They paused by a bench, where students were stringing white lights in the trees. Elise maneuvered her chair to face him as they sat in the fading sun, relaxed and enjoying the vibe. He gushed about his crush on Utah again, and showered compliments on the institute.
Finally, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and she braced herself for something…personal. She could see it in his eyes.
“I’m really grateful for Shambles,” he said softly.
Oh. Shambles the sheep. That was a little disappointing. “Why?” she asked.
“She gave me the perfect excuse to come back here and see you.”
And the rollercoaster she’d been riding all afternoon soared again. Biting her lip, she felt a flush deepen her cheeks, fighting the urge to ask him if he actually didn’t notice she was in a wheelchair.
She swallowed that and gave a shaky smile. “You don’t need an excuse.”
His smile deepened, slow and genuine. “I’ll take that as a good sign.”
“A sign of…what?” she asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
“That you like me as much as I like you.” He winked at her.
“Are youflirtingwith me, Dr. Reynolds?”
“Not very well, if you have to ask.”
“But…” She took a slow, deep breath, knowing that if they didn’t talk about her disability, the conversation they never had would haunt her. “There is this small matter of an elephant.”
“Yeah, yeah. The elephant in the room.” He put one hand on each of her armrests and rolled her back two inches, then reversed to bring her even closer to him. “The one you think matters more than anything and would keep a guy from showing interest. That elephant?”
She nodded, unable to speak.
“I don’t even see this alleged elephant,” he said. “But I do see a striking, smart, funny, and insanely attractive woman who I’d really like to get to know better. I’m not begging to work on the Live Nativity because I have a hankerin’ to spend Christmas Eve cleaning up sheep doo-doo.”
“Then why are you?”
He slanted his head and gave her a look that said he couldn’t believe she had to ask. But she had to ask! No one ever…no man had ever… Oh, dear.
She had to be honest. There was one other elephant in the room and he couldn’t possibly know it. She had to tell him.
“I think you need to know something, Wade,” she said on a rough whisper, forcing herself to get this out.
“Anything.”
“I’ve never…been on a date. Never kissed a guy in my life. I don’t know how to…do this. I’ve only watched movies and daydreamed and imagined…anything. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
He just smiled. “No one does. That’s what makes it fun. Can I see you again?”
She closed her eyes and sighed at his pure…goodness. “Yeah.”
Lifting her hand, he pressed her knuckles to his lips. “Good. I’ll text you. This was great. Thank you. Come on. Let’s get you home, cowgirl.”
He walked her back to the dorm, hugged her in the lobby, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. With a promise to call tomorrow, he left her with the biggest smile she’d worn in years.
This just didn’t happen to Elise Hale.
But here it was…happening.
The dashboard clock read 10:14 a.m., but MJ’s body felt battered and exhausted.
Because sleep had become the enemy.
