“I was just doing my job.” I take it from him and smile. The flowers Charlie drew are adorable puffs of pale pink and bright blue. “The small stuff is my favorite. No blood, no gore. Just a really cute kid…with a really cute dad. Please tell her thank you from me. She draws really good flowers.”
“She does.” He nods and tilts his head. The sun loves him. It looks like he’s glowing. “She asked me what she should draw for you and I told her wildflowers. I didn’t tell her why but you know.”
“I remind you of them.” My voice is raspy for some reason.
“I know I shouldn’t be here. I know this is just going to make things more complicated for both our overly complicated lives.” He lifts his sunglasses.
Our eyes meet.
I drop my hand holding the card from Charlie, lift my other one, and touch his cheek with it and brush my lips against his in a chaste kiss. I start to pull back, but his arms wrap around my back, he pulls me closer, and his tongue sweeps into my open mouth. Sweet baby Jesus, it’s even better than the first time. My toes curl inside my white sneakers and heat explodes inside me, racing through my veins and warming every part of me. If we don’t end this kiss I’m going to start taking his clothes off right here in the hospital parking lot—or faint from the desire to—so even though I hate myself for it, I pull back. I’m panting and I feel sheepish as I step back and cover my mouth with my fingers.
“I have to take you out on a date,” he replies, and my eyes widen. “I went home last night and after little Miss Raisin Stuffer went to bed I wrote down all the reasons this is bad timing and not a good idea, and then I lit the list on fire and dropped it in the ocean.”
“Are you serious?” I laugh gleefully. This guy is insane…in the most perfect way possible.
“Dead serious.” He grins. “So will you give me a second chance at a first date?”
“Yes,” I reply. “And for the record, after a kiss like that, I’ll give you a third and a fourth and possibly a fifth.”
He chuckles and steps closer. “I promise, I won’t need one.”
He kisses me again. His lips are soft and teasing at first and then more dominant and intense as his tongue meets mine. This time the heat of the kiss burns my willpower to ash, so he has to break the kiss. He does it by gently moving his lips to my cheek where he whispers against it. “Tonight? Eight o’clock?”
I nod.
“Can I give you a lift home?” he asks, and I swear he blushes a little as I notice him subtly adjust the front of his pants. It’s fucking hot, and all I want to do is reach out and touch him—feel what I’ve done to him. I’m so turned on right now my skin feels electric, and I can’t for the life of me remember the last time that happened. I know if I let him drive me home I’ll probably end up having sex with him in the back of his car.
“I think I need the fresh air to clear my head,” I reply and lick my lips slowly. I watch his eyes follow my tongue, and I swear they visibly darken. “Also, if I get in that car with you I might do things that are generally kept for after first dates…”
He laughs, but it’s husky and dark with desire. “I am not against bucking convention.”
“Neither am I,” I reply but take a step back. “But I think I will walk.”
“Okay.” He looks a little disappointed. “I’ll see you tonight. Text me your address.”
“Umm…I kind of deleted your number and your texts,” I admit.
He looks stunned but grins cheekily as he lifts his hand to his chest like he’s been shot. I laugh and step forward and, pressed against him, reach into his back pocket and grab his phone. I hand it to him and try not to overheat at being this close. “Text me. I’ll text you back.”
He does as he’s told.
I start to walk away and hear my phone beep with his text. He’s watching me go; I can feel it, and it makes me way more excited than it should. I dig my phone out of my purse and open his text to respond. His two-word text makes me feel lighter than air.
You’re beautiful
I glance over my shoulder and see his car pull out of the parking lot. I didn’t expect to ever see him again except maybe in passing at another one of Jude’s games…if I couldn’t avoid him first. And now…I’m kissing him in my work parking lot. And going on a date with him. The universe is all about the U-turns right now.
I float home, my cheeks still tingling from the feel of his scruff and my lips still plump from the intensity of our kiss. I take the stairs up the five floors to our penthouse unit because I’m feeling way too awake and I really have to get some sleep today after that shift, but these butterflies in my stomach are not snoozing anytime soon.
I open the door to the sound of coughing—heavy, bad coughing. I drop my bag and my coat on the floor and rush into the dining room. My mom and my dad’s nurse, Maria, are there, bent over my father as he chokes on his breakfast. I run around the table to get a better look at the situation. His face isn’t blue, it’s red, which is a good sign.
“Randy! Oh, my God!” My mom is freaking out, her voice high and quivering with anxiety.
I don’t answer her. Neither does Maria, as she’s already got her arms under his armpits and is lifting him out of his chair. I hold his shoulders, to steady him as she wraps her arms around his center and gives him one quick upward thrust. Then two. A piece of bagel pops out of his mouth and lands with a wet splat on the edge of his plate. My mom quickly picks it up in a napkin and puts it aside.
This is what ALS does—it takes away voluntary muscle control so things like walking, talking, and swallowing become harder and harder and eventually impossible. My dad looks simply horrified. My heart is breaking and pounding at the same time, which makes me feel weak and tired and on the verge of tears. But I give him a quick smile instead of showing it. “Well, that almost went down the wrong pipe.”
I act like it’s no big deal. I casually walk around the table, grabbing a glass from the buffet and reaching for the orange juice pitcher. I pour myself a glass of juice, impressed that my hand isn’t shaking. My whole body wants to shudder, because even though I’m a nurse and deal with far worse than choking on a daily basis, this is my dad. My world.
