“What do you want?” she asks.
“You.”
That gets me a look so sharp it could take bark off a tree.
“Try again.”
I shove my hands in my hoodie pocket and glance over at her like I’m asking the weather, not changing the next thirty seconds of both our lives.
“Go out with me.”
She laughs.
Not a little laugh.
Not a surprised one.
A full, disbelieving you cannot be serious laugh.
I look down at her.
“You done?”
She wipes at the corner of one eye like this is the funniest thing she’s heard all week.
“No.”
“Take your time.”
She shakes her head and starts walking faster.
I keep pace easy.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I get that a lot.”
“From women or medical professionals?”
“Both.”
That almost gets her again.
Almost.
Then she regains control and throws me a look from under those lashes.
“No.”
I nod once.
“Okay. But has he even asked you out yet? Or is he just hanging around treating his presence like bait?”
That makes her blink.
She expected me to keep talking until the answer changes, but I know when to let a thought land.
She narrows her eyes.
