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His friend looked away, an apologetic expression on his face. “Sorry.”
Knowing he should quit while Toby seemed prepared to drop the subject, Garret sighed. “But?”
Toby hesitated a long time. “But,” he drawled slowly, “I think it would take a saint to put up with your plans for a snowy weekend.” He grinned. “What happened to ‘Bare-it Garret?’”
“It wasinitiation.”
“Yeah, well, I still can’t believe you wanted to be a part of those drunken idiots.”
“Lesson learned. Can we move on? If you’ve got something to say, spit it out.”
“This is perfect weather to get stranded with a beautiful woman. Yet you’re planning toworkfor the next forty-eight hours? Give me a break. I’m stuck here, but what’s your excuse? When was the last time you spent the weekend in bed with Jocelyn?”
Chapter 5
GARRET SCOWLEDat his friend. “This isn’t the high school locker room.” He was prepared to deflect the issue rather than acknowledge that Toby was right.
“I’m not asking for details, just trying to make a point.”
“Which is that I should take Joss to bed?”
“Yes. No!” Toby shut his eyes and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “It’s just every time I call or see you, you’rehere.It’s gotta be hard to have a relationship that way.”
The elevator chimed and the doors slid open. Garret stepped on, thankful it was empty. It had been a long, hard week and he was too exhausted to examine his life. That would require brain power he didn’t have. He wanted to check on Darcy’s condition and make sure she’d stabilized, drive home and go to sleep, all without having to process or think.
“Look, the fact that you’re not saying anything says you know I’m on to something.” Toby followed Garret into the elevator and punched the button for the cafeteria level.
“You’re not on to anything. I’m humoring you by not arguing.” Garret punched the L&D floor and hoped his friend wouldn’t notice.
“You forget where you parked?”
“I have to stop by the nurses’ station and check on something.” If he told Toby the truth, his friend would go off on another tangent about how Garret went overboard when it came to his job. To some, simply bringing Darcy in meant his Good Samaritan deed was done. But to him a visit was the least he could do. She was all alone, scared. His right hand curled with the memory of her hand clutching his.
Toby remained quiet, but Garret was aware of his scrutiny the entire time. The elevator chimed and the doors opened once more.
“Remember Michelle?”
He’d known Toby wasn’t through. “Why?”
“You pretended to be sick halfway through a date because you said she snorted every time she laughed.”
“It was annoying as hell.”
“But you didn’t tell her that. And what was the other one’s name? The one with the big boobs? Rachel? Rochelle? She lasted, what, a month? You ended things with her after you caught her not giving the excess change back to the cashier when she’d given her too much.”
“The point, Toby?”
“What are you waiting for? You haven’t ended things with Jocelyn, but you haven’t moved forward, either. You’re in a holding pattern.”
Garret glanced around to ensure the hallway was clear before he rounded on his friend. “You know, you’re beginning to sound like Harry.”
Toby shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather coat. “That’s low. Can’t we have a simple discussion?”
“You’re not looking for a discussion, you’re looking for a debate, and so help me—”
“Why haven’t you popped the question? You bought the ring.”
Garret locked his jaw to keep from swearing a blue streak. “Keep your voice down.”
