My shirt was wet from snot and tears. I hugged her a little harder as she mumbled. “I don’t want to go.”
“We know,” Avery said lightly. “But it’s okay. We’ll have a girls’ night after.”
It didn’t matter if all three of us ran our own businesses and had schedules filled to the brink, we’d drop it all for her. And for that reason alone, I owed Avery and Evie everything.
“Aunt June kissed Madi.”
The silence that settled in the car was deafening. I closed my eyes for a split second, and god I loved this kid, butfuck me.Why the fuck would she tell them that right now?
Evie turned in her seat slowly like an owl. “The artist I’ve heard whispers about?”
“Madi?” Avery asked more pointedly. “The artist visiting from LA?ThatMadi?”
Laura let out a soft giggle. It was a relief for all of us, because I knew she was going to be okay if she could laugh.
“You’re a demon,” I said to her.
Another giggle. I’d take evil giggles over sobs any day of the week.
“Yes,” I said. “I did kiss her. It was an accident. The first time.”
“Oh.” Evie slowly turned back around and looked at Avery. “Do you hear that? The first time.”
“The first time,” Avery hissed. “Which means there was a second.”
“A second one that wasintentional.”
“Yep. That’s what it sounds like.”
“She’s been holding out on us.”
“Shehasbeen.”
Avery slowed as she turned into the parking lot for the hospital. I needed to text Ethan and tell him what had happened, but all I could do was continue to hold my niece and glare at my best friends.
“We’ll put a pin in this for now,” Evie said lightly. “And then once we get you stitched up, we’re having a girls’ night.”
By girls’ night, she meant a full interrogation the second Laura fell asleep. But, I couldn’t protest.
I rather them grill me about this kiss than the other one on my mind.
CHAPTER TEN
June
The sexy doctor put the last stitch in my niece’s hand. For the last thirty minutes, Dr. Jacobs had been nothing but sweet and comforting. I was fully convinced the man had to be married, but there wasn’t a ring on his finger—which led me and Avery to give Evie wiggly eyebrow smirks.
He was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. Short black curls, rich brown skin, a jawline that could cut diamonds, and glasses. He was hot enough to make me thinkmaybewe could convince Evie to ask him out. She already had his number, sowhy notgo after the sexy doctor instead of pining for a bonehead like Austin?
“There we go, Laura,” Dr. Jacobs said. “You did great. You’ve been really brave. You can look at your hand now if you want, or we can get it all wrapped up.”
I was grateful for him. He’d moved to Whynot about six months ago and took over a lot of duties from Dr. Ackerman—which we were all thankful for. That crusty man had been too fucking old to still be running a hospital.
The only reason Dr. Jacobs was the one giving Laura her stitches was because Evie had texted him. Avery and I hadmade a side secret agreement to interrogate her aboutthatlittle development.
Laura peeled her face from my side and looked at her hand. She wrinkled her nose. “Am I going to have a scar?”
“If you do, it’ll be a cool one.” He slid his chair back and opened a cabinet, pulling out a jar of candy. Laura immediately perked up. “Is it okay if she has one?” he asked me.
