Page 38 of Deck the Fire Halls

“Until it wore you down.”

“Oh yeah,” he said with a nod. “But here, I get to be a doctor. A back-to-basics doctor. A general practitioner three days a week. I get days off. Like actual days off. I helped out at the youth center today. And by help out I mean put up decorations that I’m pretty sure Gunter fixed after I left.” He let out a laugh. “Then dinner tonight with a great group of guys. I can’t believe this is my actual life.”

“Do you... do you think you might get bored with it?”

“With this?” He gestured at the picturesque street before us. “Are you kidding? Did you miss the part where I said I now work three days per week and had the best night I can remember having?”

“Well, I’m glad. Just remember, if you get bored and start missing your life back in Seattle, I can give you a list of things to do to keep you busy.”

“Things to do? Such as?”

Uh, me.

“I don’t know,” I replied instead. “What hobbies do you have?”

“None. Work. Specializing in emergency medicine for ninety hours a week doesn’t leave much time for hobbies.”

Jeez.

“Well, we can find you a hobby.”

“Oh god, like what? Please don’t say fishing.”

I laughed and slowed our walking to a stop. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He noticed where we were. “Ah. My house. The void of darkness amidst a sea of blinking Christmas lights.”

“I can help you tomorrow afternoon, if you’d like.”

Please say yes. Please say yes. Please say yes.

“I would like that, thank you.” He smiled at me, then at his feet, before his eyes met mine again. “I’ll cook dinner as thanks.”

“And I would like that,” I said, only realizing that Istill had his arm linked with mine. I let it go and nodded. “I’ll come by around four o’clock?”

“Perfect.” He glanced back at his house. “Did you... did you want to come in? For a drink or a...”

Oh god.

Oh holy shit.

“I really do,” I whispered.

His smile, his blush, just perfection.

I was going to hate myself for this...

“But,” I began.

His smile died as realization dawned. “Oh. There’s a but. Of course. I didn’t mean anything else. Just a drink. It’s fine. I should go...” He took a step back. “I shouldn’t have...”

“No, Rob, wait. It’s not like that. I want to. I really do.”

He waved me off and laughed, looking anywhere but at me, walking backward. “It’s fine. Tomorrow is... you don’t have to come by. I mean, I can hang some lights, probably terribly, but that’s okay?—”

“Rob, please.” God, I’d ruined our perfect night. I’d ruined the mood, and possibly any chance... “I want to.”

He climbed his porch steps and put his hand up in a stop gesture. “It’s okay. No need.”

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