My mouth curves up.“Because this is a pediatric office, you name it, we probably have it.”
“What about chocolate?”
I roll my eyes.“Okay, we don’t have chocolate.”
“Fiiiine.”She beams back at me, grateful for the subject change.“I guess I’ll have bubblegum.”
Of course, she will.
As I scrounge in the cupboard for the flavor in question, Lexie says, “So, how’d Fireman Bryan handle it?”
I scoot the watermelon flavor to the right.“Handle what?"
“The loss,” she clarifies.“Talk about a hit to the ego.”
“He’s fine.”
Found it.
I pick up the bubblegum prophypaste and set it on the metal tray beside me.“He invited me to an annual cook-off for his work next Saturday and asked if I’d donate some chili since he knows how much I like to cook, so…that’s good, I think.”
“Aw, how cute!”Lexie gushes.“So, he’s not worried?”
“Why would he be worried?”
“I don’t know.”She scoots a little lower in the dental chair, making herself at home.“Because you’re gorgeous, and Jeep is clearly interested in you.”
“Ford is not interested in me.”
“Then why’d he bid on you?”
“He bid on me to piss off Fire—Bryan,” I catch myself at the last instant.“And to beat your brother for poking the bear.”
“So, he’s not interested?”she challenges.
I shake my head, sliding my clear glasses into place.We use them to keep toothpaste or yesterday’s food from flying into our eyes.Yeah, no thank you.And right now?They’re serving a second purpose in disguising how unsettled I am.
“And what about you?”she continues as I peel the wrapper from the top of the little cup of bubblegum prophypaste.“Are you interested?”
My body freezes.“In Ford?”
She nods.
The question alone is comical.So much so, I can’t keep the amusement from bubbling out of me.
“What?That’s funny?”she teases.
“Me?Being interested in a guy like Ford?Yeah.”I giggle even harder.“It’s hilarious.”
“And why is it funny?”
“Because I’m me, and Ford is Ford,” I tell her.“And yeah, he is super smart and absolutely gorgeous, okay?I’m not blind, but…”
“What’s the problem?”
“The problem is, I’m not someone who dates around just for the heck of it, and Ford’s not boyfriend material.He doesn’t even want tobeboyfriend material.”
She tilts her head toward me more, causing her gorgeous dark hair to rub against the dental chair.“And how do you know that?”
