Free Smooth Moves by Betty McBride

mother and father were doing.
    Shrugging, he said, “Trying to get another shop opened. It looks like my fun’s about to be over.”
    Candice’s gaze shot to Rich. Noticing, Ben tried yet again to flirt with her. She finally said with a frown, “I’m not interested in shallow men.”
    His eyes widened before he started to snap something back. Rich’s warning vibe flooded the air as he calmly said, “Take your attitude outside. There’s a patient in the room.”
    Rich ushered Candice and his brother out the door before Ben rounded on her, “Look here. You wouldn’t be hanging out with my brother if I hadn’t introduced you to the juices which gave you…”
    “What?!?”
    “Oh, he didn’t tell you. Our first meeting was…”
    Rich stepped between them, “Ben, knock it off. Everyone here, including yourself, knows you’re shallow. You’ve said it plenty of times before. Candice, he was the one that brought you to the shop in the first place, not me.”
    Her jaw dropped as her eyes narrowed. Ben curled his lip from behind his brother and said, “I just wanted to help you overcome that ugly rash on your face. I had no idea my…”
    Rich spun around and growled, “Enough. She had a slight rash and was—in no way—ugly. You don’t get to take credit for crap. She’s the one that blended her own juices and became healthy again.”
    He had no idea that Candice was halfway down the hall. Having been lied to, she wasn’t sticking around to hear any more. Ben pointed over his brother’s shoulder, showing glee at how she was hurrying away. Rich shot back at him, “If we weren’t in a hospital, I would deck you.”
    Hurrying after her, he cringed at his brother’s laughter. When he caught up, she pulled her arm out of his grip and hissed, “Enough. Why didn’t you tell me it was him and not you?”
    Driving his fingers into his hair, Rich shifted from one foot to the other, “Because I’m used to him taking credit for everything , Candice. I wanted to get to know you.” She rolled her eyes and started to move away again, causing him to hurriedly explain, “You don’t understand, Candice. We just recently swapped positions because he’s always been this way. I couldn’t take being the face of the business any longer.”
    “Look, Rich, I don’t like being lied to. Our whole relationship is based on one. I cannot believe…”
    “No, it isn’t. He had to show me how it was done and I let him. You just happened to get…” Realizing how everything sounded, he shook his head and weakly finished, “…caught in the middle.”
    “I’m tired, Rich, of being caught up in everyone’s perceptions. First, I was a punching bag for society and then you guys lied and used me. At least everyone else had the balls to laugh in my face.” Barking a derisive laugh, she breathed, “And here I thought I’d found love.” Stubbing her cigarette out, she snapped, “From now on, just leave me alone.”
    At the word love, Rich froze. Ignoring his stunned expression, she hurried past him and back into the hospital. When she encountered Ben, she snapped, “Get out and take your entire lying family with you.”
    In tears, Candice fled to the restroom. Ben left, finding Rich still hovering at the entrance while trying to figure out what to do. Obviously only thinking of himself, Ben told him, “Isabella is searching for me, Rich. She’s gotten clingy and you know how I hate that.”
    Still angry and with his mind on his own important matters, Rich shut him out. Ben continued as if his twin was absorbing every word, “What does she want from me?” With a disdainful laugh, Ben admitted, “She accused me of being selfish and suggested I be more like you. Can you believe that? I mean…” Realizing his brother wasn’t listening, Ben smacked his arm and snapped, “Damn, Rich, quit pining over that sickly snit and…”
    Rich turned on him, “You have no couth, Ben, and only think about yourself. How you were able