Page 51 of Good Half Gone

I eat my oatmeal with raisins—big mistake. Huge. After one breakfast, the fifty or so people who witnessed my meal choice have all dubbed me Raisin. Once you’re called something like raisin, everyone wants to know why. Once they know why, there’s no going back. What I’ve learned is that people think there’s something wrong with you if you eat raisins for fun. Two guys—who were also here the same time yesterday—elbow each other as I walk by.

“Hey, Raisin!”

I wave. They laugh like hyenas, but a few tables down, the older crew—the ones who ate raisins in cookies and candies as kids—nod at me. I dump my trash and return the tray. I like older people, maybe it’s because I was raised by my grandmother; they just have the best stories.

“Raisin… You’re making an impression.”

A jump, skip, and beat of the heart; I know his voice. Leo is dapper in a gray suit, white shirt, and glasses. I close my open mouth. He laughs at my apparent surprise, grazing his chin with his fingertips.

“Cool kids don’t like raisins,” I say to cover my surprise. “You didn’t even warn me.”

His eyes light up playfully. He’s beautiful from the nose up, and the nose down—it’s hard to know where to look. Heat starts in my belly and works its way down. The feeling is so distracting I don’t hear what he says next, and he has to repeat himself. Raisins verses chocolate. I know I’m in a losing battle, but the friction is fun.

“I honestly didn’t think I would need to. You look like a woman who knows the power of chocolate.”

I make a face. “I eat raisins in my chocolate too—”

He flinches. “Stop. That’s too far. Now I’m sad for you.” He looks upset enough to make me laugh. He has nice teeth.We admire each other for another few seconds before he looks around self-consciously. He has a scar on his chin, and the only reason I can see it is because he’s taller than me. People are noticing us noticing each other. Dr. Grayson leans in.

“They’re going to think I’m flirting with you…”

“Are you?”

He’s a gorgeous guy, and he’s blushing. It’s endearing. He laughs from the belly and lifts a hand to wave at someone across the room.

“Come on,” he says. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll be stuck here for another thirty minutes listening to Burt talk about his dreams.”

I look over and see a man in a bathrobe making his way toward us. I loop my arm through his and steer him toward the door. Once we’re through the cafeteria doors, I let him go.

We fall into step walking in the direction of the nurses’ station.

“Hey, thanks. That was excellent.” He glances at me appreciatively.

I blush, realizing how assertively I touched him without his permission.

“Sorry…” I step away, and put a foot of space between us.

I can smell his aftershave as we walk side by side. He sets the pace, and he’s in no rush.

He glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “I went to the staff cafeteria first to find you…”

My heart rate spikes. “Oh?”

“That tends to be where the staff eat.”

“You’re not in there very often,” I throw back.

The look he gives me is amused. “You’ve only been here for two weeks. How do you know where I eat?”

“Three,” I sigh. “I assumed you eat in your office.” I know he eats in there. I’ve counted the trays on the meal cart Bouncer wheels in twice a day.

Speak of the devil.

Up ahead, Bouncer catches sight of the doctor and starts heading our way. She ignores me entirely, wedging herself between us. She’s showered, I can smell her shampoo. Looking past her shoulder, I can see one of the carnivorous bunnies. Run…run…run…

“You canceled our meeting today?”

“I did.”

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