Page 45 of A Million Times, Yes

Me:Two more nights.

Jordan:You don’t think I’m counting?

Me:I love that you are.

Jordan:Did you survive work?

Me:Barely. I forgot how tough these shifts are.

Jordan:Tell me you’re eating dinner.

Me:Leftovers of the Chinese you sent last night. Which was enough for three people, by the way.

Jordan:Will I see you in the morning?

Me:I’ll be there. I don’t promise a run like today’s, though.

Jordan:Who says we have to run at all?

Me:You’re thinking breakfast?

Jordan:I’m thinking we go under the bridge again.

Me:A second time without any interruptions? I don’t know ... Do we have that much luck?

Jordan:I’m willing to take the risk and find out.

I walked into Bettie’s room with a small cup that held her medication and asked, “How are you feeling today?” I set the meds on the tray next to her bed and refilled her water pitcher at the sink.

“Oh, my dear, this knee is feeling dreadfully stiff.”

I topped off her water glass and dumped the pills into her hand, watching her take them one by one. “It’s going to for another week or so. Don’t worry, we’ll get you right where you want to be, and we’ll have you dancing in no time.”

She finished swallowing her medication and patted my arm as if it were the head of a sweet dog. “Do they ever give you a day off?”

“Yeah, do they?” Emily asked from the doorway.

“The fabulous duo.” Bettie’s hand stayed on my arm. “Maya, you’ve been here every day this week. You need some rest, my girl.”

I nodded. “I have tomorrow off.”

“Which is why she’s all mine tonight.” Emily joined us at the bed. “Bettie, I’m going to get her all dressed up and take her out. Aren’t I, Maya?”

I sighed, smiling at my best friend. “Or we can watch a movie and be asleep before nine. That kinda sounds amazing too.”

“She’s no fun, Bettie,” Emily groaned. “She has tomorrow off and wants to stay at home and sleep. What am I going to do with her?”

“I know just what you’re going to do with her.” Bettie lifted her reading glasses off the tray, and once the bright-red frames were on her face, she picked up her cell and tapped the screen several times. “What’s your email?” she asked me.

Before I could reply, Emily was reciting the same email address I’d had since college, and by the time Bettie set her phone back down, there was a vibration in my pocket.

“What are you up to?” I asked my patient.

When the only response I got was a grin, I took out my phone. There were two notifications on the screen. One was a text from Jordan.

Jordan:Under the bridge is becoming my new favorite spot. I can still taste you.

I did everything I could to keep myself from blushing as I moved on to read the email that had come through, then tried to process what I was looking at. “You gave us hockey tickets? To tonight’s game?”