“You’re hardly a problem child when your ex-boyfriend is being an insufferable wanker.”
I snort at her comment and smile. “That he is, isn’t he?” I don’t even care that he can probably hear me across the hall.
Fuck him.
“I’m serious,” she maintains.
“I know you are, and I appreciate it. Truly. But I’m fine. I will get through this, one day at a time. It won’t be long, and his time here will be over and done.”
“You know that’s not really how it works, right?” she asks.
“Of course, but that’s what I’m gonna tell myself for now. In the meantime, I’m going to keep my head in the game and my eye on the prize.”
Allison glances at the flower and smiles. “Let me guess, the prize just so happens to be a tall, muscular construction worker who knows how to use his tongue and what’s between his legs?”
I shrug, unable to fight my grin. “Sounds like a nice prize to me.”
“Oh, I agree one-thousand-percent. I hope you take full advantage of that prize.”
I turn my attention to my computer and make the notes needed in the last chart. Dr. Liu stops by to say goodbye, heading to the next clinic she will be seeing patients at. Thankfully, Lance stays in Doc’s office, and I’m relieved to get a short reprieve from the all-knowing, watchful eyes of my ex.
Glancing up, I spot the pink lily in the vase and smile. It’s gorgeous, on the verge of its full bloom splendor. I’m actually quite grateful he didn’t send a rose. The asshole across the hall used to send them when he’d fuck up—which, looking back now, seemed to be a lot. What Cade sent was unique and special, just like him.
I grab my phone and prepare to type out a thank you text. However, as my fingers hover over the screen, a different idea forms. Not an impersonal message sent through the phone, but something else. Something to really catch his attention and show him how much I appreciate his thoughtful little gifts.
Cade Miller isn’t going to know what hit him.
I smile to myself as my plan is made.
“Pizza’s here!”
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
Cade
I just slide on a pair of running shorts when I hear a knock at the door. Grabbing the T-shirt from my bed, I slip it over my head as I make my way to the living room, shaking out my wet hair.
I can’t help but wonder who’s here. Any of my family or friends would use the back door near the garage, which means this is most likely a solicitor. I should just go back to my room and finish getting ready, leaving whoever’s here to think I’m not home.
When I reach the door, I glance at the driveway, surprised to see a Jeep Cherokee sitting there. Worry hits me square in the gut as I release the deadbolt and turn the lock on the knob. “Oaklee,” I say before the door’s completely open.
There she stands, wearing dark blue scrubs and holding a pink lily. “Hi.” She appears a little nervous.
I hold open the door and step back. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know,” she mutters, glancing around before returning her attention to me. “I’m sorry for just dropping by. I hope it’s okay I asked Allison where you lived. I realized this afternoon I didn’t know, and I feel bad about that. I’m a terrible friend.”
I give her an easy smile. “You’re not. It’s never come up, and I’ve always just dropped by your place, sometimes unexpected. So this is a nice surprise.” Noticing she’s still standing by the door, I wave my hand toward the couch and add, “Wanna come in?”
But she doesn’t move. Her eyes do, as she looks at the couch I indicated, but her feet remain rooted in place. “Oaklee?”
She swallows hard and levels me with a look so intense it almost knocks me back on my ass. “I wanted to come over and say thank you. For this,” she says, holding up the flower. “And for everything else. Your little surprises are…nice. And welcome. And make me feel valued. No one,” she says, clearing her throat, “has made me feel like that.”
Her words are rushed, like she’s trying to get them all out as quick as she possibly can. Glancing down, she brings the lily to her nose and gently inhales. As she does, a soft smile plays on her lips, making me do the same. “I’m glad you like it.”
And it pisses me off completely that she feels that way. Not the appreciation part, but the fact no one has ever made her feel like that before.
