She shrugs. “Your loss,” she says, tightening the blonde hair in her messy bun.
“Everything OK?” she asks, and it makes me think of my conversation with Carly earlier.
“Just had a chemo kiddo with an infection,” I say. Becca knows about my past and how I became a doctor. We talked about how we came to be in the medical field one night after fucking for several hours.
“Oh, sorry. I missed that one tonight. They gonna be OK?” she asks.
I nod. “I think so. The parents were smart to bring her in early. Hopefully, the oncology ward can keep it under control. She’ll need to stay here for a week or so.”
She nods her understanding. “I should probably get back out there. I’ll see you later,” she adds as she pats my shoulder and leaves.
I pull myself together and stand. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out. It’s a text from Carly. I look at the time. It’s late. She’s normally in bed by now. I pull up the message.
Carly: I forgot to send this earlier. Ava wanted to say goodnight. We hope you have a great day at work or evening or…well, you get the drift.
I grin and open the attached video. It’s a close-up of Ava.
She’s holding a hand over her mouth, and I frown in confusion until she starts speaking.
“Goodnight, Unca Bray! Guess what? Guess? No, you’ll never guess.” She pulls her hand away and flashes me a wide grin. She’s missing a front tooth. “Guess I’m going to be rich tomorrow,” she adds and then tries to wink, but just closes both eyes.
I chuckle.
“OK, goodnight! Love you!” she says.
“’Night, Bray,” Carly adds. The camera pans out, and they both wave before turning off the video. God, I love that kid. I don’t know if I’ll ever have kids, but I’m thankful I get to be part of her life. Something about nearly losing Lanie changed me. I just barely remember being little, wanting to have a family when I grew up. But by age nine, I had written off that idea altogether. I was going to be a famous doctor and save lives. I have saved a few lives, but I definitely am not famous.
I stare at the little girl and woman that I love with all my heart. I wish I could be more for them, but it’s clear that Carly doesn’t want more, which is good. I need someone like her in my life. A friend. Only a friend. In my life, I need predictable, and friends are predictable.
I walk up to Carly’s door to find Al standing there, knocking.
“Hey,” I say as I look at the old man who has become a good friend. Al hasn’t ever once felt like my landlord.
“Good morning,” he says with a big smile. He’s holding an envelope. I frown and am about to ask what he’s doing, but then the door flies open.
“Mom! Is Mr. Al or Unca Bray babysitting me today?” Ava cries out as she looks from Al to me.
Al chuckles. The man might as well be Santa Claus because he looks like him right now.
Ava giggles. “Hi,” she says quietly to him as she twirls on one toe like a ballerina.
“You’ve been practicing,” he states.
She smiles wider.
“Oh, my. You lost a tooth,” Al says as he leans down to examine her mouth.
She nods excitedly and pulls a five-dollar bill from her pocket. “I’m rich!” she declares.
Al laughs again. “Very exciting, indeed,” he says.
She nods. “What’s that?” she asks as she points to the envelope.
“Oh, hi,” Carly says as she walks over to us. “Come on in,” she insists, stepping back and motioning for both of us to enter.
I follow Al inside. Carly’s wearing my favorite work dress of hers. It’s red with little white polka dots. The dress has a deep “v” neckline that accentuates her breasts. Fuck. I shouldn’t be ogling my friend’s boobs. But damn, they look great in that dress. The color makes her cheeks look even rosier than normal.
She catches me watching her, and a deep pink spreads across her chest and up her neck. I swallow.
