Neither of us says a word, but we’re both smiling like idiots.The crowd around us seems to fade into the background, becoming nothing but a distant hum as I share this inside joke with her.
Just to clarify.I draw out the words carefully, my hands weirdly clasping in front of me.I’m not sure what to do with them, because I know I can’t touch her.Not yet anyway.Harper, she, uh…exaggerates.
Mm-hmm.Eddie rolls her lips inward, as if holding back a bigger smile.I’m captivated and can’t look away.Sure she does.So does that mean you don’t have a crush on me?
No, she’s got that part correct.I’ve had a crush on you since the moment you walked through the curtain yesterday.I decide to tell her the truth.It’s been screamed at her enough today by my niece that there’s no point in denying it.It’s just that it’s a little crush,I joke, holding my thumb and pointer finger close together.I’d like to get to know you better before I completely embarrass myself and admit it’s a big-bigcrush.
Oh.The word comes out on a breathy sigh.She doesn’t look overwhelmed by my omission, but she’s not jumping up and down either.I feel a little pinch to my ego, so used to women throwing themselves at me and going above and beyond to get my attention.This is…nice though.A good change of pace.I’m kind of thrilled to be the one pursuing and having to show what I bring to the table.
So I never actually got your full name.I only know you as Dr.Eddie.
She shifts her feet, moving her weight from side to side.Shaking her head with a laugh, she extends her hand out to me for a shake.Just Eddie, no doctor.Eddie Watson.I work as an X-ray technician at the hospital.
Eddie Watson.It fits her.Warm.Easy.Strong.
I take her hand, and—oh, dear God—my brain short-circuits again.Her hand is small but firm, her skin soft against mine.I never want to let her go.
Sidney,I say uselessly.
I know.Her eyes glitter.Kinda hard to miss the giant banner of your face.She points to something behind me.
I groan, knowing exactly what banner she’s referring to.That thing follows me around like a bad smell.Please tell me you didn’t walk past the video loop.
There’s a video loop!Oh, I definitely will find that later.
I drop my head back, mortified.She laughs, low, warm.The kind of sound that hits right under my ribs.I’d happily embarrass myself a dozen more times just to hear it again.
So,she says, lifting her brows,big charity event.Big speech.Big nerves?
Only when certain people show up unexpectedly,I admit before I can stop myself.
Her cheeks pinken slightly, and the urge to say something stupider grows exponentially.
A shout from across the way has both Eddie and me quickly looking in that direction.Mom!I’m finished.Can we go home now?
A teenager with sweat-dampened hair and only socks on his feet walks up to Eddie.His attention is on his phone, so he doesn’t notice me right away.My eyes dart from the brown-haired boy with a light spattering of freckles over his nose to Eddie.
The likeness is undeniable.
If he hadn’t called herMom,I would have thought they were siblings—they look so similar.The realization that Eddie has a son hits me like a brick.I expect panic to consume me.Or fear, at the very least, at the idea that I’m interested in a woman who comes with complicated strings.I’ve never even contemplated dating a woman who has a kid.
Yet no warning bells go off in my head.
The only emotion that bubbles up is curiosity, with maybe a sprinkle of surprise.Eddie is young.Possibly a couple of years older than me, but no more than early thirties for sure.
Joey,Eddie says with a bit of a tone.She’s not impressed by his lack of attention, and I watch her cheeks pinken as she glances from her son back to me.At her reprimand, Joey glances up quickly, taking in his mom, then me, before going back to his phone.
Then he goes completely still.Slowly, so slowly, his head comes back up, and his eyes go wide—massive—when he realizes who’s standing next to his mom.
Whoa,he breathes, his arms falling to his sides, phone forgotten in his hand.
Hey, man.I smile over at him.How’s it going?
Joey glances at his mom, eyes flaring even wider, before coming back to me.Uh, good.Yeah.I’m good,he stammers.
I can’t help but chuckle.I’m Sidney.
I know,he begins, then shakes his head as if to clear the fog.I mean, I’m Joey, but I know who you are.
