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“No,” Aiden says. He drapes his arm around Maggie’s shoulder and smiles into the curve of her cheek. “I don’t think you will.”
I run my palms over my jeans, and I scoot a half inch further away from Shawn. I’m afraid I’m going to try to kiss him if I stay too close. “Thanks for doing that, Aiden. It was fun.”
“Anyone want more cookies? More wine?” Maggie asks, and she stands up from the couch. “A battle plan for how we’re going to survive the gala, because if I have to hear another joke about operating on someone’s brain, I’m going to snap?”
The rest of the night is lighter with lots of laughter, but I can’t stop thinking about what Shawn said.
I do deserve someone who knows my worth, and the more I look at him, the more I think the person who can treat me like that has been right in front of me all along.
TWENTY-NINE
LACEY
Shawn knockson my door when I still have a towel wrapped around my body.
“Coming,” I call out. I hurry across my living room and unlock the door. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Shawn says, and he grins. “I didn’t know the dress code for tonight was towel casual.”
“Who needs black tie when you can wear terry cloth instead?” I joke. “Come in. I just need to get dressed, clearly, then I’ll be ready to go.”
“Take your time. I can keep myself occupied for a few minutes. You’ll let me snoop through your drawers, right?” he asks.
“Check out the one to the left of the stove. That’s where I keep all the good stuff.”
“Oh.” Shawn sticks out his arm, and I notice the bouquet of hibiscus flowers he’s holding. “These are for you.”
“They’re beautiful,” I whisper, and I lean forward to smell the petals. “Where did you find flowers this late in the year? I thought everything died two months ago. Maybe it’s just me. I can’t even keep a cactus alive.”
“I bought them from a greenhouse down in Florida. The guy who owns the place was happy to send me one in every color.”
“Another local business where your photo is on their wall,” I say. “My parents live down in Florida.”
“Do they? I’m sorry you can’t see them for the holidays. I’m stealing you away.”
“You aren’t stealing me away. I’m going willingly. My dad has some health issues, so this time of year raises his stress levels. We do a Christmas celebration in late January, and they leave up their decorations until Valentine’s Day.”
“Is your dad doing okay?” Shawn asks, and the sincerity in his question makes me smile.
“He’s doing much better. I’m working with his insurance to cover some of his hospital stays and it’s a little overwhelming. Healthcare in our country is obscenely expensive, but he’s home, and that’s all that matters.”
“There really ought to be a law that says people who work in the medical field get free healthcare for their family,” Shawn says. “Seems fair to me.”
“Ah. If only. If you decide to run for president, that could be your platform. You’d have my vote.”
“And it’s the only one that counts.”
“My mom is a little disappointed she doesn’t get to meet the great Shawn Holmes, but she’ll get over it.” I laugh and lean against the wall. “She thinks you’re cute.”
“I am cute.”
“I know you are.”
His cheeks turn pink, and so do the tips of his ears. He scuffs his shoe against the hardwood floor and clears his throat. “Maybe I could meet them sometime. We could take a trip down. I like Florida, just not in the summer.”
“You want to meet my parents?” I ask.
It’s the first time he’s ever mentioned anusafter New Year’s Eve.
