“Okay.Talk soon, kid.”
19
Blair
My personal and professional lives are intersecting for the first time.I’m on shift on the OB floor, in a room with Mara and Leo.
“It happens all the time,” I assure Mara.“You were right to come in.”
She and Leo are leaving alone after finding out she was in false labor.They’re both disappointed, understandably.
“At thirty-eight weeks, you don’t have many full nights of sleep in your near future,” Kari, the nurse I’m working with today, says.“Go home, put your feet up, and watch a show.Sleep.Enjoy it while you can.”
“I’m so done with working like this,” Mara says.
“Babe, you don’t have?—”
She cuts her husband off.“I know, but I want to work.I like my job.I just don’t like it when I have to waddle in and out of courtrooms.”
“I’m gonna be honest.I’ll kind of miss the waddling,” he says.“You’re like a mama duckling.”
She sighs softly, meeting my eyes.“Will you go tell our crew in the waiting room that it was a false alarm?”
“Of course.”
I walk down to the waiting room, surprised by the size of the group gathered there.Suki and Carter, Bash and Lainey, Lucien and Talia, Jules and Noel, Magnus, Isaac, and several other men I don’t know are all looking at me expectantly.One of the men is holding a bunch of yellow balloons.
“Hey guys,” I say.“They’re going home soon.It’s not quite time yet.”
Several faces turn disappointed.Magnus comes over and grabs the hand at my side, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.
“I like your work clothes,” he says, smiling warmly.
There’s nothing special about my Peanuts scrubs, but somehow, he makes me feel pretty anyway.
“Thank you.And thanks for the flowers, too.My coworkers may try to steal you from me.”
“Won’t work.What time are you off?”
“Seven.”
“Who’s with the boys?”
“Lulu, one of the teenage girls who lives on our street.Jules will take over when she gets there at five.”
“Would it be okay if I took them out for dinner?”
He’s still holding my hand.Some of his teammates are glancing at us, and I like that he hasn’t let go.
“Of course.They’d love that.But Eli will ask you to quiz him on spelling words.The spelling bee is tomorrow.”
“I can do that.”He knits his brows together, speaking softly.“Is it okay for me to kiss you here?”
“Yes.”
He gives me a soft, sweet kiss, releasing my hand.
“I’ll text Lulu and let her know you’re picking the boys up later.What time should I say you’ll be there?”
