Chapter 5
Brooke barely had time to conceal before Jack and Patrick arrived to their table. She felt her face flush. Then Patrick put a hand on her shoulder.
– Brookie.
– Hey, you're back. –she said, trying to sound casual. Ilana was holding her laugh when she saw Brooke was really nervous.
– Yeah, and I'm here to introduce Doctor Jack Shephard, brilliant spinal surgeon, my mentor and one of my best friends. A huge influence in my life, I must say.
Jack felt embarrassed at such introduction. He managed a short smile and looked from Brooke to Ilana and then back to Brooke. Patrick went on.
– Jack, this is Ilana Kayser, my editor. She's the brain that put my thoughts together for the book.
– It's Kritzer. –Ilana said, forcing a smile. She shook Jack's hand.
– And this lady here… –Patrick continued– is Brooke Julian, a long time, dearest friend, former college roommate.
– It's a pleasure to meet you both. –Jack said, looking at Brooke and shaking her hand. He noticed Brooke gave him that look, the one everybody that knew him from the crash gave him. Please, don't ask me about that, he thought. Then Patrick excused himself again and left them talking.
– So, I guess you and Patrick work together. –Ilana quickly said, to break the awkward moment.
– We do, he was actually one my interns.
– Really? –Ilana said, giving Jack a "Poor thing" look.
Jack smiled, knowing exactly what she meant. – Yeah, he can get to your nerves sometimes, he's kind of… scattered.
– You bet. –Ilana affirmed. Jack found Ilana really amusing, with a mix of sarcastic and black humor. – You write too? –she asked him with particular interest.
Jack laughed shortly at the question and remembered how he wasn't even able to write down his vows when he married Sarah. – I'm afraid not. I'm pretty bad at writing, to be honest.
Then he noticed Brooke wasn't getting into the conversation. Ilana also noticed Brooke had gone mute, and she threw her a "What the hell?" look. Jack made his move.
– So, you went to Columbia too? –he asked Brooke, casual. Ilana felt relieved that he wasn't as dumb as her friend.
– Yeah. Perfect Brooke, just give one syllable answers, he'll go crazy with your amusing conversation, she thought.
Jack kept trying to break the ice. – What's your major?
– I'm a journalist. Come on Brooke! You can do better than that!
– Really? What you write about? –Jack wasn't losing his patience with her short answers. After all, he was way used to always have to pull words out of people.
Brooke finally put herself together and relaxed, thankful he didn't walk away from her, at least not yet. – I'm the fashion editor of The New York Days.
Jack didn't expect that. He thought she might be in a public relations sort of job. He had this wrong idea that really hot, sophisticated girls were always shallow and most of the times dumb. Well, fashion's not a great topic, he thought. – Definitely not my field. –Jack said, giving a short smile and looking down, shy.
Right, Armani boy, Brooke thought. The short time they had been talking, she had his whole outfit figured out. She couldn't help it, it was an automatic process. She saw his suit perfectly matched his shirt and tie. His shoes were shiny and simple. His cuff-links were Armani as well, and he was wearing the latest Tag Heuer watch. His style, she concluded, was minimalist elegance, which she thought was the best for men, especially when they looked like Jack.
– I wouldn't say so… –she replied, throwing Jack a flirtatious look. Am I already flirting with him? God, I'm such a sluttie…
Jack noticed she was switching to flirtatious mode. So did Ilana, finally breathing. Her friend was back from limbo. Seeing it was the right time to slip away and leave them alone, she said: – I've got to check on the escorts, the presentation's about to begin. It was nice to meet you, Jack. Here… –Ilana handed him her business card. – If you ever decide to start writing your memoirs.
– Right. Thanks. –Jack took the card and shook her hand again.
Ilana walked away from them and they restarted the conversation.
– Your boyfriend's coming tonight? Did I just ask her that?
Brooke smiled at the question and looked at him right in the eye. Getting the info already, good boy. – I don't have a boyfriend.
– Just dating?
– Nope. No dates at all. –When Brooke sensed he was two seconds away from giving her the "How come you don't have a boyfriend?" type of compliment, the speakers announced: "All distinguished guests, please take your seats, we'll start in 3 minutes".
Damn it! Now I have to go sit with the Board, Jack thought, terribly annoyed. Brooke also cursed in her thoughts. She had to join Ilana and other crew members.
