“Then everyone else is sellin’ you short. You’ll show ’em.”
“I was actually sort of hoping to avoid doing something like that ever again by just surrounding myself with amazing people who are, I don’t know…notbackstabbing jerks?”
His chin dips in approval. “That sounds like a solid plan.”
“But unrealistic?”
“I’d say that’s the bare minimum.”
My cheeks flush. The gentle way Sawyer reminds me to expect more from people wraps around me like a big, warm hug. He’s such a teddy bear under all that red-checked flannel. Does he have a girlfriend? He must. Oh God. What if hedoes? And she finds out I baked himcookies? She’ll hate me! She’ll—
Sawyer’s hand settles on my shoulder. “I hope you find good people to fill up your life.”
I want to ask him, “Are you one of those people?” but, thankfully, I clamp my mouth shut. My lonely heart latches on to people too quickly. Sawyer’s a good man. He probably only stepped in last night out of a sense of duty. He has plenty of friends—including the ogre impatiently shouting at him to “Hurry the hell up!”
“Yeah, yeah!” Sawyer calls over his shoulder. “We can all hear you!” He gives me an apologetic smile. “I’d better go. If his blood pressure spikes again, his missus will come after me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
“I didn’t mean to keep you.”
“Hosko.”
I laugh. “You didnot!”
“I might’ve.” His lips twitch with amusement. He’s teasing me again. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?”
I try—and fail miserably—not to grin like a fool.
Maybe he has a spot left to wedge me into his life after all.
5
Thunder with a reminder that vibrators are a suitable alternative
I’m always early. Neverlate. Never on time.
Early.
The doctor my parents forced me to see as a teenager labeled my need for punctuality aspathological, but the doctors at the clinic call mereliableanddependable. I gobble up every last crumb of their praise like an ice cream sandwich.
So, of course, when I unlock the doors to the clinic, it’s desolate. Not a wasteland, just…quiet. No one else has arrived yet.
Perfect.
I open the diary on the reception desk and run my finger down my morning checklist.
Before the clinic opens
Restock pamphlets
Tidy magazines
Check appointments and pull patient charts
Critical—do not forget to turn on the coffee machine this time!
