“I’m fine, Ben. It’s just… the cream.”
It’s my turn to smirk. Serves him right for not getting to know her first.
“It’s good right?” He smiles at her, completely oblivious to her look of disgust. “Nothing better than hazelnut.” Hesqueezes her shoulder as he walks past her. “I’ll see you in there.”
I make a mental note to set an alarm. Today will be the last day I let anyone wake me up to watch Hailey choke down overly sweet coffee.
“Yeah, see you in there,” she replies.
I close the gap between me and the kitchen.
“Your coworker seems great at asking questions.”
I think about spending a day with her in that medic wing instead of whatever hurdles McCafferty has waiting for me. Even if it means sitting around for hours, it sounds more fun.
“Ben is nice,” she says.
Yeah, because that’s what you want in a guy,nice. Well, how’s this for nice?
She startles when I take the mug from her hand. I slog to the kitchen sink and pour the almost mocha-colored coffee down the drain.
Damn, how much sweetener did he put in this?
The overflowing dishwasher rack needs a stiff tug to get open. There’s one spot in the very back where I fit the dirty mug in. I shove it closed and open the closest cupboard above me. It’s filled with ceramic plates.
“They’re over there.”
My eyes follow her finger to find a dozen mismatched mugs hanging from pegs next to the coffee machine.
I chuckle when I reach for the one that saysThis wine is aw-ful. Give me another glass.
Oh, Moira Rose. At least these guys have good taste in TV.
“What are you doing today?” she asks.
I pour her a new cup of coffee and hold out the payment I promised last night. “Probably subjecting myself to a good ass kicking.”
She accepts the mug and touches it to her lips to stifle a giggle. “I’d like to see that.”
My eyes trace the curve where they wrap the rim. “I’m sure you would.”
“Three minutes left, rookie.”
Hailey and I startle at the creak of a recliner in the living room. McCafferty is eating a Costco-sized blueberry muffin and watching the weather report.
“Duty calls.” I motion toward the hall that leads to the bathroom.
“What aboutyourcoffee?”
I take three strides forward—the entire distance that’s left between us—and steal the cup from her hands. I tip it back, letting the hot liquid drain down my throat. Hailey’s mouth hangs open as she watches my lips peel off her cup. I spin it to the side my mouth was just on so it’ll be where she drinks from next.
“Yours tastes better,” I say, taking clunky backward steps.
Her expression melts into a grin and then pinches into the one a mom would give a child who forgot to do their chores. “Two pairs of socks inside out so the seam doesn’t rub on your toes.”
I grin at her. “Thanks for taking care of my feet, Red.” But my grin is wiped clean off as my back connects with another body.
“Where’s your gear, Morgan?”
