Page 55 of Eligible Best Friend

“I’m not.” I’m lying. I enjoy being around Ford’s family. But I’ve only met them each once, one at a time. This is a large group of people who have a long history.

I’ve been to tons of functions with large groups. Those were a huge part of my life. But I didn’t have a history with any of them. I was primed to say the right things. I told politicians, reporters, and donors what they wanted to hear and that was that. They forgot me as quickly as I forgot them.

I can’t do that here. I don’t have a statement to read from, talking points to hit or a script I’m required to recite. Whether it’s telling reporters about the platform my mother’s running on, or telling a patient I’m Lia from Fargo EMS and I’m here to help, I knew what to say.

I don’t know what to say today. These people are important to Ford. I like them. And if things between Ford and me keep going the way they are, they’re going to be part of my future.

“Mom’s coming, but I don’t see her car here yet.”

“I wish we could’ve brought Jayden.” Cass’s parents have a conference in Minneapolis, so she’s driving there to visit and taking Jayden. Of course.

A cloud crosses his face. “Me too. But I got him last weekend. I’ll promise Karoline to call her when he’s over next so she can see him.”

Ford’s gaze flicks beyond me a moment before someone knocks on the window.

I jump, my hand flying to my heart. I thought I had nerves of cast iron, but today is proving that wrong. I swivel around in my seat. “Mitch?”

His wife, Samantha, is standing next to him, grinning and holding a container with what I hope is the famous brownies she brought to last year’s company potluck.

I open the door and Ford leans over to ask, “What are you doing here?”

“Samantha used to watch Ryan’s kids in her day care, remember?”

I faintly recall Mitch mentioning it once, but that was back when Ford purposely avoided anything relating to Karoline and Ryan—which was any time before two weeks ago.

Ford and I get out and walk to the door with Mitch and Samantha. Laughter filters through the house from the backyard.

Karoline opens the door and claps her hands. “Hello, everyone! Come around the back. We have lots of food.” She eyes the tray Samantha’s holding. “I told you not to worry about anything, but I’ll forgive you if they’re brownies.”

Samantha brandishes the tray. “I’m forgiven.”

Karoline takes the tray and waves us to follow her.

Mitch falls in step beside me. “We get any more people from work here and we can just have our company picnic at Ryan’s.”

I laugh as we enter the backyard and my anxiety fades. An inviting aboveground pool twinkles in the middle of the yard and sits empty except for the girls’ pool toys floating on the surface. A trellis full of vines surrounds the patio and provides protection from the sun. Sergei’s talking to Ryan. When they see Ford, they both call out greetings. Sergei adds, “Glad you could make it.”

Ford and Mitch meet them by a cooler and I follow Samantha and Karoline to a picnic set up in the shade.

“Name your poison,” Karoline says while Samantha and I get settled. “I’ve got water, sparkling water, lemonade, spiked lemonade, iced tea…”

“Lemonade. Want help?”

“No, sit and have fun. I’m going to shoo Ryan’s wife, Rosa, out of the kitchen before she cooks anything else. We’ll have leftovers for a year.”

Samantha’s rueful smile turns toward me. “She’s not exaggerating. Rosa lives in fear of food running out on guests.” She digs a pair of sunglasses out of her purse. “So, how’ve you been? Mitch tells me you’re thinking about the paramedic program?”

I am? “I guess he mentioned something, but I haven’t really thought more about it. I like what I’m doing. I feel like I have a lot to learn.”

“Trust me, it’s easier to do your schooling before the marriage and the kids come. And you’d still be working and learning while you’re taking courses. You know the company will pay for it.”

“If I sign on for three years.”

Her gaze slides to Ford standing with the group of guys by the grill. “Are you planning on going anywhere?”

A question I’ve pondered recently and have a firm answer for. “No. Not at all.”

“Then you have nothing to lose. Except Ford as a partner.”

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