“Are you sure there’s no one else we can call so you can go on your date?” Maya asks as we sit in the MRI control room.
“I don’t think any of the new research assistants have been certified yet to work with the scanner. It looks like you’re stuck with me,” I tease.
“You know I love having you around. I just feel bad that you canceled your date night.”
I shrug. “I still get to spend the night with him which is really all that matters.”
“Well, I appreciate you jumping in to help me. Soon you’ll have all the data you need.”
I only had a few more babies to scan before I was done. Hopefully I’d only be alittlelate in meeting Bethany’s deadline. Have I had time to analyze any of the data I collected or write up my results? Of course not. But that was a problem for future Violet.
My phone vibrates with a text from Mason, indicating he’s here. I head outside to let him in, pausing when I see him carrying a picnic basket. “What’s this?”
“Well, I figured since we couldn’t go to the restaurant, I would bring the restaurant to you. I canceled our reservation and put in a takeout order instead. I even ordered extra for Maya.”
This man had to be the most thoughtful person I’d ever met. I couldn’t believe he was all mine. “I—I don’t even know what to say.”
“How about you let me in before we both freeze out here?”
“Shit. Yes. Absolutely.” I unlock the door and pull him into a room next to the lobby before all of the ‘WARNING. MRI SAFETY ZONE AHEAD’ signs. “Let me just give Maya her dinner really quick.”
I peak my head back into the control room and slide over the Tupperware of ravioli.
“Mason got us food from Ristorante Florentine.”
“Violet if you don’t marry the man I will.” She begins diving into her dinner.
“Noted.”
“I think the family just arrived. I can go get them prepped if you want to bring Mason in here as you get the scanner ready.Also tell him he’s officially my second favorite person. Behind you of course.”
While Maya talks to the family, I make Mason go through our metal detector a few times. “I feel like I’m going through airport security.” He laughs.
“I’ve been to one too many MRI safety trainings. Perhaps I’m a bit paranoid.” When I’m sure he’s fine, I bring Mason into the control room. “You can set the food down over there. Once I start the scan it’s pretty straight forward.”
“I can’t believe you do this with babies. I could barely lay still the last time I got an MRI.”
“You just hope and pray that they stay asleep. Sometimes it works…sometimes it doesn’t.” I log onto the computer as Maya instructs the mom on how to place her baby inside the MRI scanner. When she comes back, I start the machine and let Maya take the reigns as I turn my attention to Mason.
He pulls out several different takeout containers, laying out an array of entrees and desserts. “I can’t believe you did all of this for me.”
“I’d do anything for you.” He scooches over to create enough space for me to sit next to him. “Now are we feeling Carbonara or Ravioli?”
“Honestly both.”
“That’s the correct answer.” He flashes me a smile while handing me a fork as we both dive in.
“Any news from Coach Jameson about this job becoming a bit more permanent?” We had one somewhat tense conversation about alternatives if he did have to find work elsewhere. In an ideal world he would find another local university to work for, but if that didn’t pan out we may have to consider long distance. After so many years apart from each other, we hated the idea of being separated again.
“Coach has made comments about how far the team has come because of the changes I’ve made, but beyond that…” He shrugs, momentarily pinching his eyebrows together in concern.
“Jake managed to bring his grade back up before the end of the semester. Seems like excellent coaching to me.”
He shakes his head. “I can’t take credit for that; it was all you.”
“Actually, it was all Eliana. She was the one who was willing to tutor him.” How she managed to make it to the end of the semester without strangling Jake, I’ll never know. “Your guys absolutely destroyed Bolton before winter break, which in my opinion should count asat leastfour separate wins.”
“Excuse me. Violet Amin. Are you saying you’re officially a Westchester hockey fan?”
