I unzipped his duffel and saw a grocery bag with a couple of steaks, potatoes, and two fresh ears of corn in it, along with a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough. “Oh my god, you’re insane. How could you possibly have known to buy all this?”
He chuckled. “Because I know my woman. And when she’s about to get her period, she craves red meat, wine, and chocolate.”
“I don’t get a period,” I countered. The shot eliminated them.
“Oh, you get a period,” he said. “It just might not be physical.”
I laughed. “I suppose that’s an accurate statement.”
“The steaks aren’t rib-eyes, though, sorry.”
“I love New Yorks as well,” I said, setting the food on the counter, standing on my tiptoes and kissing him gently. “Thank you.”
“You’re makin’ the cookies.”
I grinned. “I can handle the cookies.”
He kissed me again and then I left him to cook, considering he typically liked to create alone.
* * *
“Mama,” Mandi squealed, running toward me with a giggle.
I scooped her up and cuddled her close just as she disappeared before my eyes. “Baby?” I spun trying to find her, screaming her name. “Mandi!”
Strong arms wrapped me in a vice-grip and I heard Doc’s voice call my name.
“Mandi,” I rasped.
“Baby, I got you,” Doc said, stroking my back. “It was a bad dream. Open your eyes.”
I rolled to face him, wrapping my arms around him and burrowing my face into his chest. He had a tattoo of the Caduceusthat started between his pecs and stopped just above his belly button, and weirdly, it made me feel safe. “It was so real.Shewas real.”
“You having these dreams a lot?”
“No,” I said. “But enough that I think I need to start talking to someone again.”
“I’m all for you taking care of your mental health, sweetness.”
I sighed. “I have to go in on Thursday to update my birth control anyway, so I’ll stop into Cindy’s office and get back on her books.”
He kissed my forehead. “I’m really proud of you, Liv.”
“Oh, you are, are you?”
He chuckled. “Why are you saying it like that?”
“Because I figured you’d like to take me out to dinner on Thursday night.”
“You figured that, huh?”
“Yep.” I kissed his neck. “Somewhere nice.”
“Jesus,” he hissed. “You never ease me in, do you?”
I smiled. “Do youwantme to ease you in?”
“No.” He kissed me. “Thursday. You got it.”
