Page 21 of Still The One

‘How long will he be here?’ Matty asks.

‘Oh, probably another week or so,’ Dr Sully says. ‘For now, you’ll head down for an MRI and a CT within the hour. Maybe tonight you could have some dinner?’

Oh, finally, food. I feel like I’ve been on a hunger strike – dreaming of doughnuts and no way to eat. Now, I can. I hope this place has an all-you-can-eat buffet.

‘Do you have lobster?’ I ask, mostly kidding.

‘You can have the lobster bisque,’ the nurse suggests with a light smile. ‘For hospital food, it’s pretty good really. We’ll have to start slow on the solids since you haven’t eaten in a few days. Soup. Crackers. Jell-O. Popsicles.’

She hands me the red Popsicle now unwrapped, causing Eve to release my hand. I’ve got no qualms about a Popsicle. Food is food. I glance at Eve. ‘Stay for dinner with me?’

‘Aww,’ Chelsea says with a gushing smile.

Matty groans. ‘Slow down, Casanova, it’s been five minutes and you’re already asking her out on a date?’

‘I think it’s cute,’ Nurse Chelsea says. My eyes have finally focused on the badge on her chest and I’m putting together her face and voice. ‘They’re in love.’

Both Matty and I raise an eyebrow. ‘Love, huh?’ He says it first, and by the look on Eve’s face, she’s unsure.

She nods slightly, ignoring the statement altogether. ‘Sure, the least I can do is stay for dinner,’ she says. ‘How about you, Matty? You staying?’

Three’s a crowd, girl – has no one ever told you that?I know everything there is to know about Matty. It’s her I want to catch up with. But like I can say no to having my best friend here with us. Maybe he will help with the awkward vibe now pulsating through the room. I’m not sure what it is, but I’m sure I’ll find out shortly.

9

EVE CASSIDY

‘You’re having dinner with him? At his request? What, like a date?’ Gen asks when I stop by the ER to talk to our boss. Or rather, kiss her ass so I don’t get fired for taking all fourteen of my vacation days at once, unexpectedly. Sure, she approved it, going off my description of my current hell, but it never hurts to make sure things are A-OK, so I’m not assigned Trauma Room 1 for the rest of my life. I’ve brought a gift basket, full of every snack item I know Teri (the head of our department) loves. If this doesn’t win her over, nothing will.

‘No, not like a date,’ I reassure Genevieve. ‘Like a dinner. In his hospital room. There’s nothing weird about that. Everyone eats dinner.’

‘Not with their ex-husband…’ she reminds me.

‘Sure,’ I say, sitting the huge basket that takes two hands to carry on the counter, separating me from her. ‘Technically, that’s true. But, if I ran out now, I’d look like a real asshole. I’ve already done that once with him. Now I need to see him through getting released from the hospital to clear my conscience, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.’

No need to tell her that every time he and I touch, or our eyes meet, my heart melts for him like he’s got a freaking flamethrower to it. But it’ll never work between us, because we’ve got very different lives.Be strong, Evie girl.

‘What are you going to talk about?’ Gen asks.

I shrug. ‘Don’t know. Maybe the weather. His career. Food, if I know him. You know, casualties.’

‘And if he asks about you leaving a note…?’

‘I will promptly change the subject,’ I finish.

She grins. ‘To doughnuts?’

‘Perhaps.’

‘Which will then loop you right back to your first official date and then the next thing you know your relationship is the topic. Are you ready for that?’

I inhale sharply. Why must she be a truth teller when I need anything but the reminder right now. No. I’m not even a little bit ready for that. I’m about to say those words when we’re interrupted with a hand on my back.

‘Eve, I thought you’d be happily floating across the ocean waves in the Pacific by now.’ Teri, a slight woman in her fifties who’s got decades of nursing experience, eyes a can of Pringles in the basket in front of us.

‘Or entertaining past mistakes in room 117,’ Genevieve mumbles.

I shoot her a glare, then turn my attention to my boss. ‘I got you something,’ I say, sliding the basket of goodies her way. ‘As a thank you.’

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