His gut twisted as the familiar name flashed across the screen. Why in the world would Shelby be calling him? He regretted keeping her number in his phone from high school. He should’ve deleted it a long time ago. But this meant she never deleted his either.
“Everything okay?” Brooke scanned his face then her gaze dropped to the phone in his hand. “Oh, Shelby is calling you.” She gnawed on a fingernail. “I didn’t realize— I thought—and I shouldn’t have.”
“We don’t talk.” He sighed and ran a hand down the length of his face. “I didn’t even know she still had my number or that I still had it saved. I have no idea why she is calling.”
“Then you’d better pick up,” she said matter-of-factly.
Logan sighed and punched the accept button. “Hello?” Logan plunged his free hand through his hair then rubbed the length of his jaw.
“Hey, Logan.”
“Yeah.” A tremor made his hands shake.
“This is Shelby.”
“I know.” He forced his shaky hand into the pocket of his pants.
Then he waited.
Brooke left his side and walked over to the table and dug into the to-go bag, placing the cartons on the table. She busied herself with opening and closing some cupboards, retrieving plates and cups.
“I’m babysitting the twins, and I can’t get a hold of your sister or your parents. Lily has a fever. I didn’t know who else to call.I’m not sure how high is too high. I’m a nurse, but I deal with adults. This is a small infant, aren’t fevers in them much more serious?”
Since when did Shelby babysit the twins? His mind tried to play catch up. A creaking drawer in the kitchen made him peer over his shoulder toward Brooke. She snatched two forks out of it and walked them over to the table. She appeared seemingly unfazed by his conversations with his ex-girlfriend.
“I’m with Brooke. She’s a pediatrician. Why don’t I have you talk to her? She would be better equipped to help you than me.”
“Oh, umm. I guess—I mean you’re a doctor too, I’d rather talk to you.”
Logan ignored her and held the phone against his chest. “Lily has a fever. Shelby is babysitting. Do you mind talking to her for a minute to evaluate how bad it is?”
Brooke finished setting two place settings on the table.
“Sure.” She weaved around the table as she motioned for him to give her the phone. “I’ll talk to her.”
He halved the distance to her. “Thanks.” Logan slipped the phone into her hand. “I appreciate it.”
“No problem.” She squeezed his bicep and smiled. Then she placed the phone to her ear. “Shelby, this is Brooke.”
Then she stepped away and walked over to the windows which overlooked the city and river. He only heard her end of the conversation as she asked a few questions. Logan didn’t know what to do, so he paced the length of the living room while he waited.
“Okay, we’ll come right now. Don’t worry, babies get fevers a lot and most of the time it isn’t serious.” She found his gaze and continued, “It’s no trouble. We’re coming. See you soon.” Then she hung up and held his phone out to him. He strode to her and snagged his phone back. “Shelby seemed hysterical about the whole thing. I think Lily is fine, but I told her we would goover right now to help. I instructed her to give Lily some baby Tylenol, and we’ll be there soon to relieve her.”
“Are you sure?” He raised an eyebrow. “I can go by myself.”
“Did you not want me there?” Her voice was calm and even. But her gaze roamed over him.
“Of course I want you there.” Logan rubbed the back of his neck. “But I also know you’ve had a long day and driving an hour roundtrip wasn’t on your to do list tonight.”
“I don’t mind.” She wrung her hands together. “What’s the point of being a pediatrician if I don’t make house calls for the family? Am I right?”
He scooped her up into a tight hug then kissed her. “You’re the best.” He smiled down at her.
“I know,” she laughed. “But I don’t mind hearing you say it out loud.”
They quickly repacked up their dinner and took it with them with the hope they would have a chance to eat it at Danielle’s. Thirty minutes later, they pulled up. Logan killed the engine.
“I still don’t know why anyone isn’t picking up their phones.” He had tried calling both his parents, Danielle and Michael multiple times on the drive there. “And my parents never go anywhere so I have no idea what’s going on with any of them.”
