“Okay. Here’s what I need.” Jesse rattled off a list of things he wanted to make sure Evie had for her trip and everything Blaire and Nicole would need from her in her absence, like her half of the rent. “I’m sure she has more than enough to cover her bills, but just to take the stress off you, we’ll handle it for now. She can pay us back later if she insists.”
“I’ll call Raquelle and between the two of us we can pull that all together,” Blaire said. “Actually, let me just head back to my place now. I’ll call you guys in a few hours.”
“Thank you.”
“You know, anything for our girl.” She kissed Nicole on the cheek, then took off for the elevator. They waited a few more minutes before heading back up to Evie’s room. They caught Dr. Manzo on her way back down the hall. She answered the few administrative questions Jesse had about arranging an outpatient nurse for Evie when the time came, and then she suggested they cut down their get-well group. Evie was overwhelmed.
Zach and Jesse could agree there. Plus, it was Christmas Eve. Blaire and Nicole had gone above and beyond and now it was time for them to get back to their families. Zach and Jesse had it from here. They exchanged numbers and agreed to check in with each other over the next twenty-four hours.
“You guys know how to get back to your hotel?” Nicole asked, as she pulled her scarf out of her purse.
“Yeah, we’re good. Thank you for everything. I think we’re gonna go catch some shut-eye and then one or both of us will be back for visiting hours tonight.”
“Good deal. I’ll talk to you soon.” She nodded to them both, then headed down to the elevator.
“Why don’t you go in and sit with her for a while,” Zach suggested, pulling out his phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Looking for the closest Macy’s. We need to get Evie some Christmas presents.” When Jesse didn’t come back with some sleep-deprived order or demand, Zach glanced up from his phone. “She has to spend Christmas Day—”
“I wasn’t gonna argue with you. You go. I’ll stay here.”
“Thanks, man.”
The minute he stepped outside he realized two things. One, he didn’t have a proper winter coat. Two, he really didn’t know his way around Manhattan. Didn’t matter. He donned his Stetson, which shielded his face from the falling snow, then caught the first cab that stopped for him and went to straight to Macy’s. Everything was pretty fucked at the moment, but at the very least, he could finally step up and be there for Evie.
Chapter 6
When Evie fell asleep, Jesse had been at her bedside. After he’d paced back and forth at the foot of her bed, explaining their plans following her discharge, he’d stuffed himself into the blue hospital chair and did his best to keep her entertained. Apparently, Zach had to run out and grab something he’d forgotten. Jesse was on bedside-companion duty. He told her at length and in very boring detail, everything he could about Big Rock Ranch. Like how many staff the whole property employed and the seasonal schedule they had to keep during the winter due to the weather. It was difficult to trail ride after a heavy rain.
Jesse took his role as the ranch’s co-owner and financial manager very seriously, which Evie appreciated, but he was, if Evie was being kind, maybe not the best at explaining the more captivating details. When Evie stopped asking follow-up questions, he took the hint and decided to download one of his favorite stories calledThe Night Before Christmas. After he read it out loud, Evie asked if they could watch something on TV. Jesse was very sweet, and Evie could tell he was trying his best, but Blaire was definitely better company.
He found some movie calledLove Actuallyand they watched it in silence until Evie fell asleep.
When she opened her eyes again, it was still dark, but she could tell it was morning, and now there was a different California rancher beside her bed. She reached for her glasses and turned to face Zach.
“Merry Christmas,” he said, flashing her a sleepy smile.
“Hello. Where’s Jesse?”
“We’re doing shifts. Not sleeping for over twenty-four hours and changing time zones? Not a good idea. He’s catching some shut-eye back at the hotel, but he’ll be here in a few hours.”
There was so much Evie wanted to say. She wanted to tell him she’d missed him last night, which made no sense. She didn’t know him. Not really, but when she looked at him in the dim light coming from the far side of the room, all she could feel was the warmth from her dreams. She’d spent a few days in a row with Blaire, but in some ways Zach just felt more familiar. She couldn’t say that she felt comfortable around him. Comfort didn’t come with the odd flutters that rippled through her stomach every time she thought about him, flutters that compounded themselves now that he was in the room with her. She couldn’t explain it, but she liked having Zach around.
“We have more stuff for you back at the hotel, but I got you a little something.” Zach reached into a bag at his feet and handed her a thin rectangular box wrapped in festive Christmas paper. A silver bow was tied around one corner.
“I didn’t get you anything.” Evie realized how ridiculous that sounded the moment the words left her mouth.
“I think it’s okay. It’s the thought that counts. Open it.”
Evie turned the box over and gently pulled the tape loose on the blue and white snowflake wrapping paper. When she opened the lid to the box inside she found a pink diary with a sparkly white unicorn on the front. Beside it were two new pens tied in a bow, a tiny lock, and a set of small keys. The lock didn’t look like it would provide any actual security, but the set was very cute.
“I don’t know if you still journal, but you went through like five diaries a year when we were kids. You had one like that when you moved to the ranch.”
Evie searched her mind for a memory, but came up blank. She picked up the diary and turned it over in her hands. She didn’t know what to say, but she didn’t mind when Zach filled the silence.
“You’re on one hell of a ride. Might be good to have somewhere to write down your thoughts.”