Addicted to you, p.10
Addicted to You, page 10
“She’s fine, I came to see you. Do you remember me from the other night?” The stranger’s eyes followed Elin’s stare. “It’s my medical bag.”
“Where are my manners? Please come inside…um…Doctor…” Elin was confused.
“Sullivan.”
Once the doctor entered the apartment Elin closed the door.
“You say that you were here Friday night, Doctor Sullivan?”
“Yes, you were in a…shall we say…um…in a compromised state from standing in the rain.”
“I don’t get why I’d need a doctor?” Elin’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Marissa thought you might be seriously ill and need medical help.” The doctor cocked her head to the side. “She called me.”
“I see.” Elin could feel her face heat and she smiled brightly. “She was worried about me?”
“Yes, that is why she called me.” The woman sounded frustrated.
“I just made some coffee, would you like a cup?”
“Yes, thank you. Black is good.”
“Please take a seat and I’ll be right back.” Elin returned with two cups of coffee. “Here you go.” She sipped her coffee, eyeing the doctor sitting on the couch.
“Have you been her friend for a long time?” Elin asked, afraid that the doctor was Marissa’s lover or partner.
“Her friend? Marissa doesn’t have friends. She only has conquests.” Aimee scowled.
“I don’t understand. If you’re not her friend, why did you come when she asked you?”
“Why don’t you sit over here next to me and let me examine you.” Aimee patted the couch.
“If you’re not her friend then what are you?” Elin sat down next to her.
Aimee took the stethoscope out of her ears.
“Are you her doctor?”
“No.” The words seemed to be cautiously spoken. “I was involved with her just like you.”
“Like me? I don’t understand. Are you her partner?”
Aimee continued her examination. “Your chest sounds fine. How have you been sleeping?”
Elin rubbed the nape of her neck. “Except for Friday night I’ve been having some difficulty getting more than a few hours a night lately.”
“What about your appetite? Are you eating regularly?”
“Not lately,” Elin answered. “Please answer my question. Are you her partner?”
Aimee ignored the question. “Hmm, no appetite and sleepless nights that sounds familiar. I remember that happening to me a little over two years ago.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Years ago, when I was on my family medicine rotation, I was her favorite for a weekend.” She laughed derisively. “She breezed into my office and I had never met anyone like her. So charming and so sexy. That sensuous gaze of hers crawls under your skin and demands recognition. Somehow she bores a hole in your brain and fills it with thoughts of only her.” Aimee gazed at Elin. “You know how that is, don’t you? When out of nowhere this vision comes along and from that moment on it occupies your every waking moment.”
Elin’s hand instantly went over her ears as she began to understand what the doctor was trying to tell her. “I don’t want to hear this. It is different for me.”
Aimee smiled with compassion. “I thought that was the case too. I thought I would be the one to sweep her off her feet. It doesn’t work that way for Marissa.”
“No, you’re lying. She loves me, I know it. Why else would she have brought me home the other night or called you to take care of me?”
“You don’t get it do you?”
“Get what?” Elin cried out clutching her head.
“She didn’t do all that for you, she did it for herself. It’s always for and about her.”
“No,” Elin sobbed.
Aimee lifted Elin’s chin. “Yes, unfortunately it’s true. She’ll use you until she’s done with you and then she’s gone.”
“If all that is true then why did you help her out?” Elin sniffled. “Surely if she is as bad as you say you would have walked away from her.” Elin’s voice rose with righteous anger.
“I wish it were that easy. I’ve been trying ever since I was with her to do just that, but when she calls, I run to her.”
“Why?”
Aimee shook her head and laughed. “Why indeed.” For a moment, Aimee’s eyes searched the room as she tried to find the right words. Elin deserved to know the truth no matter how much it might hurt her. When she had entered the apartment earlier and saw Elin’s swollen, red-rimmed eyes, and haggard look, she knew the girl hadn’t slept in days. Aimee’s heart went out to Elin for she knew exactly what she was feeling. The doctor looked beyond Elin’s outward appearance and saw something else—a sweet innocence. Marissa certainly knew how to pick the most vulnerable women.
“Answer my question,” Elin growled. “Tell me why you keep going back.”
“Because I truly believe that she will finally realize I am the one.” Aimee lifted one shoulder. “Hope springs eternal. After all this time you’d think I’d know better.” She touched Elin’s hand. “I know how you feel.”
“No, you don’t. How could you? You have no idea how I feel.”
“Yes, I do,” Aimee said. “I’ve been where you are now, and I can guarantee there is no forever where Marissa is concerned.”
“No, you’re wrong.” Elin swiped at her tear-filled eyes.
“Elin, is your heart breaking more than you ever thought possible?” Aimee asked softly.
“Yes.”
“Has anyone ever hurt you like this before?”
“No.”
“If she walked through your door right now what would you do? Pummel her and throw her out?”
“I couldn’t do that to her.”
“If she called you on the phone and said, ‘I want to meet you’ what would you do?”
“I’d go to her.”
“Why?”
Aimee saw the dawning of the realization on Elin’s face. She was finally beginning to understand what Aimee was telling her. Marissa was in Elin’s blood and there was no way to eradicate her.
