Page 32 of Love for a Lifetime

Laurie’s cheeks lifted with her smile. “You’re a sweetheart. I hope I don’t see you again.”

They said their goodbyes to the nurse, and Olivia lowered to the chair beside Dawson’s bed. She took a deep breath as she released the tension she hadn’t realized had tightened throughout her body.

Dawson covered up his newly bandaged leg and grabbed the milkshake from the tray. “You didn’t drink this.”

“It’s for you,” she said, still feeling a little queasy after watching Dawson’s dressing change.

His brows pinched together. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. I just wasn’t expecting the wound to be so bad.”

Dawson shoved the milkshake toward her. “Drink this. You look pale.”

How embarrassing. She’d been a nurse for eight years, and she’d never once gotten sick.

Well, there was one time while cleaning a trach tube, but that was something she worked hard to forget.

“It’s yours. I’m fine,” she said, pushing the drink away.

He put the milkshake down and picked up a foam cup of water. “Olivia Mae, please drink something.”

She accepted the cup and took a few slow sips. The uneasiness subsided, and she took a deep breath. “Thanks.”

Dawson shifted his position in the bed and picked up the milkshake and took a big gulp. “Let’s play truth or dare.”

Olivia shook her head. “Nope.”

“Why not?” he asked, completely unaware of why she might be against the game.

“I might have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night. Nothing is off the table with you.”

He held out the milkshake to her. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. I just like to be up-front.”

She grabbed the offered drink and took a sip. “There’s nothing wrong with that, but not everyone is like you. Some of us have filters.”

“Are you saying you have secrets from me? I’m hurt.”

“I don’t have secrets.” She blurted her defense before the truth kicked her in the shin. She did have secrets–some she wasn’t willing to share with even her best friend.

“Then you don’t have anything to worry about.”

“How about twenty questions?” She held up a halting finger. “But I reserve the right to refuse any question.”

“I’ll take it,” Dawson said as he rubbed his hands together. “You go first.”

Olivia sipped on the milkshake while she thought. She shifted in her seat. “Why did you become a police officer?”

“That’s easy. You remember that time my family went to Montana to visit my aunt and uncle?”

Olivia scoured her memories, but nothing was striking a bell. “I don’t think so.”

“You know, when Uncle Max lost his job, and we spent the summer with them in Livingston?”

“Oh, okay. I remember now.” She’d been around six, and Beau had been thoroughly annoyed that his friend was gone for the entire summer.

Truth be told, she’d missed Dawson that summer too.

“We got a flat tire on the way, and I was kind of excited because I knew how to change a tire.”

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