He nodded as if it was a data point. He adjusted his grip, slower this time, and my skin tingled beneath his warm, steady hands.
I told myself to look anywhere else. At the cabinets, or the labels, the ceiling, or the floor. Instead, I met his gaze.
Huge mistake.
I didn’t like the way my stomach flipped. I didn’t like the way my thoughts scattered. I especially didn’t like the part of me that wanted to stay right here and let him keep holding me like this.
“You’re doing great,” he said.
“I’m literally sitting,” I said.
“Yes,” he said. “Very impressive.”
A moment later, a knock sounded at the door, and Liam opened it. The nurse practitioner seemed cheerful and unbothered, and I quickly snapped back to reality.
Liam greeted her by name. She greeted him right back, easy and familiar. There was a rhythm there. Comfort. The kind you only get after a lot of late nights and mutually solved problems.
Liam stepped back; he checked the door again, the light, the cart by the wall.
I watched him do it and felt something settle in my chest. I really, really didn’t like that something.
“Evening,” the nurse practitioner said in a no-fuss tone, setting her bag down and washing her hands. “I’m Marlene.”
“Zoey,” I said. “Sorry about the hour.”
She waved it off. “I live close by.”
Marlene glanced at my ankle, then at the two of us, and smiled slowly. “So, this is the result of the lake incident.”
“Wow, word travels fast here,” I said. “I would like it noted that the lake started it.”
She laughed as she dried her hands. “You’re lucky it was Liam who found you.”
“The old crotchety neighbor actually got there first.”
Her brows shot up. “He did?”
“Yes,” I said. “Very loud. Very committed to the idea that shame is dead.”
Marlene winced. “Sounds like him.”
“He called us animals,” I added.
“That’s actually one of his nicer openers,” she said, then looked back at Liam. “If it had been anyone else other than Liam who came across you, this would have ended with the cops and a lecture about standards. Liam has a way with people. He has an energy about him that makes people feel comfortable.”
Liam cleared his throat and looked at the wall, but I didn’t miss the way his ears had gone pink.
Marlene’s smile sharpened as she watched him. “You know,” she said casually, “this one is very popular around here.”
I didn’t like how my stomach reacted to that.
“With every woman,” she continued, “and some of the men.”
“I’m standing right here,” Liam said.
She waved him off. “You are. And normally you nod politely and retreat. Tonight, you’re… participating. Which is why I’m committed to embarrassing you.”
“I am notparticipating,” he said. “I’m concerned about her ankle. And I’m only laughing at her jokes because she’s funny.”