“She was my first. I thought it would be forever.”
Empathy for Elin welled in Aimee’s heart for she knew exactly how she felt. Aimee put her arm around the young woman and pulled her close.
“Forever for Marissa is from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon at the most. Some don’t even get that. Oh, she will call you occasionally, and you will go to her because you can’t help yourself. You tell yourself that this time will be different and this time she will stay. The sad truth, Elin, is that she never does.”
“No, I won’t go to her. I will never let her in again.”
“Yes, you will.”
Elin began to sob again uncontrollably for she knew the truth in those words. To Marissa she was nothing but a diversion. To her, Marissa was everything and she would do whatever was necessary to keep Marissa in her life.
Aimee fished in her bag, took out a business card, scribbled a number on the back and handed it to Elin. “If you ever want to talk or just have a shoulder to cry on call me. If you call the hospital, they won’t let you talk to me, so I put my cell number on the back. I check those messages every hour.”
Elin took the card and turned it over. “I called her every day and she never was available so why would you be.”
“I promise I will call you back,” Aimee said. “Everyone isn’t like Marissa.”
“Thank you,” Elin held up the card, “for everything.”
Aimee gently rubbed her thumb across Elin’s cheek. She cocked her head and smiled.
“I have an idea if you’re open to it.”
“What is it?” Elin asked.
“Would you like to have dinner with me?”
Elin pulled away.
“I’m not ready for another relationship. This one has done all the damage I ever want to feel.”
“No, you misunderstand—it’s not a date. We can talk about what we feel and maybe come up with a plan for not letting it happen again,” Aimee offered. “Let’s just say it will be our way of eradicating Marissa from our lives.” Aimee laughed. “Our own twelve step program.”
“Hmm, that could have some merits.” Elin straightened and wiped the last of the tears she vowed would never fall again for Marissa away.
“Yep, we can be each other’s support system. If Marissa ever tempts us again, we will just be a call away to help the other say no. What do you say? Do you want to give it a try?”
“I’d like that. It will be good to have someone that understands to talk to about this.”
“You know, we could be at this for a very long time. Even forever. Look at me,” she touched her chest, “I’ve been under her spell for seven years.”
Elin, for the first time, really looked at Aimee. She was very attractive and Elin guessed she was around ten years older than her. “I’ve got the time. Do you?”
“Yes.” Aimee held out her hand. “Partners.”
“Partners.” Elin took the warm hand in hers and shook it.
“Good.” Aimee drank the last of her coffee. “Let me get going. I have a few patients in the hospital to visit and then I’ll go home and change.” She looked at her watch. “What do you say I pick you up around five?” Her eyes searched Elin’s. “Do you think you can be ready by then?”
“Will you really come back?” Fear gripped Elin.
Aimee patted her hand. “I’m not Marissa and yes, I will be back.”
“Then I’ll be ready.”
Kati picked that moment to jump on Elin’s lap and she smiled. “Aimee, this is Kati.”
“Hi there, beautiful.” Aimee placed a gentle hand on Kati’s head and smiled. Her eyes found Elin’s. “I have a cat too. Maxine is her name. Maybe they can have a play date sometime.”
Elin smiled at Aimee’s passing comment. “Maybe they can.”
Chapter Eleven
Elin threw an outfit she’d just taken off onto the bed, and then rummaged through her closet for something else to wear when she went with Aimee to dinner. A brief smile curled her lips before the image of Marissa changed it to a frown.
“How could I have been so foolish that I’d believe her words? Obviously, they were all lies.” Angry with herself she finally settled on a pair of skinny jeans, a button-down shirt, and boots. It wasn’t a date, so she didn’t need to go all out in the way she dressed. She had no idea of where they would be going but most places in the area had a laid-back way about them.
Apprehension filled Elin as five o’clock drew near. A small part of her hoped Aimee would arrive, but the biggest part—the unconfident part—knew she wouldn’t. The buzzing coming from the intercom startled her and she paused before pressing the button. Only a few moments passed before there was a soft knock on the door.
“Hi, you came,” Elin said when she saw Aimee.
“I said I would, and I always keep my word.” She smiled. “Are you ready to go?”
“I’m sorry I don’t have many visitors…would you like to come in and have a glass of wine? I think I have some Pinot Noir…maybe some white…”
Aimee chuckled. “Yes, I will join you for a glass of wine while we are having dinner.”
“Oh, right.” Elin shook her head. “Like I said, I don’t go out very often. Where are we going?”
“I thought we’d go to one of my favorite hangouts, Glitter. It is within walking distance…it’s just two blocks down the street and they have fantastic burgers.”
Elin could feel her stomach clench and she drew in a breath.
“Is that a problem?” Aimee asked with concern in her voice. “We can go somewhere else if you like.”
“No. No, Glitter is fine,” she lifted a shoulder, “I was just surprised that’s all…I didn’t know you knew my neighborhood, that’s all.”
“I did my residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital, so I do know the area quite well. In fact, my apartment at the time was about a half mile from here.”
“Where do you work now?” Elin asked with a smile.
