Code Grey

I’m tired, grouchy, and all I want is to finish my bourbon, play a game of pool with my brothers, then go home and crash. I have a full day in the OR tomorrow. Instead, I’m grumbling under my breath, watching the giant of a man and his Indian friend rack up for another game.

“That’s enough,” I declare, finishing my drink, slamming the glass on the table. I pull off my leather jacket, leaving it on the barstool.

”Amelia, don’t,” Matt sighs. But I’m already marching up to the pool table, ready to confront the oaf racking the balls. As I approach, I realize he’s pretty damn good looking. With a chiseled jaw, five o’clock shadow, and green eyes the color of the Emerald City.

I cock my hip, placing my hand on the pool table. His eyes trail down my body with a smirk. I’m going to enjoy knocking it from his face.

”Can I help you with something?” His voice is deep and rich, like the bourbon in my glass.

“Yeah, you’re gonna play me for this table.”

He leans on the pool stick and eyes me, a playful challenge in his expression. “Oh yeah? All four feet of you?“

I roll my eyes. He thinks he’s clever, but as a five foot tall, female surgeon I’ve heard every short joke in the book.

”Don’t be a dick. Are you going to play me, or are you chicken shit?”

“Are you sure you can reach the table from down there?” He looms over me, I’m sure thinking he’s intimidating me. I shove a finger into his chest.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t bother getting your name, but I’m more than happy to knock you down a peg.”

“Connor,” he replies. “And I’m confident you won’t be knocking any pegs from me.”

I take a pool stick from the rack and run chalk on the end of it.

“What’s your name, short and feisty?” he asks, his eyes never leaving me.

”I’ll make you a deal,” I say, racking the balls. “If you beat me I might tell you my name.”

“Alright.” he shoves his hands in his pocket, that cocky grin on his face.

“But when I win, we get the table.” I motion toward Matt, who’s shaking his head at me. “And you buy me drinks for the rest of the night.”

He follows my gaze, then crosses his arms over his chest and nods. “Ladies first.”

Good. He’s underestimating me. I line up the cue ball and break the rack, knocking in a solid and stripe.

”I’ll take stripes.”

His eyebrow raises.“Lucky shot.”

I sink another ball. “Hmmm…would you look at all that luck?”

I squeeze in between him and the table. His hands land on my hips as I bend over to take my next shot.

“I’ll take a bourbon on the rocks.” I flip my hair over my shoulder, moving around the table.

”You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you?” His eyes follow me.

”Very,” I reply, sinking another shot. I glance over my shoulder at him, with a teasing grin.

When only the eight ball remains on the table, I glance at him. “Oh, I’m sorry. Connor, right? Did you want a turn?”

He smirks, wetting his lips. “That’s my name. Connor Grey. But by all means, keep going. I’m enjoying the view.”

“Take a picture. It’ll last longer.” I sink the eight ball causing the smirk to fall from his face.

“Damn, you’re good,” he laughs. “I can’t remember the last time a girl beat me.”

“I’ll take that drink now.” I wave him off, digging in my pocket for quarters.

He stares at me for another moment before heading to the bar. When he returns with my drink, I’m setting up for a new game with Matt.

”So, what’s your name? Or should I keep calling you short and feisty?” He hands me the drink, leaning on the high top table.

”You lost, so no, you don’t get to know my name.”

His eyes rake over me. “Oh, so you’re playing hard to get, are you?”

”No,” I take a sip of my drink. “I’m playing ‘not gonna get.’”

”No? We’ll see about that.” He shoves his hands into his pockets, moving closer to me. His voice is low and rough, sending a warm thrill through me. I don’t look away from him, refusing to back down from this challenge.

“Aims, your turn?” Matt asks with exacerbation in his voice. Connor looks over my shoulder, then back at me.

“Your brother isn’t going to rip me to pieces for talking to you, is he?”

I cock my eyebrow at him. “Who says he’s my brother?”

He laughs. “The red hair is a dead giveaway.”

“Amelia, stop flirting and shoot,” Matt says again.

“Ah, Amelia’s your name.” Connor smirks. “It’s pretty, but doesn’t quite fit you. I was thinking you look more like a…Freckles.”

I snort. “Freckles? I look like a Freckles to you?”

He shrugs. “You have those big blue eyes and freckles scattered across your nose, so yeah, Freckles suit you.”

Matt laughs hysterically, earning a glare from me. He knows how much I hate cutesy nicknames.

“No.” I scowl at Connor, bending over the pool table and lining up my shot.

He moves behind me, his hands landing on my hips.

”Maybe I should call you something with a bit more bite.” He leans over, distracting me with notes of honey and aged whiskey.

I curse under my breath when I miss my shot. ”Oh, I bite alright,” I huff.

He doesn’t back away as I stand.

”I’m sure you do, and I’m betting you would leave a hell of a mark.” His breath ghosts against my skin. I glance up at him, taking a step back.

”Come any closer, and you’ll find out.”

