blood pressure, everything. The only thing I did remember was the warm sensation of his finger touching my temple, his hands at my neck massaging my flesh. Even now my skin tingled where he’d touched, as if my skin refused to forget, which was exactly what I wished it would do. I was falling harder, deeper. It wasn’t all in my head, it was in my heart.
    Just another red flag warning me that my attraction was forming too fast. That scared me more than anything. Because Greyson didn’t need me. He needed to survive on his own; he needed to grow into the man he was. I’d be nothing but a crutch, a diversion from the path he needed to take alone. As much as it killed me, knifed me in the heart, I reminded myself that there was no room for me in his life, not if he was to grow beyond what he was now. And that broke my heart further, because who he was now was incredible, the man he could be would be almost perfect.
    I walked to the cafeteria, resigned and able to finally distance myself from my emotions by remembering the truth. I filled my tray and sat by the window again, careful to tilt my chair so I could see out without turning my head.
    “May I sit with you? Or are you going to tease me about my food again?” Dr. Solomon grinned and sat down before I even nodded.
    “No ice cream? Wait, that’s right. Only on Holy Wednesday.” I smiled.
    “Alas, Wednesday it is not. Therefore…” He held up a large plate of salad and hard-boiled eggs.
    “Not nearly as appealing as chocolate sauce,” I said as he poured dressing over the top.
    He glanced up quickly and coughed. “Uh, no.” He glanced back down, but his ears turned slightly red.
    What had I said? It took me a minute before I got it. Slightly inappropriate, Sophia! I felt my own face turn red. At least he knew that I meant it in reference to ice cream.
    “How was your morning?” he asked then forked a full bite of salad into his mouth.
    “Good. I see I’m scheduled to meet your new patient this afternoon.”
    He swallowed his food. “Yeah, I don’t think I’ll need your assistance yet, but I’d rather you be