Page 6 of One Whopper of a Love Story

The doctor glanced at me. “How are you feeling?”

“Itchy.”

“Give the Benadryl time to work.” He turned toward Nico and shined a light in his eyes. “You seem okay. Let me see the gash.” The doctor moved Nico’s hair and pursed his lips. “Hmm.”

“Is it bad?” I stretched out my hand to Nico. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve made you leave.”

“Made me?” He gripped my hand. “What’s the prognosis, Doc?”

“Nurse Bettis, I think two or three stitches here would do the trick. Will you get that ready for me?”

“Absolutely.” She walked toward the curtain, then turned back to face me. “He’s going to need a distraction that doesn’t involve moving his head.”

Dr. Rios looked from Nico to me. “Just focus on her and forget about the—”

“Other stuff.” I didn’t need my deputy hitting the floor twice in one night.

“Yes. What she said.” Chuckling, the doctor walked out. “Be right back.”

Nico scooted his chair so that he was facing me. “Would you mind holding my hand? I know it’s pretty stupid for me to pass out when thinking about—”

“Kissing me?”

“Right. I’d do that, but I’m not sure I can manage that while being still. Tell me about you.” He laced his fingers with mine.

I rolled onto my side. The Benadryl was starting to kick in, and if we didn’t get sprung from here soon, I’d need to be carried out. “I moved here last summer. It’s been hard meeting new people. Well, making friends. I meet lots of people, and they all seem nice, but...” I shrugged one shoulder. “It seems like everyone here is already married or at least seriously dating. My sister lives here. She’s one of the married people.”

“She lives in Stadtburg?”

“Near there. She’s a teacher at the school, the one across from the hardware store.”

“I know the one.”

“But two months ago, I met Lettie because she was looking for a roommate. And that’s been great. Oh, and I didn’t call my sister when I got stuck in the mud because my phone fell into my Dr Pepper. I need to get rice. But even if my phone wasn’t out of commission, I wouldn’t have called my sister because she’s out of town, and even if she was in town, I might not have called her because she hasn’t been married that long, and well...”

“I get it.” He brushed his thumb along the back of my hand. “How long had you been out there?”

“You pulled up right after I fell. Your timing was... perfect.”

He pointed at my elbow. “I missed this.”

“It’s not that bad.” I covered a yawn.

“Your hives are looking a little better. Sleepy?”

“Yeah.” I tucked his hand under my cheek.

“As soon as they let us go, I’ll drive you home. We’ll get your car tomorrow.”

I kissed his hand. “Thank you.”

Nico squeezed my hand as the nurse rolled in a tray and the doctor wheeled up next to Nico on a stool.

I blew him a kiss. “I met someone today who I hope wants to be my friend.”

He smiled, his gaze fixed on mine. “Tell me about your frog.”

I’d carried that frog around for three years, and no one had asked about it. Of course he’d pick today to drop that question. “My friend gave it to me as kind of a joke, but only sort of a joke. There is that fairy tale of the princess and the frog.”

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