Page 26 of Beehive Yourself
“Evening, Mr. Kade, what brings you in here today?” Dr. Morris’s voice is loud and pleasant as he enters the room,effectively ending any chance of my clearing things up with Sawyer.
Now is not the time.
Excusing myself, I paste on a smile until I make it to the break room and then, I sag against the counter and let the tears fall.
Pushingopen the door to the waiting room a short while later, I take a breath as I scan the small seating area for Walker. He was several grades ahead of me growing up, closer to my sister’s age, but I figure he can’t lookthatmuch different.
It only takes a few seconds to spot him, andwow,time has definitely been good to Walker Hull.
Walker is folded into a chair in the corner, his chiseled jaw and muscular frame drawing more than a few appreciative glances. Dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt rolled up his forearms, he’s exactly what you’d expect someone from a big corporate job to look like.
He smiles when he sees me before using the armrests to push himself up and extending his hand. “How’s our patient?” he asks, his smile charismatic and friendly, but his gaze tells me he’s trying to size me up.
Did Sawyer tell him we slept together?
Did he tell Walker about dinner?
“Hey, Walker, he’s doing fine. He’s going to need some time to heal, but he should be back in the kitchen in no time.”
“Well, that’s certainly good news.”
“It is,” I tell him, making sure I’m cool, calm, and collected on the outside even while I’m a ball on nerves on the inside. “My shift is over, so I’ll just take him home.” Cracking a smile, I add,“Unless you want to play nursemaid to him?” Right now I’m sure Sawyer would take Walker over me, and that hurts my heart in a way that nearly steals the breath from my lungs.
His chuckle is low and raspy as he shakes his head. “He’d be pretty pissed to find me in that spot instead of you.” The statement, even if it’s a joke, has my heart beating a little faster because if nothing else, Sawyer’s definitely talked to him about me.
“Hmm, well, we’ll see what he thinks when I heat him a can of chicken noodle soup.”
Walker’s expression is one of disgust and I laugh, both because it looks so unnatural on him and also because I’m completely serious.
I’m about to say goodbye when Walker sobers, his dark gray eyes boring into me. “Be careful with him.”
“Excuse me?”
“He doesn’t let himself be happy like this.” Tilting his head to the side, he adds, “Or at least hewashappy.”
So Sawyer did tell him…
“In the hospital?” I ask, hoping I’m wrong.
“With you.”
“Walker, I don’t?—”
“You’re both adults and things are complicated and all that but,”—he lifts one massive shoulder and lets it drop—“I just want you to understand what a big deal this is for him, to even just be comfortable and open with someone.”
“And how would he feel about you telling me this?” I ask, wanting to slam my hands down onto my hips and be outraged on Sawyer’s behalf, while also appreciating him telling me.
But Walker just smiles.
“He’d want to kick my ass but he’s got a bum hand.” He shrugs. “I can take him.”
“I’ll let him keep you updated on…how things turn out.”
He winks as he rocks back on his heels. “You do that.”
Still stunned, I watch as Walker saunters out of the waiting room and through the sliding doors to the parking lot, a pillar of ease. Their relationship is so strange—Sawyer’s grumpiness and Walker’s charm completely at odds.
And also the perfect balance.
