Page 35 of From Rivals to I Do

“Ah, yeah, she did say something about her ex showing up the day of the pie thing,” I reply.

“Yeah well, she’s not as innocent as she seems,” Mitch says. “She took everything from him, got a nasty temper too.”

“Well, that’s not what I heard,” I say, not wanting to disclose all Darla’s dirty laundry. We’d sort of talked about Joseph in text messages a bit, and it wasn’t my business to mouth off about.

“I’m telling ya Eli, she’s known around here to be crazy.” Around here? I think to myself. That doesn’t make any since. She just moved here. . . maybe he misspoke.

“I think you’re being a little biased and dramatic,” I reply, defending Darla.

“She screamed at you in the middle of a store, you said so yourself,” Mitch reminds me, but I just shake it off.

“She was having a bad day,” I reply. “Listen, I appreciate the warning, but I like her, and I’m going to keep seeing her,” I said. “I’m a big boy, I can take care of myself.”

“Fine,” Mitch replies, his response a confusing amalgamation of seemingly upset, frustrated. . . and almost angry. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you about that maneater.”

Mitch walks past me at a quick stride and goes into the house, letting the front door nearly slam shut. Jeez, he’s really angry, I think to myself. His heart is in the right place, but I’m not going to listen to some dumb gossip. Especially when he’s friends with the guy. He’s biased, and she seems like a treasure that Joseph just threw away like a big dummy.

I’m an adult, and I can form my own opinions about her. Frankly, I cannot wait to take her out on Valentine’s Day. It may only be a few days away but dang, for some reason, it feels like it’s much further than that. . .

***

“Earth to Darla!” Doreen says, snapping her finger playfully in my face as she breaks me out of my daydream of riding horses side by side with Eli in the morning light. The scent of fresh grass and the gleam of morning dew on the blades disintegrating as I look around at the sterile, white walls of the hospital. The smell of grass replaced by antiseptics and cleaners.

“Sorry,” I say with a yawn as I begin to pick at the microwaved fajita bowl in front of me. Usually we eat in the breakroom, but today’s been busy, so we are all sitting at the nurse’s station, eating behind the desk.

“You have been in the clouds today,” Nala says, another nurse from my coveted maternity ward spot. Working in the ICU isn’t at all what I’m used to, but it’ll do until I can get back on the ward myself.

Nala is a good friend of Doreen’s. In fact, she’s the head nurse up there, and she’s snuck down to eat with us. So, I’m trying to make friends with her and ease my way into her good graces. Maybe even secure myself a transfer. Not that Doreen isn’t amazing. She is. Just, the ICU is often such a bleak place to be. And I really take it hard when a patient doesn’t make it.

“Well, to be honest, I met this guy,” I say, and Doreen’s eyes light right up. She may be my boss, but she’s not a stuffy or snooty woman, and we’ve become fast friends.

“Oh really?” Doreen asks.

“Mm-hmm! He owns his own ranch, and he is so handsome,” I say with a big grin on my face. “We went on a breakfast date, and it was really nice.”

“Ooh! you got yourself a cowboy, huh?” Doreen asks.

“I sure did,” I reply. “We’ve only just met, but he’s such a gentleman. He just exudes that smoldering southern charm, you know?”

“Sounds like this guy has swept you right off your feet with the way you’re gushing,” Nala says, and my face immediately gets hot.

“I guess you could say that,” I reply shyly.

“So, when are you going to see this tall, dark, and handsome cowboy again?” Doreen asks.

“Valentine’s Day,” I said. “Actually, I’m headed out with him right after work.”

“That’s awesome! Where are you going?” Nala asks.

“Excuse me, I’m looking for a Darla Middleton?” a man asks, wearing a delivery uniform.

“Oh, well, that’s me,” I say, wondering what could possibly be being delivered to me. Especially at work of all places. I wander over to the front of the desk to meet the young man, and he groans as he picks up a huge vase, full to the brim with lilies.

“What in the world. . .” I gasp, mouth agape as the fragrant scent of the flowers fills the air.

“Someone must really like you,” the delivery guy says, and he thrusts a little digital pad in front of me. “Please sign here.”

“O-oh! Sure!” I manage to get out, and as he leaves, I notice the card sticking out of the pot. So, I open it up and I can’t help but grin as I read it out loud to myself.

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