Page 66 of Between Us

Leaning forward, only close enough for me to quietly hear him say, “Good. I’m starting to think you’re the only person I ever want to hang out with ever again.”

And just like that, I’m mentally turning into a puddle at his feet.

With his body still bent toward mine, he says in a more serious tone, “But I heard him asking about colleges, and I didn’t want you to get in your head over something so stupid.”

“I didn’t plan on even having a second thought about him, actually.”

That possessive expression greets me again, this time it’s mixed with satisfaction.

Grabbing a pad of sticky notes, Adrian scribbles something down. I squint but wait quietly. Ever since he left the lollipop for me, I’ve found candy and notes waiting for me a couple of times.

A chair softly skids backwards, and we both look up to see Cody returning with the paperwork. Before he gets to the desk, Adrian leans forward, sticking the note to the computer screen in front of me. He smiles down at me and steps out from behind the desk redirecting Cody to the exam room to get the appointment going. Adrian gives me a quick wink over his shoulder before closing the door behind him.

Turning back to the computer, the note only says ‘pretty girl’ with a messy cloud drawn around it. Pulling it toward me, I rub my finger over it—feeling giddy like a schoolgirl—then fold it and slip it into my bag.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Blake

Holdingmyhandinhers, Lela tells me for the hundredth time tonight,“Gracias, Blake. Muchas gracias…”

“Lela,” I squeeze her frail hands back and try to comfort her in Spanish, “you don’t have to thank me. And everything is going to be okay.”

“Si, si,”she agrees while wiping her eyes.“Gracias a ti.”

Because of you,she continues to insist.

Finally, after letting her fuss over my dad, the employees who helped in surgery, and me, Jorge leads his wife outside with a promise to pickChispaup tomorrow after a night of observation.

And once that front lobby door closes, the last time for the night, the silent tears I’ve been holding onto slip out.

I have full faith in my dad to keep any promise he makes, but when it comes to things like this, you just never know.

Wiping a finger under my eyes, I’m about to turn back to finish the nightly duties when an arm wraps around my shoulders.

Even before I look up, I know it’s my dad. With my arm around his waist and my head on his chest, I let the nostalgic feeling of being a girl in her dad’s arms settle around me for a long minute.

“I told you not to come tonight,” he lightly scolds.

Sniffing, I nod and say, “I know. Thank you for helpingChispa.”

Looking down at me, he gives me a soft paternal smile. “I did my job, honey. You helped Lela and Jorge, in more ways than financially. I’m very proud of you.”

My eyes water again, but it’s partly because of the lingering guilt in my stomach that doubles at hearing his words.

Instead of meeting his eye, I offer him a small smile and tell him I’m going to finish cleaning up the front area.

As I’m closing out of the computer and double checking the appointments for Olivia in the morning, the last two names I expect to see pop up on my phone.

Margo and Meera calling…flashes by.

“Hello?” I answer confused, and slightly concerned, since it’s almost midnight for them.

“You weren’t texting us back,” Margo demands. Rolling my eyes, I sit back and catch the sight of Adrian coming around the corner. A happy expression settles across his face as he walks toward me and plops his butt on the edge of the desk, like he always does when he comes to talk to me.

Looking at him but talking to my friends, I explain why I came to the clinic and ended up working the evening shift.

“See,” Meera insists. “I told you she was busy. We saw her location.” I laugh, but I check theirs just as often out of boredom.

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