Page 101 of Training the Heart

I turn to my mom. “I could get anything you want to take with you, and I can fill Mrs. Potter in, I’m sure she’ll keep an eye on things for you.”

My mama nods and the doctor writes a few notes down.

“I’ll have the nurse come back to help you fill out the forms shortly. Until then just rest and I’ll leave you two to visit.” He looks through his paperwork again.

“And, Miss Spencer, if I may say, I am the main doctor here, but I also run a family practice right across the street. Since you’re going to be around over the next couple of days, pop in to see me, I can draw a little more blood from you, make sure you aren’t lacking in something that’s making you dizzy … could be something as simple as low iron.” He shrugs.

Although having any more of my blood taken sounds like the last thing on earth I want to do right now, I agree.

“Yes, thank you, I’ll come tomorrow morning on my way in here, give myself a day to rest after this.” I smile at him, pointing to the cotton bud on the inside of my elbow, and he nods and smiles before saying goodbye to us and heading off to his next patient.

He no sooner exits than Wade appears in the doorway looking so perfect, so settling, and his gorgeous masculine features flex as he stands there in a pair of perfectly fitting jeans, a white hoodie and his backwards Titans hat. Even having rushed to get ready this morning he looks like casual perfection. I feel my heart melt even more when I see he has food with him and a tea for my mama.

His eyes meet mine and I see it, the way everyone keeps telling me he looks at me. I bask in it for a brief moment before my mother speaks.

“Come in,” my mother says to him, breaking the silence. “I’m Glenda Spencer, and I hear you’re Wade. I’m sorry we didn’t really get a formal introduction earlier; I was still pretty out of it. I understand you’ve been getting to know my Ivy.”

Wade looks at me as he answers her. “I have, she is pretty great …” He gives me the smirk I literally can’t get enough of, then turns his eyes back to my mom.

“Ivy said you like tea? Two milks?”

“I do.” She is already a goner for him—I can tell by the smitten little grin she’s wearing. Who wouldn’t be? Wade Ashby is the definition of dreamy.

“Thank you for coming with her this morning,” she says as she accepts her tea from him.

I stand, but I have to steady myself a little before I make my way over to him.

“What’s wrong?” he asks instantly, panic lining his face.

“I’m just a little dizzy. The doctor said it’s probably from donating.”

Wade meets me in the middle of the room and grips my elbow.

“I brought you lunch, that should help,” he says, holding up the most delicious-looking club sandwich I’ve ever seen.

My stomach grumbles at the sight. I look up at him. “That sandwich looks like everything I could ever want right now,” I tell him.

He shrugs and then smirks at me.

“Just out here making your dreams come true, Trouble.”

Goddamn, isn’t that the truth?

I don’t think I could ever love this man more than I do right now, standing in front of me, offering me something as simple as that lopsided grin and a club sandwich.

All I have to do now is tell him.

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Wade

“This place is state of the art. There are yoga classes for my mom to take, therapy sessions, grief counseling, and an excellent meal plan.”

I pass Ivy her ice cream sundae in the center of my bed as she scrolls through the website for the treatment center her mother is heading to. She isn’t giving me any information I don’t already know, but I listen to her animated chatter intently anyway.

“And then, if she makes it through to the other side of this, I need to spend more time with her. She used to work with my dad, helping with the animals, maybe she could update her knowledge and work again. You know she used to craft too, she was really good at making blankets, hats …”

I smile down at her, and the hope she has in her eyes makes me hope her mother can do it.

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