“Columbia Hospital.” Aimee gestured to the door. “Shall we go?”
“Sure.” With apprehension, Elin locked the door and followed Aimee down the stairs. Her biggest fear now was running into the woman who had harassed her the last time she was at Glitter.
†
Elin could hear the laughter and music as she approached the door of Glitter with Aimee. She steeled herself for what was to come. Other than going out with the women from work, she could count on one hand the number of times she went out otherwise. When they walked inside Elin began searching the crowd to see if she saw anyone she recognized. What was her name? Ah, yes, Chris. God, I hope she isn’t here tonight.
“Come on,” Aimee said before grabbing Elin’s hand.
They weaved in and out of groups of women until they came to an opening that had a beaded door. Aimee pushed on through.
“What is this place? Is this some sort of—” Elin stopped and gave Aimee a suspicious look.
Aimee held up her hand. “I’m not playing some sort of game if that is what you are thinking. I’m friends with the owner, Kathy, and this is a special area she set up for her friends that wanted to be out of the crowds. It will be quieter here and we can talk in private.”
After she looked around the room that had three tables, one of which had a couple sitting there, Elin let her shoulders relax. “Like I said before, I have no reference for this.”
“I know,” Aimee said softly. “I’m not Marissa and I’ll never play games with your emotions.”
Elin listened to Aimee’s words and realized that the doctor was asking her to trust her when Elin had no reason to. The earlier conversation she overheard between Aimee and what seemed to be a distraught patient on the phone made her realize she did have a reason to trust. Aimee was a kind and decent person who probably didn’t play games.
“Elin? I have no agenda here. Do you believe that?”
“To be honest, Aimee, I don’t know you well enough to believe you. But from what I know about you so far, I would lean toward believing you.”
“Good, that’s a start.” Aimee smiled. “What do you say we take that table over there in the corner?”
Once they placed their orders for burgers, fries, and beer, the two women sat in silence, each lost in their own worlds.
“You said it has been seven years since you met her, Aimee.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Do you think you will ever be over her?”
“I think I am on that road now.”
“I mean really over her, Aimee. To the point that if she calls you don’t answer.” Elin gave her an intense stare.
“I don’t know. With everything that I am I hope so.” Aimee shrugged. “What about you?”
“It’s still too raw to make a judgement either way.” She took a long drink of beer. “The intensity of what she made me feel isn’t fading despite what I know now.”
“She will try to suck you in again, Elin. You know that, don’t you?”
“You’re probably right, but she hasn’t tried that yet so I really don’t know. What I do know is that if she called, I’d go to her and—”
“Well, well look who we’ve got here…the tease.”
Elin looked up at the speaker and saw who she remembered as the woman trying to get her into bed. “Please leave.”
“You think she’s going to put out but don’t be fooled. She will lead you on and then leave you hanging.” Chris stared at Aimee and then sneered. “I’d suggest you dump this one.”
“I believe the lady asked you to leave.” Aimee scooted her chair back and stood.
“What are you? Whipped?” Chris let out a maniacal sounding laugh.
Elin placed her hand on Aimee’s arm. “Leave it. I’m sure she’s not worth the effort.”
Just then a woman dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt came into the room and stood by the table.
“Is this one giving you trouble, Doc?”
“No, she was just stopping by to say hello,” Aimee said.
“Uh-huh. Not to doubt you, Doc, but I’ve dealt with her before.” Kathy looked at Chris. “I told you the last time you made trouble for my customers, Chris, that I’d run you out of here and not let you back in.”
“I didn’t do nothing.” Chris pointed at Aimee. “She told you I was just sayin’ hi to my friend here.”
“We both know that is a lie. Get out and don’t come back,” Kathy growled. Once Chris walked away, she said, “Sorry about that. She’s a real troublemaker and it’s about time I banned her.”
“Thank you. Kathy, this is my friend Elin Prescot. Elin, this is Kathy Martinez…she owns the place.”
Kathy held out her hand. “Pleased to meet you. Is this your first time here?”
“Um, no, I’ve been in here a few times.” Elin could feel her cheeks heat up. “That’s how Chris knows me…” She looked away.
“Hey, no worries. You are not the first one she’s accosted. She thinks that sweet talk will get her into someone’s pants and then gets pissed off when they reject her advances.”
“Thank you for letting me know that,” Elin said just as their burgers arrived.
“Not a problem. Well, I’ll leave you to it. Enjoy.”
“Sorry I brought you here,” Aimee said placing her hand on Elin’s.
“Thank you for defending me.” She picked up the burger and took a bite. “Oh, this is fantastic. It never occurred to me to wrap a burger in lettuce.”
“I always have lettuce instead of bread when I can,”
“I will remember to do that…although I don’t eat out often.”
“Why not?” Aimee asked.
“All my life I’ve had my eye on a prize and have worked toward that end.” Elin placed her burger back in the basket. “I love designing clothes…always have. When I’m not at work I spend the time creating different designs and concepts. One day I hope to have my own clothing line.”
“That’s ambitious. Do you work with fashion now?”
“Yes, at Boutique La René.”
