Page 19 of Eligible Best Friend

I should call her though.

But we’re not really dating. I don’t normally tell her when I switch shifts unless we happen to work together, and I know I need to trade, likewise, for her.

I get ahold of Mitch and turn my brain off when it comes to Lia. Of all people, she’ll understand.

Six

Lia

He’s avoiding me.

I arrived for my shift Monday morning armed with water bottles, a packed lunch, and a stomach twisted in knots at the thought of seeing Ford. We’d be alone in the ambulance cab. Alone at our post while waiting for a call. Alone together.

Would he be aloof and cool like he was after the wedding? Could we fall into our same old groove as partners? Or had that kiss irrevocably changed things between us?

All that worry for nothing. I’ve spent the last eleven and a half hours with Mitch. Ford is working with Arnesh this Saturday instead.

Mitch backs the ambulance into the garage bay and I’m dutifully guiding him, surrounded by diesel fumes, but in reality, I’m distracted. Good thing Mitch has done this a thousand times and doesn’t take out the garage doorframe. Instead of switching out for driving after each run, he likes to split the shift. I’ve been riding shotgun since noon. Which is fine.

It’s just not my routine with Ford.

Mitch punches the button to close the garage door and gets out. He catches me scowling at the ambulance. “Did I do something to piss you off, Wescott? You’re acting like you got stuck on the douche crew.”

A moniker we’ve given Russel, another paramedic who should’ve been fired years ago. Mitch isn’t so smug he’s dangerous like Russel is. “No. Why?”

His expression says the answer should be as clear as the blue lips on the emphysema patient we just left at the ER. “You’ve barely said a word that didn’t have to do with patient care.”

What is he talking about? It’s been a steady day. When did Mitch and I have time to chat?

There was the hour over lunch when we had no calls. Then, the first stretch this morning, when I was lost in a cloud of wondering why Ford wasn’t working. Mitch said something about Jayden, but Ford’s never gotten to have his son so long that he had to take off work.

Of course a twelve-hour shift would be the first time Cass allowed it.

“Wescott.” His brows are raised like he can’t believe he lost me midconversation. He’s given me that look more than once today.

“Sorry, no. You did nothing wrong. I like working with you, Mitch.”

“But not as much as working with your boyfriend?”

I wince. I hate lying to people. Letting Samuel, my parents, Ford’s mom, and his ex think we’re an item is one thing, but Mitch isn’t meddling family or a cheating ex. He’s a nice guy and an amazing paramedic.

“It’s not that.” My answer sounds as weak as my resolve to keep lying to a guy I consider not just a coworker but a friend. I mean, I was at his son’s graduation party last year. I traded cookie recipes with his wife.

“Did you two get in a tiff?” He says it with a joking tone, but his eyes are all serious. He’s worried about me.

Guilt wells up and the truth spills out, mostly because I have no one else to talk to. Normally, I’d tell Ford since he’s my closest friend. I can’t talk to him about him, and I can’t talk to anyone else because, according to the rest of the world, we’re supposed to be dating.

“We’re not dating,” I confess. “We’re pretending because his ex is on a power trip and my mother wants to control my life.”

I swallow hard. Mitch stares at me, his eyes owlish and his Adam’s apple bobbing as he attempts a reply. Finally, he shakes his head and lets out a wry chuckle. “I wondered why it seemed so sudden. You two were buddies and then bam!—you’re dating. It was weird. Not that it doesn’t make sense.” His forehead crinkles. “If you want it to make sense. I don’t mean that you two don’t work together really well, but I didn’t think you did that together really well.” His face flushes hemoglobin red. “Hell. You know what I mean.”

I don’t. “Yep.”

He bobs his head. “Well, your secret’s safe with me, but I still don’t get what that has to do with you being in your head all day.” His expression turns irritated. “Is he supposed to be fake dating you, but he’s seeing other women on the side?”

I could laugh at the way Mitch is ready to defend my fake honor, but the thought of Ford being with other women while we’re pretending to be together makes my stomach roil. We talked about that and I trust him, but part of my brain refuses to listen to reason. “No, we established ground rules. The custody issue is pretty serious.”

“I wish I was rich so I could buy that kid a lawyer. His ex wouldn’t stand a chance in court and she knows it.”

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