“Don’t take your parents’ loan.”
He stilled. “Why? I’d just have to go through a bank if not them. This way we don’t have to deal with interest.”
“I can’t help but think that with your parents backing you, the feel of the whole company is different. It’s hard to take ownership in something if it never feels like it's completely yours. They’ll always have a say. And I think you feel differently when you know you didn’t work that hard for it. I don’t know you or your life beyond what you’ve told me and impressions I’ve gathered, but being completely invested in your life can only happen when it’s your own skin in the game. Maybe that means keeping your business out in your garage for a while longer before moving into an office space.”
He leaned forward in his chair, his elbows resting on the tops of his knees, rubbing his fingers together, his eyes trained intently on the floor.
“Thank you for coming to my TED talk,” I said.
“I’m guessing your TED talk comes from some real-life experiences.”
“You’d be surprised at how motivated for success you can be when you don’t have anything to fall back on. I don’t have anybody around to catch me if I fall, but sometimes I wish I did.”
“That’s because you’re the one who does all the catching.”
A pensive air filtered between us as we both grew lost in our thoughts, our heads resting against the wall behind us. We were still sharing the armrest, but neither of us moved to pull away. The rush of the night had begun to catch up with my body. Yawning, I checked the clock. Three-thirty in the morning. Duke followed my gaze.
“I’m sure they’ll get you back soon.”
“You know that for a fact, Doctor?”
“Sure. Soon is relative. I’m really sorry again, by the way.”
I bumped his arm off the armrest. “I can still bend it. There’s no way it’s broken. We’re wasting our time.” Not to mention whatever this ER bill was going to cost me.
“It’s not a waste.” His voice, low and smooth, skittered down my spine. Somewhere in the foggy recess of my mind, I wondered if that statement meant more than how it sounded. And…why did I wish it did? Would he feel disappointed like me when the doctor actually called me back and popped this little bubble we’d created?
“You’re probably just faking it ‘cause it got you out of doing the lift.”
I grinned, my eyes closed, relishing in how comfortable I felt around him. For the first time in a long while, I felt my body relax. My head bobbed toward his shoulder before I jerked it back. “I was saving you and your weak muscles from attempting the lift. You should be thanking me.”
He snorted, putting his well-sculpted arm around my shoulders, giving my head a place to land. “This is pure Utah gym-rat muscle, with a little Idaho farm boy thrown in. And maybe a pinch of couch potato.”
“Idahofarm boy?”
He smiled. “My grandparents live in Idaho, just across the border. I still go a few times a year to help them fix their fences and brand their cattle.”
“Are you trying to lure me in with your sexy farm-boy talk?”
He curled into me slightly. “Is it working? Are farm boys what do it for you?”
“I don’t think it hurts anything.”
He laughed while I yawned again. I should have told him to remove his arm, but I didn’t. Instead, my head dipped even closer.
“Why does your armpit smell good?” I was getting delirious now.
“Uhhh. Men’s Speedstick. I’m too tired to think of something to counter your weirdness.”
“That’s fine. My foot hurts.”
“I’ll kiss it better.”
“Gross.”
“Fine. I’ll kiss you better.”
I ignored the thrill that shot through me at his words. “No strings.”
