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the sofa. He soon followed, still grinning. "So, did all the other women that came to ogle the new doctor have cognitive impairment?"
    "It’s not that funny," I told him.
    "Then why are you smiling?"
    "Because you're cute," I answered, but I froze when I realized what I’d just said.
    He grinned spectacularly, surprised. "Am I?"
    I huffed out a breath and ignored his question, I opened the fridge and scouted for something to eat.
    "Nathan," he said softly. When I finally looked back at him, he was still smiling. "Do you think I’m cute?" he asked in a teasing manner, but I couldn’t handle it.
    "Look, Trent," I said exasperated. "This is a lot for me to take in, okay? This is all new to me, that you're a man, that I’m finally feeling something for the first time in my life. I’ve had barely forty-eight hours to deal with the fact I’m attracted to a guy, okay? I’m trying to get my head around what it means that I’m attracted to anyone , so give me a fucking break."
    My words were louder and harsher than I intended, and I saw the sting of them in his eyes. I closed my eyes tightly and pulled at my hair with both hands.
    When I opened my eyes to tell him I was sorry, he wasn’t there.
     

 
    CHAPTER 6
     
    When I got up the next morning, last night's outburst at Trent was heavy in my chest. I took Bentley for his morning run, fed him his toast - and mine - then got dressed for work. There was still no sign of Trent by the time I left, and I couldn’t say I blamed him.
    I got to work and started with some paperwork, but the day soon turned busy enough with the usual admissions. I saw the Peters girl scurrying through the halls. When she was talking to other people, she was smart and witty, but she still got that glazed look every time she saw me. It made me smile.
    When I got home that night, the house was dark and quiet. Bentley greeted me cheerfully, but I was disappointed Trent still didn't want to face me. I knew it was late, but it wasn’t that late. I knew him avoiding me was my own doing. He probably thought he was doing me a favor by giving me space.
    But I didn’t want him to.
    I sat and stared at the TV for a while, but I couldn't tell you what I watched. Finally I crawled into bed, hoping tomorrow would be a new day in more ways than one.
    But it didn't start out that way. I got up to find Bentley was not in his bed or in the house, and Trent's truck was gone. He must have got up and left early to avoid me. I did my best to ignore thoughts of him and the hollow aching lump in my stomach, and went to work.
    I was kept busy until mid-afternoon by two kids from a nearby town, who thought motorbike riding without protective clothing was fun. Nothing critical, just scrapes, cuts and bruises, and one had a torn cruciate ligament in his knee. But they'd both live to boast about it.
    The Chief was there, of course, and his daughter was not far behind him. She was lecturing the two boys about the dangers and the stupidity. "Jeez Scott, what the hell were you thinking?" she scolded him. "Adam will tan your hide."
    Then the other kid laughed. "Toby, it’s not funny," Dani chided, "you could have been seriously hurt."
    They rolled their eyes, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. It was then she looked at me and got that glazed over, stupid look on her face. I found myself smiling, and she blushed before scurrying away. I couldn’t wait to tell Trent because he'd think it was funny. Then I remembered that Trent wasn't exactly talking to me, and my smile drained away.
    Goddamn it.
    The rest of the afternoon blurred by, and all too soon I was walking up the front steps of the house wondering what I'd find. The house was dark except for the kitchen light, and the silence was deafening.
    I threw my bag on the table, and with a defeated sigh, I walked into the kitchen. And he was there. He was standing with his back to me, wearing grey sweat pants and a black tee shirt. He knew I was there, but he still wouldn't look