Page 11 of True Blue

Ellie beams, “Teddy!”

Taking a deep breath and praying that I don’t have anything stuck in my teeth, that my hair is settled in a flattering way, and that I don’t stumble over my words, I turn.

Teddy stands there, grinning at me, his green eyes bright and his head covered by his usual backward hat, a tuft of wavy brown hair poking out the front.

I swallow, but notice that he seems to be checking me out too. His eyes trail from the top of my blonde hair, pulled back in its usual ponytail, to my navy blue scrubs and white sneakers.

Then his eyes lift back to mine.

And hold.

And I look too.

And hold.

For too long.

I’m aware of that, but I can’t stop.

No, actually, I don’t want to stop looking.

Because Teddy Williams is handsome. Devastating.

“That for me?” Ellie snickers, slicing right through our staring contest.

“Hi, Nana,” Teddy blinks, shaking his head to clear it. He walks right over to Ellie, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

Her hands make a gimme-gimme motion, so she takes the bag from his hands and digs through it. While she’s distracted, Teddy turns to me with a grin.

“Hey, Indie.”

“Teddy,” I nod, and his eyes brighten at that.

As always, on the days Ellie gets chemo, Teddy walks into the infusion center with a bag full of treats under his large arm. Usually, Ellie’s favorite ginger snap cookies, pop, and gummy bears.

Growing up, I dealt with intense stomach pain after eating. It took until I became emancipated—and a very expensive hospitalization from eating too many ramen noodles—to discover that I have celiac disease and can only eat gluten-free foods.

Somehow, Teddy remembered me saying that offhandedly, because now he’s started bringing things for me, too.

“Oh,” Teddy says, reaching into Nana’s bag and laughing as he dodges her smacking his hands away from her snacks jokingly.

He produces a box and holds it out to me. I blink in shock. They’re my favorite cinnamon sugar soft pretzels—expensive, so I usually only buy them when I have a little extra in my food budget.

Teddy looks a little shy now. “I figured you’d like to try them...”

“I have,” I blurt out, before quietly, “They’re my favorite.”

Teddy blinks, lips curving. “Really?”

“Yes,” I nod, taking them with a small smile. “Thank you, Teddy.”

“You’re welcome, Indie.”

His smile is wide enough to crack his face as he sits down on the other stool next to me. His large body settles into the chair, and as always, I marvel at his size.

I’m tall—5’11 at my last check-up—but Teddy makes me feel petite. He’s broad everywhere—big biceps, strong forearms, large thighs, a solid middle. And thick, dark hair up his arms and peeking out the collar of his t-shirt.

I’ve been attracted to people of all shapes and sizes, but Teddy has somehow unlocked something beyond attraction.