Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean Read Free Book Online Page A

knew the moment recognition set in. I slumped in my seat and averted my gaze. “I’m sorry . . .” His voice trailed off.
    “What?” Josh yelped.
    “Oh no! I’m sorry. I mean, I just got here. I don’t know who or what you’re talking about. I just came in to use the vending machine.”
    “Oh God.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Josh fall back in his chair.
    I recognized the doctor. In fact, I’d never forget him. Dr. Ramirez was his name. He cleared his throat. I still refused to look up.
    “Chloe? Is that you?”
    I felt the back of Blake’s fingers skim up and down my arm, but I remained silent.
    Dr. Ramirez sighed. “I’ve been trying to contact you, Chloe. I’ve been sending you letters once a month. It’s important that you come in and see me. Especially with—”
    Glaring up at him, I tried to keep my emotions in check as I said, “Isn’t this illegal—you talking about me like this in front of other people? Surely that violates patient-doctor confidentiality.”
    He rubbed his hand against his graying beard. “I’m just worried about you, Chloe.”
    “I’m fine,” I said. I didn’t want him talking about this—not now—and definitely not with Blake and Josh there. Blake’s hand settled on the curve of my shoulder; he squeezed it lightly.
    I looked down at the floor. I had nothing more to say. I heard the doctor sigh again before the sound of his footsteps faded and then disappeared.
    Several seconds of silence passed. If they had questions, they kept them to themselves, and I was grateful for that.
    “Chloe?” Josh said. He’d stood up and was walking toward me. He squatted down onto one knee so our gazes met. His eyes were filled with tears but clear enough that I could see the pain behind them. He took my hand in his. “I wouldn’t—” His voice cracked. He cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t ask if I had any other option. But you—you know that doctor and he seems to know you. And me—I need someone on my side right now. I need somebody that can help me. I need to see Tommy. I need to see my son. And I need to know that he’s okay. If you could do something, anything at all, to help me, to get me closer to him . . . I’m asking—no, I’m begging you—please, please help me.”
    A tear fell. Not his—but mine.
    I nodded, stood up, and made my way to the nurses’ desk. “Can you please page Dr. Ramirez?”

    Five minutes later, Josh was led in to see his son. I’d promised Dr. Ramirez I’d come in for a checkup. I’d lied. I’d even given him a phone number. Not mine. But Josh was able to be with his son. And that was all that mattered.

    “That was a good thing you did.”
    I looked up from dumping sugar in my coffee. We were on the floor of the waiting room and had an assortment of snacks and beverages between us.
    “I didn’t do anything, Blake.”
    He shook his head slowly. “You might not think so. But Josh—he’ll remember that forever.”
    I replaced the lid and took a sip of the coffee. It was nearly two in the morning now. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing there, but I couldn’t leave, and truthfully, I didn’t want to.
    Blake cleared his throat and looked up at me through his lashes. “So, that doctor knows you? He’s been sending you letters?”
    I slumped my shoulders, heaved a sigh, and ignored his question. “What’s the deal with him?”
    “Josh?” he asked, then took a sip of his coffee. It must have been too hot because he cursed and sucked the skin on the back of his hand, trying to cool his mouth. I contained my chuckle. He shrugged and continued, “He met Natalie our freshman year—”
    “He went to our school?”
    He laughed. “Yeah . . . and I’m still weirded out that we’ve been at the same school for however long, and I’ve never seen you before.”
    “Go on,” I said, trying to sidestep where he wanted this conversation to go.
    “So, they met when we were freshman. Natalie got pregnant start of