Bud's head was all jumbled up. Him and his wife had been separated for close to a month now and he was already starting to have feelings for another woman. He wasn't sure how to approach the situation, but he knew he had too. He couldn't picture himself with the doctor. She was so small and fragile and he was so big and mighty. Then there was what everyone would think. It would make work weird and he wouldn't be able to live with the looks and gossip. Being a detective has taught him to never take life for granted. He had seen a ton of dead bodies in his lifetime. He'd seen people who had done stupid things with their life and ultimately led them to their own grave. He didn't want to live a life full of regrets. He knew he had to take the chance and he wanted too. The problem is that he's not the romantic type, he never had been and that's part of the reason why he's living in a hotel. He had to confide in someone, but who?
He knocked on Peter's office door hoping that he would be there and not off on a cast with Megan. It was his lucky day when Peter opened up the door.
"Hey, man. What's up?" Peter asked curiously. Bud had never before visited his office.
"Can I come in? I need to talk to you about something…in private." Bud asked. He was obviously nervous and Peter could see this right away.
"Sure," Peter left the door and went to sit behind his desk. Bud walked in and made sure the door was closed before he took his seat on the opposite side of the desk.
They sat in complete silence for the next five minutes, each of them waiting for the other to talk. Peter had never seen Bud like this. He was sweating, he kept his legs bouncing up and down, and he was at a loss for words. Peter decided to break the ice, "So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" He got straight to the point. He wanted to help Bud, but he had to be at the morgue in fifteen minutes. If he didn't talk they would surely be sitting there until then.
"I don't know how too…I have a…I want too…" Bud tried to explain, but fear got the best of him. He put his head in his hands and rubbed it.
"Bud, you can talk to me about whatever. I'm here to help. I like helping people. I'm a good helper which is why, I'm assuming, you came to me." Peter enlightened him. He could tell that Bud wanted to share, but he was noticeably nervous.
"I like Megan." Bud blurted out. He couldn't hold it in anymore. "As more than a friend." He continued and finished.
"I can tell you that's the last thing I was expecting. I'm assuming you haven't talked to her about it." Bud nodded. Peter continued, "So, take her out and tell her how you feel." Peter told him.
"That's the thing. I don't know how to act or what to do or what to say." He informed Peter. He was undoubtedly no ladies' man. "And I don't want her to know it's a date because then she won't go." He was clearly at a crossroads. Staring at two paths, not sure which one to choose.
"I can't tell you any of that. It's something you have to figure out. Just be yourself and everything else will fall into place." Peter explained.
Bud walked out of Peter's office with his head held slightly higher than when he went in. He wanted to do this before he lost his confidence. He walked straight to Megan's office and knocked on the door. He let himself in after she gave her consent. He breathed in the sight of her. Her hair and makeup were done flawlessly. She had on black pumps that extended her already long legs and her dress hugged her curves in all the right ways.
"What did you need? I've got to go examine the body in a few minutes." She informed him. She told Peter to be there at 1:30 and she wasn't about to be late. She would never live it down.
"I…uh…wanted to see how you would feel about going out with me sometime. Just to get to know each other better." His eyes flickered between her hazel ones and the ground as he spoke.
She was taken aback. She hadn't ever been invited to things, but she jumped at the opportunity. She smiled at him.
"Sure, I would love too."