Page 88 of New River Gorge(ous)
Beck smiles before he slides his hands up my arms and pulls me in for a delicious kiss. When we break apart, I have one question for him.
“Could you please call to make the six-month countdown start today?”
Beck’s low laugh rumbles through the porch swing as he kisses me again.
49
Beck
It’s my last night in the E.R., and then I’m taking a week off before I switch to day shifts. This, of course, not only will be wildly better for my sleep schedule, but it means that I’ll be able to spend time with my fiancée. Hiking with her, sitting on the porch swing with her, and definitely kissing her at any time of day. As we head into fall and winter, the idea of cozying up with her by a fire as the stars come out around us and probably not watching the fire at all is appealing.
There has not been a single incident this evening on my shift. It’s midnight, so I slip into the break room to eat my sandwich.
Peony stands off to the side of the fridge with her sandwich.
“Hi, Peony,” I say as I pull my own sub from the fridge.
“Hey, Dr. Whistler,” she responds.
“It’s Beck.”
“Ummm.” She chews her lip.
“What is it?” I ask, concerned by her unusual behavior.
“I was just wondering if, now that we aren’t going to work together, you’d like to go out with me sometime,” Peonymumbles to the floor. But then she meets my eyes with her own brown ones. “Oh. You met someone, didn’t you?”
I nod, thinking of Brooke and how she’s not just someone, she’s theonlyone for me.
“You’re seeing her?”
I nod again, because yes, I am definitely seeing her and intend to see her and only her until I die.
“Oh wow. You’re engaged?” Peony asks as she stares at me.
I blink. “How did you know?”
“It’s written all over your face,” Peony replies. “You have that look men only have when they’re thinking of the woman they’re in love with.”
“Are you some kind of love savant?” I tease, which is probably the first time I’ve ever teased a coworker in the history of … ever.
“No, just highly observant at weddings.”
“Sorry, Peony. You’ll find someone.”
Peony rolls her eyes. “Congratulations, Doctor Beck.”
She excuses herself from the break room with her sandwich and leaves me to eat my meal in peace.
It’s eight a.m. when I pull into the driveway between June’s house and mine. I don’t have to see Brooke on the swing to know that she’s there, waiting for me.
I park, hop out of the truck, and hurry up the path to her. But she surprises me by running down the porch steps and launching herself into my arms. It’s like a football tackle, but somehow better becauseshe’sthe one wrapping her arms around me.
“Hi,” she breathes.
I don’t respond at all, I just lean down and kiss her. Thoroughly.
“I saidafteryou’re married. None of thatbefore,” June hollers from an open window. “Brooke and I made you fried chicken to celebrate.”
