It turned out Samir was right to recommend a mix of books for Ella. My little girl was more than capable of following a story but learning the farm animals had been just as fun for her, and for me.
I couldn’t believe how much of her development I’d missed already. I couldn’t even remember the last time we sat together to spend some quality time without me fighting to keep my eyes open.
By the time Monday evening rolled in, I’d had more than enough rest and not nearly enough hours spent with my daughter. But I was more determined than ever to keep this pace, even if it meant ditching work at the Grill in the lead-up to Christmas.
Somehow, no matter how many employees we had, Christmas always ended up busier than we could handle. So I wasn’t so sure Carson meant the whole “don’t step foot in here again” thing, but I wasn’t going to challenge him. Besides, he knew if he needed me, I was just a call away.
So I walked into the station for my shift with a renewed sense of something. It wasn’t hope exactly. It was something like… like happiness. And I wanted to do everything in my power to maintain it.
“Well, well, well,” Dawn said as soon as I walked into the kitchen to grab myself some coffee. “Welcome back, stud.”
I paused, coffee jug in hand as I was about to pour and grimaced.
“Hi?”
“You’re going to be so popular!” she chortled.
“Popular where? What?” I asked, but the EMS admin assistant dashed out of the room before I could prod further.
I wondered what that was about.
I was curious but not curious enough to find out. So I finished pouring my coffee, grabbed an energy bar from the shift’s pantry, plonked down on the couch in the back of the day room, and put a training video on the TV.
Some minutes later, two of my shift buddies came in. Before I could greet them or ask them what smelled so delicious, they glanced at me and whistled.
“If it isn’t Mr. Casanova,” Josh said. Cooper chuckled next to him.
“What are you guys talking about?” I asked, my mind immediately going to yesterday and swooning—erm, meeting—Samir for the first time.
But how would Josh and Cooper know about that? Had Enzo gotten word out that I’d been drooling over the hunky bookstoreowner or something? Then again, he didn’t even know my colleagues, so how could they know?
Cooper plopped down next to me, and his ramen shook dangerously in his bowl.
“Look, he’s pretending he doesn’t know,” he said.
“Pretending I don’t know what? Also where did you get that?” I looked at his bowl.
I was used to seeing the guy wolf down instant ramen, but Cooper’s and Josh’s—who sat down next to him—looked like they’d come straight out of a Korean restaurant. Last time I checked, we didn’t have any on this island—much to Hwan’s disappointment.
“Oh that? I’ve been learning how to elevate instant noodles. Want to try?” Cooper offered me his bowl, and I wasted no time to take it and try a bite.
“Ouch,” I said, burning myself on the hot broth, but despite that, I couldn’t stop eating. The noodles, the flavor of the broth, hell, even the soy-stained boiled eggs were fucking delicious.
“I think he’s stuffing his face so he doesn’t have to explain himself.” Josh chuckled and elbowed Cooper’s side.
“Definitely.” Cooper laughed.
I paused.
“Explain what?” I mumbled with my mouth full. “I have no idea what you people are talking about.”
Cooper raised his eyebrow. Josh grimaced.
“What do you mean, you have no idea? You thought you’d sign up for the charity auction and we wouldn’t find out?”
I dropped the fork and gasped.
“I… what?”
