Page 30 of Still The One

I grin and select the Old Dirty Bastard, our favorite.

She settles back into her chair, her eyes lingering on mine as I take a bite of the treat. The taste explodes in my mouth, and I can’t help but let out another appreciative moan.

‘Oh, my God. How is this better than I remember?’

Eve quirks an eyebrow at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

I swallow, trying to keep my heart rate steady under her gaze. ‘I swear on every insane stunt I’ve ever done, this is the best doughnut I’ve ever had.’

She laughs, a sound that feels like music to my ears.

As we sit there in comfortable silence, the sound of our munching filling the room, I catch her stealing glances at me when she thinks I’m not looking. It warms my heart to know that she still cares at least a little bit, even after all these years.

Eve breaks the quiet. ‘Can I ask you something?’

‘Anything,’ I reply.

‘Why am I still your emergency contact when I’m not even your last girlfriend?’

Honestly, I don’t know because I think as a stunt rider, you try not to think about what could go wrong and instead pretend you’re invincible, so the reality doesn’t set in and kill your courage. Though, there is another reason.

‘It’s because…’ I trail off, searching for the right words. ‘Well—’ I start again, my voice softer than before, more serious, ‘—this feels weird to say out loud because my actions haven’t proven this, and even though you might not know it, you’ve always been my constant. No matter what happened between us, you never left my mind. I knew if something were to happen, I could always count on you.’

Eve’s expression softens at my words, a hint of confusion crossing her face.

‘Hello!’ Matty’s voice interrupts us as he pulls back the curtain and stops in his tracks.

He’s got the worst timing but the best taste, as he too is carrying a pink bakery box and a grocery bag full of stuff.

‘Damn,’ he says. ‘She beat me to it.’ He sets the box of doughnuts on top of the one already sitting on the tray in front of me and grabs one of the leftover burgers. ‘My favorite. Doctor been in yet?’

‘Not yet,’ I say.

‘By the way,’ Matty says, still chewing. ‘I checked on your bag and Jeff said it’s back at the shop.’

‘Damn,’ I moan, glancing at the scrub pants a nurse brought in to me since I’ve got no clothing with me. ‘Not sure how I’ll get home without a shirt or shoes.’

‘I brought you both to tide you over,’ Matt says, nodding toward the plastic shopping bag he’s set at the end of my bedbetween my feet. ‘Also, I can’t get you on my flight home, but I did manage to book one for the day after tomorrow.’

Eve watches the interaction between Matty and me, her expression unreadable. I can see a flicker of something pass through her eyes, but it’s gone before I can decipher it fully.

‘Thanks, Matty,’ I say.

He waves me off with a greasy hand, busy wolfing down his burger.

The sliding door to my room opens and in walks Dr Sully, wearing a pair of the exact same scrubs I am but with his white coat, proving he’s the doctor here.

‘Mr Foster,’ he says as he sanitizes his hands. ‘You’re looking good. Is this your going-away party?’

Eve interjects before I can respond. ‘It’s his first day of outside food since his accident. I went all out.’

Dr Sully chuckles. ‘She always does,’ he says to me. ‘Eve’s the best nurse I’ve ever worked with.’

I glance her way, watching her smile with a confidence that’s new to me.

‘But back to you, Foster. You’re doing exceptionally well. I think we are shooting for discharge tomorrow. What do you think?’

‘I’m beyond ready to sleep in my own bed again,’ I admit.

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