Page 6 of Falling for Love

“Please?” he tried again.

“Do you want to become a doctor when you grow up?” I teased.

He shrugged, unbuckled himself, and hopped out of the truck.

Before I could really object, he pulled me back to the urgent care.

When we walked back inside, the receptionist looked up and grinned. “You didn’t get hurt again, did you?”

“No. Liam invited Hayden to see him get stitches, and the little guy wanted to watch the magic happen.”

“Oh, right. I heard the invite. He’s three doors down on the left, but you didn’t hear it from me.”

Liam’s laughter drifted down the hall., and my heart skipped a beat.

There was always so much light bubbling from the guy. It was something I didn’t know I’d craved until recently.

“All right, come on.” I squeezed Hayden’s hand, and we walked toward the door.

Before I even had a chance to knock, Hayden opened the door and walked right in.

Liam looked up, and his eyes connected with mine.

My cheeks flushed. “So much for patient privacy.”

“Glad I have some company,” Liam said with a wink. “I was starting to get scared.”

Hayden’s eyes grew wider. “Really?”

“Totally.” Liam nodded as Hayden sat next to him in the empty chair.

“Wanna come over for dinner? We’re having bratwursts.”

I blinked, surprised by Hayden’s boldness. Liam gave me a lopsided grin, one eyebrow quirked as if waiting for me to agree.

My cheeks turned even redder, and I glanced away, fumbling for the words.

“Well, I mean, if you’re up for it…” I trailed off.

“Are you kidding? Bratwursts sound way better than my failed soup experiment,” Liam said, leaning back in his chair, looking far too comfortable for someone about to get stitches. “For all I know, my finger is floating in the soup.”

“No way.” Hayden’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head.

“Just kidding. I cut my palm.” Liam laughed. “But I can’t pass up a chance to hang out with my favorite troublemaker here. Invite accepted.”

Hayden beamed, clearly thrilled by Liam’s enthusiasm.

“Mom’s bratwursts are the best!”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Liam said, wincing slightly as he adjusted his injured hand. “Assuming I don’t lose my hand to this blender wound.”

The doctor entered the room then, a genial older man who gave Liam a knowing look. He was a different physician than Hayden’s.

“All right, Mr. Harper, let’s see what kind of trouble you got yourself into this time.”

“It’s a kitchen mishap,” Liam said with mock solemnity, holding up his hand wrapped in its towel. “The blender won this round.”

The doctor chuckled as he unwrapped the dish towel, revealing a shallow but jagged cut on Liam’s palm.

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