Page 14 of Hot Touch
My thoughts wandered as Jackie talked about some PR kit she’d received. The sexy fireman, the man who looked like he had walked right off the pages of a romance book. A real-life hero. My very own knight in shining armor. He hadn’t returned after saying he was going to step out, and I was all about believing people when they showed you who they really were.
That was almost two hours ago now.
Two nurses had come in, and after taking my vitals, told me I was all good to go.
Go where exactly, I wasn’t sure. But I was being discharged, and I wasn’t going to get overwhelmed about the million things I had to focus on. I had to focus on the big picture.
I was okay.
I was safe.
All thanks to…
“Speaking of the fireman hottie!” Jackie obnoxiously greeted the man who had gone home to change, by the looks of it.
His hair damp from a shower, he wore a soft white shirt that showed off the powerful muscular body that lay beneath the cotton fabric without being showy. He’d paired it with faded jeans that looked like they were custom made just for him. If that wasn’t enough to make my brain fritz out a little, he was holding a bouquet of pink and white daises that had been wrapped up in butcher paper and were held together by a yellow-striped ribbon. Flowers.For me?
“Hey,” he greeted me with an almost shy smile. Did men get shy? One who looked like he did?
“Hi,” I said, shoving my hands into the pockets of my joggers.
“I picked these up for you.” He handed me the bouquet.
“Oh!” I blinked and looked up at him as our fingers brushed. “Thank you.” My eyes dropped to the beautiful arrangement. Somehow, without knowing me, he’d picked my favorites.
“Well… I’m going to take this.” My sister grabbed the duffle bag from my hand. “And go get, a.. umm… snack. I will be back.”
“You don’t have to—“ I started to say, but I could tell she was up to something.
“Fewer things for us to carry,” she said with a huge smile on her face.
“Carry?” he cut in, and Jackie turned. I could tell by the way she was looking at him that she had something up her sleeve.
“To the car.”
“Oh, umm… I can take Alex home, if you would like.”
“Home?” She smirked. “Do you mean your place or?—“
“Wait, was my building cleared?” I cut in because I didn’t want to know what Jackie thought she was up to.
“No. Shit, sorry. Last night, while you were sleeping, your siter stopped by. Liz?”
“She did?” Jackie and I asked simultaneously.
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it earlier. She said you can stay at her place. That you have a key.” I looked at Jackie. Something in her eyes softened.
“If you want to stay there to have your space, I totally understand. But if you want someone around, I’m here, too, and my place…” She kept talking, and I tried to listen, but all I could do was think about the last time I’d been there.
It gave me anxiety.
With four other roommates, her place was always too loud and too busy.
“I’m sorry.” I winced.
If I had to choose where to stay until I figured out my living situation, it would be Liz’s place. She’d be gone for at least amonth anyhow. Maybe by the time she returned, I’d already found somewhere else to live or my building would be okay to go back to. Jackie squeezed my hand.
“Nothing to be sorry about.” She smiled before glancing over her shoulder at Nate. “Would you really be up for giving her a ride?” she asked with a salacious smile on her face. My face heated at the double-entendre my sister had used on purpose.
