“Ev, you got some guy here to see you.” Abby, the front desk receptionist, says over the phone intercom.
“Guy?” I hear Brittany ask from two computers down, while Josh catcalls like a child from his spot beside the ice machine.
“He got a name?” I ask Abby.
“Says his name is Cooper. Looks kinda familiar.”
My eyes dang near pop out of my head, and I hastily right myself after I trip over my chair in my rush to stand. I don’t bother answering; I just hustle towards the unit doors. I burst into the waiting room, eyes roving over everyone before they settle on the slim figure casually leaning against the reception desk. When he notices me, LB pushes off the desk and walks over to me. My gaze drags over him, looking for signs of injury, and when I find none, I focus in on the container in his hands. I recognize it as one of Mom’s.
“Hey, handsome.” He pops up onto his tiptoes to give me a kiss on the cheek. “I made some cookies for you and your coworkers,” he says shyly.
“You’re okay? Nothing’s wrong?”
He looks confused for a second before realization dawns, and he places a hand on my chest. “I’m fine, Teddy. I promise. Just bringing dessert to my man,” he says with a shake of the container.
My body relaxes, and his previous words finally register. “Wait…did you say ‘made’? As in you made these cookies—all by yourself?”
“Well, not all by myself. Mom showed me what to do, but yes, I made them.”
“I can’t wait to try them. Why don’t you come on back, and we can pass them out while I introduce you to everyone?”
When we walk back into the ER, everyone’s attention snaps to us. LB tucks himself into my side, and for a second, I almost believe it’s the sight of me with someone that has them reacting that way, but everyone knows healthcare workers are basically bloodhounds when it comes to food.
Josh is the first to approach. “What’s up, dude? Whatcha got there?”
“I—ah.” LB clears his throat before he continues. “I just wanted to thank you all for saving my life back in June. So I made y’all some cookies. I hope everyone likes snickerdoodles.”
“June,” Josh says slowly. “Oh shit, that was you?” he asks, looking back and forth between the two of us.
LB goes to bite on his thumbnail, but I pull his hand away. “Yeah, that was me. Long story, but I’m grateful to whoever figured out what was wrong with me. Without them, I never would have gotten to see Teddy here again.”
“Teddy?” Brittany asks as she walks up to join our little group.
“I’ve called him that since we were kids,” LB says, blushing.
“That’s adorable,” she says. “But what do you mean ‘whoever figured it out’? Did Everett not tell you?”
“Tell me what?” he asks, looking at me now.
“Um, well, technically I was the one that figured it out, but it was no big deal. Any one of us would have figured it out. I just happened to find the bottle first.”
LB gives me an odd look before turning his attention back to the others. “Well, you all still helped save my life, so thank you. Truly, from the bottom of my heart. I’m grateful to still be here.”
Everyone smiles and grabs a cookie or two—or four in Josh’s case—before wandering back to their duties. Deborah, our charge nurse, is last in line, and she tells me to take a break after taking a few cookies. LB leads the way out to where his car is parked, waiting until we get settled in before bringing it up.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me you’re the one that saved my life?”
“Because it wasn’t me.”
“If you hadn’t found that bottle, I’d be dead right now.”
“I meant what I said in there. Any one of us would have found that bottle. Going through belongings in an unknown medical case is standard procedure. It just so happened to be me that night. After I found the bottle, I got a good look at you and realized exactly who you were. LB…after that, I was useless. I was basically a hindrance. I could barely breathe, let alone think. They had to work around me because I refused to leave you. All I could do was stare at your face and beg you not to leave me again.”
He leans in, pressing his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry, Teddy. I’m so, so sorry.Fuck!I… I just—”
I cut him off with a quick kiss. “Nope. We aren’t doing that. It happened. It sucked, but nobody except that asshole Silas is to blame. Now, are you gonna give me one of those cookies, ordo I have to spend the rest of my shift hearing everyone else talk about ’em.”
LB smiles shakily but pushes the container into my hands. I pull out a cookie and cautiously take a bite. It’s baked perfectly, and notes of cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla burst across my taste buds. A moan slips out, and tension fills the car. “These are amazing,” I mumble through my full mouth.
