Page 27 of Accepting Fate

The most recent fact she shared was that when she isn’t at work she is hiking. She said that she uses it as a way to decompress. Not only is that the same way I deal with stress, but it’s another way I know Noah is going to fucking love her.

Noah is like a golden retriever and loves everyone, but the more commonalities that she has with him will earn her more points in his book. He is always the first person to tell me if he doesn’t like a girl and gossip with my mom about it, so I really want him to like Logan. Not that they wouldn’t because one look at her and my mom will adore her based on looks alone.

I need to slow the hell down because we haven’t even gone on a date. I may like her but there’s a chance that she may not like me. She may just see me as a friend. It would kill me, but I would rather be her friend than nothing.

It’s a Friday night and Logan texted a few days ago that she was free on Saturday. The plan is to go to the bar for drinks. I offered to pick her up, but she said she would meet me there. I wasn’t going to argue because I’ll finally get to see the girl that wouldn’t leave my mind. By some luck, I don’t have a client. But even if I did, I would have rescheduled. I know it’s bad business but nothing is standing in my way of seeing Logan again.

I’m sitting in a big wooden Adirondack chair on my porch, next to the fire and drinking a beer, when my phone goes off. Expecting it to be one of my brothers or my parents calling, I’m shocked when I see it’s Logan.

I set my beer down on the arm of the chair and answer, “Hey, pretty girl.”

“Hi,” Logan says quietly.

Instantly, I sense something is wrong. We have only been texting and for her to call me without it being a butt dial, something must be up.

“You sound upset. Is everything okay?” I ask.

The phone is quiet for a moment.

“Um… I hate to do this, but I have to cancel tomorrow.”

Disappointment hits me. But listening to how sad she sounds, it makes me think this is the last thing she is wanting to say.

I take a swig of my beer, put it back on the chair, and rake my hand down my face as I search for something to say.

“I understand,” I finally mutter “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. I really don’t want to cancel but we have been treating a lot of flu patients lately and now I have it. I thought I was going to be better by tomorrow, that’s why I made the date but honestly, I feel like shit, and I wouldn’t be any fun to be around. I’m really sorry.”

As she finishes speaking, I can hear how strained her voice sounds. I have an overwhelming urge to beg her to let me come over and take care of her.

“Don’t apologize. It’s okay. We can wait until you get better and try again if you want.”

“I want to. I promise I’m not doing this to get out of getting drinks with you. I was–” Her words are flying out so fast, she is consumed by a coughing fit. The sound of her cough gets quieter, and I hear a faucet turn on.

A few moments later, “Sorry I had to get a drink of water.”

“Logan, stop apologizing.” I do my best to reassure her. “I believe you. Is there anything I can do?”

“No,” she says with a sigh. “I’m already on medicine and have been resting as much as I can. Not much else to do.”

“Are you sure? I can bring you soup. Not trying to make you feel worse, Angel, but you sound like crap.”

She laughs, which turns into more coughing. “Thanks, Grayson. But I do feel like crap so that’s valid. I appreciate the offer, but I would feel really bad if I got you sick. Plus, I don’t want you to see me like this. You would run the opposite direction the moment you saw me, and my ego can’t take that right now.”

“This may shock you, but it’s not all about looks. I would never run away because you’re sick. Plus, I haven’t gotten sick in years. I think I’m immune or something.”

“No one is immune. Just because you haven’t gotten sick in years doesn’t mean you can’t. I’m around sick people all the time so, theoretically, I should have a strong immune system. But here I am knocked on my ass by the fucking flu.”

“I’m still claiming immunity, no matter what you say. Germs cannot penetrate this body.”

As soon as I finish that sentence, I burst out laughing and Logan does too.

“Tone it down, big guy.”

“As you wish.” I pause for a moment before shooting my shot again. “So, can I please bring you something? I’m not above begging.”

She’s quiet for a while. “Grayson, listen. I really appreciate you wanting to help, but I’m really not fun to be around when I’m sick. I sleep in between shifts. Because of how short-staffed we are, I can’t take days off, so I wear a mask and take breaks when I can. As soon as I get home, I don’t wake up until I have to go back to work. I have been having a lot of fun talking to you and I want to be able to give you my best. Please don’t take it to heart by me saying no. I think you’re really great. I just need to do things slow, and taking care of someone when they're sick is a big step.”

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