– Show time. –she told him.
– Yeah. I've got to…–Jack said, pointing to one of the tables in the ballroom.
– Yeah, me too… but I'll see you in 30 minutes, okay?
– I can't wait. –he replied.
Brooke smiled at him and walked away, positive he would stare at her butt. So he did. Jesus Christ, Jack. How old are you? You behave like a horny teenager, he thought, still staring.
After Ilana read Patrick's profile and a brief of the book, she finally introduced him.
– Please welcome Dr. Patrick Mayer.
The audience received him with a nice ovation. Patrick took the stand and started telling how he brought his book to life.
Jack wasn't paying attention at all. He was replaying in his head the conversation with Brooke, if he could call that a conversation. What he remembered the most was her face. He found her absolutely beautiful. She had big brown expressive eyes, a delicate small heart-shaped mouth, an honest smile and a perfect nose. If he hadn't been a doctor, he would have sworn she'd had a nose job. Her skin was a little tanned. She was sort of a Gabriella-type, but younger. No wonder why he found her so attractive.
As he was thinking about all that stuff, that feeling got him again. He really couldn't believe he felt attracted to this girl. Like he didn't have a past, like if nothing ever happened… He felt overwhelmed at the notion of his past and dropped it. What the hell? She might not like me at all. I'm too old for her anyway… or am I not? What he really felt was confusion. He felt excited with the idea of finding someone. He was lonely. But at the same time, he found that excitement inappropriate. He felt guilt.
On the other hand, he didn't know what kind of girl she was, and especially, what kind of relationship she had with Patrick, now and back in college. A guy and a girl living together? I kind of know how those stories usually end. That could be an issue.
Meanwhile, Brooke was also thinking about him. She felt nervous. Nervous he wouldn't ask her phone number. Nervous she was misunderstanding the signals. Maybe he's just being nice. He must be in his late 30's. What if he's married? That thought crushed her. The last thing she needed was another troubled relationship. Besides, she believed marriage was a sacred bond, and her love ethics included never dating neither a married, nor an engaged man. Not even think about it.
The minute the presentation was over, Jack stood up and tried to locate Brooke. She was looking for him too. They finally ran into each other at the bar again.
– Hey. –he said, openly smiling at her.
– Hey. So, you liked the show?
– Well, Patrick's not my idea of an entertainer, but he was actually fine. He really can handle audiences. –he replied, amused.
– Oh, you have no idea! –she told him.
Jack found that comment revealing, and the pessimistic part of him thought they had definitely been involved. – You live around? –he asked.
Please God, tell me he lives in New York. – I live in New York.
Jack's face went blank. He couldn't help but wince. – Well, that's far.
– You live here. Of course he lives here you dumb, he works with Patrick.
– Yeah.
Trying to retain his interest, she explained. – Actually I come to LA very often.
– You do?
– Yeah, the thing is a lot of designers are based here and I have to come and check…
The beep of Jack's pager interrupted her. Damn it, he thought. There had been a massive fire in a factory and dozens of injured workers were being taken to Saint Sebastian's ER. He had to be there.
Brooke watched him frown and figured something bad happened. – Is everything alright?
– It's an emergency. I have to go to the hospital. But I'd like to call you…
Brooke opened her eyes wide and smiled. She didn't react.
Jack was running out of time and he soon began switching to doctor mode, impatient. – I don't have your number.
– Oh! Right. –Brooke took a business card and a pen from her purse. She wrote her home number down and handed it to Jack.
– I'll call you. It's been nice to meet you. –he said, honestly.
– Same to me. –she replied. And with that, Jack ran to say goodbye to Patrick. He was followed by Derek, Varya and Andrea.
– What happened? –Ilana asked from behind her.
– Hospital emergency. –Brooke replied, frustrated.
– So, how did it go?
– Everything was working out until his pager beeped. I gave him my number, but now I'm sure he'll lose it in the rivers of blood.
– Well, you still can keep track of him. You can ask Patrick.
– No way! He would make a big deal of it and probably ruin the whole thing.
– I think he'll call you. I was watching you both and I'm positive he likes you.
– I wish. –Brooke said, still staring at the door from where Jack left. She really liked him so far. – I wish he calls…