“No,” I say. “You didn't upset me.”
He studies my face, hard. It's like he's trying to see what goes on behind my eyes. He's trying to figure out the inner workings of my soul. “You're not a very good liar, Adelaide.”
“I'm not—” I try to insist for a second, but give up. “You didn't upset me. I was more disappointed. I never pegged you as the arrogant type. I don't think it's a very becoming quality.”
He frowns and lifts his head, staring straight forward. “Adelaide, I am not arrogant. I am self-assured. There is a difference.”
He was starting to relax a minute ago and my comment has brought back the cold, moody Dr. Watson. I should have kept my mouth shut. I enjoyed having him open up to me a little bit. “Are you always this closed off?”
He glares at me. “What?”
“Why don't you open up more?” I ask bravely.
His lips form a straight line and any trace of emotion evaporates from his face. “Why don't you?” There's a haunting echo in the way he asks the question. I look at the way his face twists. He's haunted by something. Demons of his past possibly?
I know all too well about the demons in my past and I prefer not to bring them up unless it’s absolutely necessary. “Because I don't like to talk about some things.”
“Exactly,” he agrees. “Neither do I.” At least we agree on something. “And for the record, just because I know women find me attractive that doesn't necessarily make me arrogant. I'm sure the same thing happens with you. I'm sure you can tell when a man finds you attractive.”
We reach the end of the hall and Dr. Watson maneuvers both me and my IV stand carefully before we walk back. Once he makes sure there's no tug on the tube connected to my arm, we start down the hall going back the way we came. Dr. Watson keeps his fingers delicately placed on the small of my back and I wonder how he could be so hard yet so gentle at the same time.
“No I can't,” I mention.
I think Dr. Watson forgot what he said because he's looking at me like he's confused. “Can't what?”
“I can't tell when men find me attractive.” To my knowledge only one man has ever found me attractive. I try to think of the boys I interacted with in school. Some would give me funny looks. Others would act like I wasn't even there. They'd pretend I was invisible.
Dr. Watson raises a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Oh?” He purses his lips. “So you've never dated then?”
“Dated, meaning?” I need more to go off of. I wonder if he means been in a relationship or dated around casually.
“Meaning you've been out on dates with gentlemen.”
“Oh,” I say softly. “No then. I haven't.”
The only gentleman I'd ever been with didn't take me anywhere. Not that he could. My daddy and his mother would never allow it. I'm sure if we were allowed the possibilities on where we could go and would want to go would be endless. Daddy actually didn't even know his intentions for me until that...
Until that...
No.
I swallow the memory and tuck into the back of my mind.
“I'm sure you have, though,” I say casually. “Possibly with that nurse who was batting her lashes at you?” I'm grasping straws. I know this. But part of me wants to know what kind of women Dr. Watson dates. If he's dated at all that is.
“Yes, I have taken women out on dates.” He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “And yes, I've gone out with Gretchen a few times.”
“And you've never taken it further?”
“Gretchen isn't really the type of woman you take things further with,” he tells me. “She's the type of girl you take out if you want to have fun.”
“Fun?” I repeat, uncertainty quivering on the tips of my vocal cords.
Dr. Watson's eyes scan the confused look on my face and I know he can tell I'm just not getting it. “For intimate purposes,” he adds.
“Oh,” I gasp then whisper, “she's a harlot.”
He laughs at my naiveté. And the sound of his deep booming laugh fills the narrow halls and fills my heart with joy. It's so full of joy that I feel a smile pulling on my lips. There aren't words to describe how magnificent it is to see this side of the cold, moody, and beautiful doctor. It's like watching a flower blossom for the first time in the spring. Almost miraculous.