“I guess, but I never stopped loving her. And she did.”
“How do you know for sure?”
I stir the pot of water with the quickly softening noodles.
“I guess I don’t, but she’s seemed to make it pretty clear she doesn’t like me very much.”
“Well, maybe if you weren’t Amity’s most emotionally unavailable bachelor she would.”
I turn to face him. “I know I’ve never corrected anyone about that, but you know it’s not true.”
“Does she know that?” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“I used to think she did, but now I’m not sure.”
“Maybe figure that part out, and instead of feeding your reputation, try and get a new one. Anaccurateone.”
I think about that, and I know he’s right. Even if the only opinion I care about is Lily’s, I’m going to have to set the record straight.
A call rings out in the station for an accident. We quickly turn off the stove and jump into action. We get to the scene, and it’s bad enough that one of the patients’ needs to go to the hospital. I go into autopilot with what I need to do to care for them as we load up into the ambulance.
Luckily, they’re stable and talking. The drive isn’t long, and when we arrive, I jump out, Jo and I open the back of the ambulance to get the patient out. As we bring them inside, I see Lily and send a smile in her direction. Jo gives the nurse bedside report, and I hardly even pay attention because I’m watching Lily.
She pulls her hair up into a messy ponytail that sways behind her, then she goes back to typing. She’s so focused, and it’s adorable to see. I step up to the nurse’s station, leaning against the counter and wait for her to notice me.
As soon as she does her eyes narrow. “Can I help you?”
“You can, actually.” I smile, and see the shocked look on her face at my response.
“Do you need another med restock?”
“Nope, just need to see something.”
“What do you need to see?” She leans back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest.
“Did you put the flowers I got you in a vase or the garbage?”
The side of her lip quirks up in a small smile that she tries to bite back, but I see it. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“I already know, but I saw what I needed to see.” I tap the counter, leaning back to walk away.
“And what was that, exactly?”
“Your smile. See you later, Lil.”
I go meet Jo at the ambulance before she yells at me that we have to go. She’s leaning against the door and shakes her head as soon as she sees me. “Oh, you’re so fucked.”
“Yeah, I know I am, but she’s worth it,” I tell her, climbing into the rig.
“Just don’t fuck it up this time.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.”
CHAPTER 19
Lily
I thoughta puppy would be a lot like when we had a baby pig, Miss Waddles. I used to sneak her into my bed and she loved it. My parents didn’t. Neither did Parker when he would sneak into my room and find her in my bed. When we were teenagers that was a fairly common occurrence for us. Sometimes I would ask him to come over. Other times he wanted to come over himself.