Page 26 of The Cutting Edge
“Where?” I can feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment – it’s not like it’s my first time using my fork or anything.
“Right there,” he says, helpfully pointing at the corner of his mouth.
I dab my napkin in the same spot on my face, “Did I get it?”
“Other side,” he laughs.
“Here?” I ask as I start dabbing the other side. I can’t feel anything on my face, so I’m kind of working blind here.
“Almost…a bit lower…” he says. “To the left a bit…” Suddenly, he takes his own napkin and leans across the rolling tray table. “May I?”
I nod my head, and he dabs my face with the napkin just a smidge lower from where I was. And then, unexpectedly, he touches his index finger to my lip, lightly as a feather floating to the ground. “You have another…”
His touch is electrifying, and suddenly I’m thinking about all the other places I’d like him to touch me. And all the other places I’d like to put my lips, for that matter.
We’re both suspended in time for a millisecond as his finger drags back across my bottom lip.
“I’m sorry if I…” he begins as he pulls back his hand, and I interrupt him just as quickly.
“It’s okay...”
My mouth is still warm from where the pad of his index finger just touched me, and he’s still leaning forward across the table. Suddenly I find myself leaning forward too, our eyes fixed on each other’s intently as our faces get closer. When I feel his warm breath against my mouth, my eyes flutter closed in anticipation of what I’m sure is coming next.
Which is the exact moment when the door bangs open awkwardly.
“I hate to interrupt this romantic dinner for two, but I need to check your IV and take your vitals,” says Nurse Barb as she noisily pushes a beeping cart into my room.
This was definitelynotwhat I was sure was coming next. Quickly backing away, I try to behave normally – like I’ve just been caught making out with the high school quarterback in my parent’s basement or something.
Logan sighs audibly as he quickly stands up, and shoots me a look heavy with disappointment. “Should I move, or leave the room or something?”
“You can stay, handsome,” flirts Nurse Barb. “Although I’m sure Coco’s heart beats a whole lot faster when you’re nearby. Shall we test it?”
Instantly I’m mortified. (Although if the last 60 seconds is any indication, that is definitely true.) I can feel my cheeks coloring, and I fervently hope that the hospital bed will just swallow me up whole and deliver me from this humiliating banter. Logan smiles at me as he backs up towards the door a bit more to give Nurse Barb some room to maneuver, and then swoops in and takes the pressure off me like a knight on a white horse, “Actually, I think you’ve got that backward, Nurse Barb. It’smyheart that starts beating faster whenCoco’saround.”
Barb chuckles and swaps out my IV bag for a full one, then takes my blood pressure and temperature. “Between the sweet talk and the fancy dinner, this one might be a keeper,” she tells me.
My insides are inclined to agree, but there’s no way I’m letting Logan in on that little tidbit so soon.
“Alright chickadees,” says Barb as she begins wheeling the cart out the door. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Um, Nurse Barb, do you have any idea when I’ll be getting out of the hospital? Yesterday, they told me I’d be staying overnight for observation, but I haven’t seen the doctor since then.”
“We were a bit short-staffed today,” explains Barb. “Some kind of bug going around.” She pulls my chart off the end of my bed and starts flipping through the pages. Then, she begins tapping away at the laptop perched on top of her rolling cart.
“Sorry, no news here either. Looks like they’re still waiting on a radiologist to review your CT scan from last night. That means you’ll probably be here with us at least another day. Your attending physician has already left for the day.”
My heart sinks, and I sigh with disappointment. I hate to be off work for another day. Money is super tight as it is, and I really can’t afford to miss teaching any more classes. Plus, with Nationals coming up in just a few short months, I really don’t want to miss any more training days either. Especially since I have to pay for my coaching and ice time whether I show up or not. Sure, my head is a bit tender, but I’m feeling better than I was yesterday, the headache is probably almost gone, and I just don’t have the time or money to spare.
“Well, the bad news for you is that I have to wipe Washington off the ice tomorrow night, so I’m not available for dinner. The good news is that the game is sold out, so you can watch me on TV.”
“Well,” I say teasingly, “that was my biggest concern during my hospital stay.”
“I thought it might be,” he flirts. “Don’t you worry. If you’re still here, I’ll do a courtesy drop-in after the game.” He grins mischievously, “And we can chill out together and see what our fine friends in customs at the Madrid airport are up to.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I seriously doubt I’ll be here another night.”
“I’m free tomorrow if she isn’t,” smiles Nurse Barb.
