Page 24 of Crazy Imperfect Hearts

Amid the racket, the door opens and Patrick Kelsey swaggers through carrying a huge bouquet of flowers and a gift bag.

“Uncle Patty!” Gigi exclaims, rushing into his arms.

Patrick is Maddie’s best guy friend. They go way back to when he was the firefighter/paramedic who rescued Gigi from her father’s arms in the fire that killed him and scarred Maddie.

He holds the gift bag out to Gigi. “This is for you, squirt.”

Her eyes light up and she pulls out a sweatshirt. It reads:B·I·G S·I·S·T·E·Rin trueFriendsfashion. Underneath, it says:I’ll be there for you.

She holds it to her chest. “I love it!”

Patrick congratulates Tag, kisses Maddie, and gives me a fist bump. He once performed the Heimlich maneuver on me, saving me from certain death by cashew.

“What’s up, peanut?” he jokes and gives me a wink.

“I think it’s about time for this little guy to eat,” Maddie says, undoing her nursing bra.

I take a step toward the door. “My cue to leave.”

“Hey, Regan?” Maddie calls.

I turn.

“Just be careful, okay?”

“Yes, Mom,” I say, then I blow a kiss to Gigi and leave.

On my way out of the hospital, I pass one of Tag’s brothers, Jaxon, and his wife, Nikki, carrying a stuffed bear that might be as big as Gigi.

“You see him yet?” Nikki asks.

“Just now.”

“He’s adorable, isn’t he?” she says, patting her own slight belly. “I can’t wait for this little one to arrive.” She leans against her husband. “I’ll have ten more if this guy will let me.”

Jaxon rolls his eyes, but we all know he’s up for it. The man was born to be a father.

“See you guys later,” I say, starting the trek home.

I love how walkable this older part of town is. The hospital is less than ten minutes from McQuaid Circle. Everything onecould need is within walking distance. There are restaurants, a bank, a hair and nail salon, a hardware store, a grocer…

A grocer.

Suddenly my thoughts are on Saturday. When I’m supposed to do my shopping andrun intoLucas.

I’m not nervous. I don’t get nervous about men. Not anymore. And I’m especially not nervous abouthim. Because this isn’t a date. It doesn’t matter how I look or what I wear. But I am curious. Was he being honest about the reason or is he trying to forget about Lissa as I suspect? Either way, Maddie is right, it’s probably a bad idea.

I do plan on getting information out of him. Like more about this crush he had on me and how my dad caught him playing with himself.

And now, I’m thinking of him touching himself. I have firsthand knowledge of just how much there is to touch. There have been rumors. In this town, it’s expected. There were nicknames. My favorite was Mountain Montana. I can’t remember which of his girlfriends or fiancées would joke about climbing the mountain. Or maybe not joke… brag.

Every single rumor turned out to be true. The man is huge. Long, wide, and firm. Practically a freak of nature.

I feel myself flush. My steps quicken as I mentally go through my bedside drawer and pick out the toy that’s going to make me come in about five minutes.

Chapter Eight

Lucas

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