He chuckles. “Don’t tempt me, darling. I bite back.”

I scrunch my nose, hating ‘Darling’ even more than ‘Freckles’. I pick up my drink, finishing it off. ”Hmm…my glass seems to be empty.”

He towers over me. “Looks that way. Do you need me to fix that for you, sweetheart?”

“I’m not your sweetheart or darling. And yes, as I recall, that was the deal after I handed you your ass.”

His eyes roam over me, a grin on his face. “Well then, what am I supposed to call you? Cutie? Babygirl? Princess?”

I pretend to gag. “Fuck no. Amelia will do.”

He laughs. ”Are you sure? You’ve got a face made for a pet name.”

My lips press together and my eyes narrow

“Alright, Freckles it is.” He holds his hands up.

I roll my eyes, and he laughs. It’s rich and deep like a bottomless pit.

”My glass isn’t refilling itself.”

”Patience, Freckles.” He winks at me, flagging down the waiter.

I look at the door just as a guy with hair a shade lighter than mine walks in. He spots us and I wave him over, embracing him.

“Hey, Brayden. I missed you,” I greet the newcomer. He kisses the top of my head and slaps Matt on the back.

“Missed you too, kiddos,” he says. “Who’s that?” He nods toward Connor.

I catch Connor’s eye and grin. “Just my drink supplier of the night.”

Brayden snorts, wrapping his arm around me protectively. “Is that all he’s supplying?” He wasn’t just my older brother. He just turned nineteen when our parents died. He dropped out of college, moved home, and took on the responsibility of his three younger siblings.

”I could definitely supply you with more than drinks, Freckles,” Connor interjects.

I laugh and size him up. “Oh, I bet you could, Romeo.”

”Come on, you can do better than that,” he chuckles. “Romeo was a lovesick idiot obsessed with a girl he didn’t even know. I have more class than that.”

I lift my eyebrow. Huh, he’s hot and smart. “So you’re not hitting on a girl you just met and making innuendos?”

”I’m making innuendos alright, but you’re hardly a girl, darling.”

”Huh, and all this time, I thought I was.” I grab my breasts in mock surprise.

He lifts his eyebrows, a smirk dancing across his face. “You’re all woman, darling.”

“Maybe I’m just an innocent girl.” I swirl a piece of my hair around my finger.

“Absolutely not. You’re a fiery, sassy woman with the body to match.” His eyes lock onto mine. I inhale sharply at their intensity.

I press the cue stick to his chest. “I’m all fire and ice. Come a step closer, and you might get burned.”

He smirks. “Don’t threaten me with a good time, Freckles.”

“It takes more than a few drinks and a shitty game of pool for me to have a good time.”

”What does it take then?” He brushes the pool stick aside but his phone rings. He curses under his breath.

I run my teeth over my lip, backing away. “Better get that. Might be important.” My eyes linger on him for a heartbeat. I figure it’s his wife calling to see when he’s coming home. I hadn’t missed the pale indention around his ring finger. When he pulls the phone from his pocket, I turn my attention back to my brothers.

”Where’s Aiden?” Brayden asks.

”He said he was on his way, but that was over an hour ago,” Matt answers.

”Should we check on him?” Brayden asks.

”Please, you know Aiden.” I wave off Brayden’s worry. “He probably got sucked into another game and lost track of time.”

I’m closest in age with my little brother, we have the most in common and still live together in the house we grew up in.

I catch movement out of the corner of my eyes. Connor drops a hundred dollar bill on the table in front of me. My mouth falls open as I look up at him.

”I have to go, Freckles. But this should cover your drinks for the rest of the night.”

Before I can say a word, he’s striding toward the door, his long legs eating up the distance in a matter of moments.

”Damn, Aims, who the hell was that guy?” Matt asks.

“I have no idea.” I stare after him.

Brayden’s phone rings. He pulls it from his pocket, and answers. “Hey, Aiden.”

I pick up the bill, noticing the number scrawled across it. I’m contemplating dialing it to see if it’s Connor who answers when Brayden’s tone changes.

“Oh, shit. Yea…yes. Okay” Brayden talks into the phone, grabbing his jacket. I freeze, knowing instantly from his tone it’s not Aiden on the other end.

“We’re on our way,” Brayden says, starting toward the exit. I instantly start running through the possibilities of what can be wrong, but I’m not prepared for the words that come from him next. “My sister works there.”

Matt and I exchange a look, hurrying after Brayden.

“What was that about?” Matt asks what I’m afraid to.

“Aiden’s been in an accident.” Brayden swings his leg over his bike. My stomach drops and I feel like I might vomit. “He’s at St. Michael’s.”

I grab my helmet, pulling it on. “How serious?”

“Said he’s in critical condition.”

I don’t hesitate. I jump on my bike and fire it to life. I’m spinning out of the parking lot before Matt can even get to his sedan.

I hit the freeway, taking the familiar road to the hospital. Saying a prayer to the Gods above that my baby brother is alright.