Page 13 of Fix Me Up

From the safety of Owen’s embrace, I peek over his arm to see the delivery men get a handle on the situation, gently lowering the freezer to the sidewalk on a dolly.

Owen’s voice trembles as his chest expands with rage. “Next time, use the back alley like the girls goddamn told you to.”

He doesn’t shout, but he’s utterly frightening nonetheless.

I don’t wait to see if the men acknowledge Owen’s words. I clumsily extract myself from his grip, embarrassed now that passers-by have stopped to watch this scene play out.

When I check on Graham, he is perfectly fine. He reaches for me, raising his chubby, dimpled hands. I unbuckle him from his stroller seat and pick him up. The soft, pale curls on his head smell so good I could cry.

“Hi, buddy,” I say, patting his back as he wriggles in my arms.

“No, sir. I’m not putting you down just yet,” I breathe, holding him tight and assuring myself he’s safe.

“He’s okay. You’re okay,” Owen says.

My entire body is aware of this man’s hand on my lower back, his fingers slowly moving up my spine.

“I know. I think I’m still a little spooked.”

“Understandable.”

Graham fusses, then gives up the struggle momentarily.

“I didn’t mean to upset you the other day.”

Owen’s stare captures me, almost daring me to look away.

“Upset me about what?”

“All the stuff I said about child care. How you want to handle caring for Graham is none of my business. If his grandmother wants to babysit, that’s not my business. It’s not my place to tell you how to live your life,” I say.

Owen’s smile is heart-stopping—brighter than what I deserve.

“Thanks for saying that. It matters to me that you think I’m handling everything well,” he says.

“Because I’m the doctor?”

“Because we’re friends,” he says.

That feels…good. Satisfying? Maybe. Maybe not. But good.

“Friends. Absolutely.”

The word stirs up a warm feeling in my gut, like sweet apple pie. But it feels like only one bite, and I want more. A lot more.

Still, my logical brain reminds me that this is the safer option. Friendship is good, safe, acceptable, and correct.

I just wish all of me believed that “safe and acceptable” is enough.

Owen’s other hand rests on mine as I hold Graham steady in my arms. We’re half a moment away from a group hug: boy, girl, and baby. This whole scene is a little too cozy.

“Let me buy you a burger,” he says.

I suppose there’s no harm in that. We’re just two people who live in the same town, eating a burger at the diner together. Ruby’s doesn’t count as a date. Does it?

No, that’s what friends do. Everybody knows that.

After all, Ursula said that mixing business with pleasure, friendship, and family in a small town is unavoidable. It all sort of blurs together.

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