Page 81 of Sparking Sara

I realize this may be a very long night.

The waitress brings our drinks and I take a long swig of my beer.

“What can I get you?” she asks the three who just joined us.

“Just water for the two of us,” Oliver says. “No drinking until Monday.”

“Coke for me,” Donovan says.

“What’s Monday?” Nora asks.

Oliver smiles proudly. “It’s the day Sara gets to come home. And Donovan has been holding on to a very expensive bottle of champagne that we’ve been saving for the occasion.”

I knew it was happening soon, but I hadn’t realized they set a date. Maybe because I haven’t been to see Sara since yesterday morning. This should be good news. Itisgood news. But then why, when everyone else is celebrating, are Sara and I staring at each other with drawn faces?

I force a smile. “Monday? That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”

“You’ll come, won’t you?” Sara asks. “You’ll join us in a drink to celebrate before I leave the rehab center?”

I wave her off. “I don’t want to intrude. Maybe that’s something you and Oliver should do without me.”

“That’s nonsense,” she says. “You are the reason I’m even going home, Denver.Youare the reason I’m still alive. Besides, Joelle is coming, too.”

“Yeah, mate,” Oliver says. “You must be there to celebrate the day my fiancée finally gets to come back home to me.”

I think about how Sara said Oliver has changed since the day we had that field trip to their apartment. I’ve seen it myself. He doesn’t seem as irritated with me as he used to be. Then again, I did what he asked. I backed off. Well, unless you count the kiss I had with the woman who is to be his wife. But I try not to count that. It was a moment of obvious weakness. And it’s clear to me that she never told him about it.

“Sure,” I say. “Just tell me what time and I’ll be there.”

Sara looks relieved. It makes me wonder just what their arrangements will be when she’s living with him at their apartment again. He made an offer to sleep on the couch until she was comfortable with him. My insides are all twisted up—on the one hand, I want what’s best for her. I want her to feel comfortable with him. On the other hand, whenever I think of her sleeping in the same bed with him, when I think of him touching her, all I see is red.

I remember what Marcus said about needing distractions, so I take another swig of beer and pull Nora close to me. “Come on, let’s go find a seat.”

Murphy and Rylee each bring a few friends, filling up the suite and making for a boisterous occasion. I notice that Sara seems to be enjoying herself. She’s getting into the game. She told me she had never seen a baseball game until we watched one together in the rehab center. You’d never guess that now, seeing how much she’s getting into it tonight.

I realize I have to keep myself from staring at her. From staring at Oliver’s arm around her. But when it comes right down to it, I think I’ve watched Sara more than I’ve watched the game.

“What is it with you and Sara?” Nora asks in a whisper. “Should I be offended that you seem to be paying more attention to her than to your own date?”

I sigh, knowing what a douchebag that makes me. “I just worry about her,” I say. “She’s only really known Oliver for a few weeks and now she has to go home with him. That has to scare her a little.”

Nora raises her eyebrows. “Have youseenhim?” she asks, her eyes rolling towards the heavens. “Any woman should be so lucky. And that accent!”

I laugh, shaking my head. “It’s always the accent. Maybe I should adopt one.”

She grabs my hand, lacing our fingers together. “You, sir, don’t need one. You’ve got everything going for you already.”

“You think so?”

She nods appreciatively.

I don’t think I’ve been fair to Nora. If she knew I was basically using her to distract me from how I feel about Sara, she’d hate me. I decide to give her more of a chance. She’s been nothing but gracious and attentive tonight.

I wince when a baseball hits one of the players high up on the inner thigh. “Damn, that’s gotta hurt like a mother.”

“He’ll be fine as long as he ices it a lot over the next twenty-four hours,” Nora says.

I turn my attention away from the game and to Nora. “Do you like being a nurse?”

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