Page 14 of The One I Love
“I just changed everything.”
“Please don’t hate me.”
“Okay.”
I take Anthony’s hand as he helps me to stand. He doesn’t let go as we begin to walk back into the reception.
“Hey,” I say as I stop walking. “Can you give me a minute?”
He nods. “Sure. Want a drink?”
“Please. White wine.”
He leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “You got it.”
Nothing. That kiss felt like nothing. Granted, it was just a peck on the cheek. But a little something would have been nice.
But no.
Fuck my life…
I watch Anthony walk back into the reception. Until twenty minutes ago, Anthony was perfect. Nice. Handsome. A good dancer. A professional football coach. A lean build that I didn’t mind dancing against. He made me laugh and smile. I totally could have seen myself going on a date with him. Maybe even having a little fun tonight. Not fun like Betsy wanted me to have, but, but maybe a little.
But now? All I’m going to think about the rest of the night is Shane’s lips against mine and for the first time in years—since the last time he kissed me—my body has felt alive.
I turn around to see Shane staring at me, his gaze nearly knocking me on my ass. It’s the same stare he’s given me all day. The one that feels like he can see right through me.
I start back in his direction, needing to talk to him more, but he shakes his head, mouthing the word “Go.”
That stops me in my tracks. He’s right. I need to go back inside. This is my brother’s wedding, and I’ve been gone long enough that people might start wondering where I am. And I have someone who’s waiting for another dance.
Too bad I’m now wishing for a different dance partner.
Chapter 4
Amelia
The one nightI want a busy emergency room and we’re dead. That might not be the best phrase to use about a place where people could literally die, but if you don’t have a slightly twisted humor then you don’t belong in an emergency room.
Now, Rolling Hills isn’t a big city by any means, but we get our fair share of emergencies on any given night. But tonight, on a night where I want to keep my hands and mind busy to keep it away from the thing that’s been living in my head rent free? Nope. Not even a broken bone. Which is why I’m in the supply closet for the tenth time in four hours.
“Girl, what are you doing?”
I turn over my shoulder to see Kendra, my fellow nurse and work wife. “I’m restocking the gloves.”
She crosses her arms and tilts her head, clearly giving me the look that she knows exactly what I’m doing. “Because we were out from the time you stocked them thirty minutes ago?”
“We can never be too prepared! We go through hundreds a shift!”
“I don’t know who you’re foolin’ but it isn’t me,” Kendra says, opening the door wider. “So what we’re going to do now is go back to the station. You’re going to grab a slice of that wedding cake you broughtme, and we’re going to talk about why you’re being more Type A than normal.”
I put down the box of gloves and exit out the door Kendra’s holding for me. I do as asked and grab the slices of cake I remembered to take after the reception. I don’t know how I remembered. It’s safe to say my mind was all over the place last night. And this morning. Basically, the past twenty-four hours have been a blur.
Except the kiss. That kiss is clear as day.
“Girl did you get laid or something?”
This startles me so much I almost drop the cake. “What? No. Of course not. Why would you say that?”
