Page 81 of Give Me a Shot

Mo stifled a chuckle. She sounded like Maddie when she was little.

“What if I call your nephew?” he asked.

Mrs. Sargysan rolled her eyes.

“Fine. I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t get checked out,”she said, her arms folded. “But if we’re doing all that, can you help me to the couch?” She held out a hand. Mo reached out for her and held perfectly still as she pulled herself up. She began shuffling along with him to the living room but seemed winded before they’d made much progress down the hall.

“Um…do you want me to carry you?” he asked.

She rolled her eyes again.

“All right, fine,” she said.

He scooped her up carefully and carried her to the couch. Placing her on it, he noticed that her breathing had quickened.

“Are you sure you’re not in pain?” he asked.

“I’m fine. Just not used to being picked up and carried around. Got a little dizzy.”

Mo’s heart clenched.

“I don’t like ‘dizzy,’ ” he said. “I—”

“That makes two of us,” she said, cutting him off. “Don’t worry; it’s stopped now. Do me a favor. There’s an ice pack in the freezer. Two, actually. Bring them both, please?”

Mo hustled to do as she’d said. When he’d rearranged the pillows to better support her and put the packs where she wanted them, he stood straight.

“I’m going to go call your nephew,” he said. “I’m sure he’ll want to take a look at least.”

Mrs. Sargysan harrumphed. “His number’s on the corkboard next to the phone. Do you have a date with Jess tonight?”

“No, I’m free,” he said.

“In that case, if you have to, I guess you can stay until he gets here.”

Mo kept his lips straight even though a smile was fighting its way out.

“Okay,” he said. “We’ll have our own date night.”

Mrs. Sargysan laughed as Mo returned to the kitchen to make the call.

Chapter Nineteen

Jess

Jess barely restrained herself from slamming her front door when she got home. She chucked her keys in their basket and toed off her shoes.

“Moretests?” she grumbled to herself as she walked to the kitchen, frowning.

She snatched the water pitcher out of the fridge and poured herself a glass. “I went across town for a stupid appointment just so they could tell me they didn’t find anything wrong, but they want to do more tests?” she asked the empty room.

Her day had started out fine, teaching her morning classes and then getting a lovely surprise flower delivery from Mo. The bouquet of red camelias had soothed the light trepidation she’d been feeling about her doctor’s appointment in the afternoon. She’d almost cracked and told Mo that she was nervous when she’d texted to thank him. But keeping things separate felt better.

Especially since he’d probably worry.

After finishing her first glass and refilling it, Jess walked down the hall to get changed when her phone started ringing in her pocket. The caller ID read “Mom.” Jess’s stomach tightened, the glass and a half of water she’d swallowed, churning in her stomach. Weakness surged through the hand holding the phone, pain crackling through her wrist and knuckles. She wanted to ignore the call, knowing what it would be about.

Or, I could listen to Alice and Steph and rip the Band-Aid off.

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