Page 33

I drive through downtown Portland, passing the waterfront, where a few homeless people are gathered.

I know I need to do more for this community than I do, and I’m going to make a plan for what that is.

I’ve tossed around helping to fund a new homeless shelter because the city desperately needs one, but life always seems to happen, and then I never do it.

“Did you even hear me?” My mom’s voice through the speaker forces my stare away from the homeless man before I can read his sign.

“Lewis, I don’t even think he’s listening to me.”

She talks to my dad because, yeah, they are at the age where, suddenly, they both need to be included in conversations and talk on speakerphone, even when they aren’t driving.

“Heidi, cut the boy some slack. He was probably up late last night with that pretty little thing who’s been all over Facebook with him.” I can hear the grin in my dad’s voice.

“Chasing your best friend’s little sister, Ry? Nicely done.”

“Lewis!” my mom scolds him.

“Cut it out.” She sighs.

“Are you seeing Saylor, Ry? Because that’s what it sure seemed like in those pictures. But last time I saw her, she was dating that … what was his name? Rowan?”

“Yeah, she did date him,” I utter, my back teeth instantly grinding.

“But that’s been over for a long time.”

“Thank God. I never liked that boy. He always had an attitude with the coach,” she grumbles.

“So, what does this mean? Are you two dating now? And I don’t just mean that hooking up business, Ryder. I mean, is she your girlfriend?”

I chuckle into my empty truck cab.

God love my mom, but she can be a lot sometimes.

The second I tell her we are together, she’s probably going to be on the first flight here to meet Saylor as my official girlfriend.

“Yeah, she is,” I answer proudly.

“Don’t scare her off, will ya?”

“I would never,” she scoffs, and then, quickly, her attitude shifts.

“I can’t even believe it; you finally have a girlfriend instead of those random women you seemed to enjoy so much.”

“I think the kids call them puck bunnies,” my dad says proudly.

“And they seem to love Ry.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose.

I swear, the older my parents get, the more batshit crazy they become.

I can’t be too hard on them though; one day, that’ll be me.

Using speakerphone twenty-four/seven.

Yep, someday, I’ll be right there.

I pull into the arena parking lot just in time to avoid any more questions from my mother.

“All right, I have to go into the arena now. Big game tonight,” I tell them.

“Let us know when we can fly out to spend time with you and Saylor!” my mom sneaks in before I have a chance to end the call.

“We can be on a flight tomorrow, if you want!”

“Mom, she doesn’t even live in Maine,” I say, shaking my head.

“So, pump the brakes, okay? No need to show up here with your weird crocheted baby outfits or anything. And please, for the love of God, don’t talk about baby names. We’ve been together for, like … three weeks.”

“Three weeks?” she blurts out.

“And I’m just finding out now?”

“All right, I gotta go. Love you both, even if you’re crazier than hell,” I say, quickly ending the call, knowing my dad will understand.

He knows my mom is nutty, but she’s like a harmless, funny nutty.

Not the bad kind.

I just hope Saylor is ready for my mom because she’s been waiting years for me to settle down.

Nothing is going to stop her from coming to Maine and being an overbearing mother, possibly scaring Saylor away.

I sip my water, grinning down at my phone like a fool.

Ryder: Hey, what did my dick say to my balls?

Me: I wish I knew the answer, but somehow …

I’m not sure if there is one.

Ryder: Yeah, you’re right.

The answer is: I’m horny.

I miss our hot girlfriend.

Me: That is pitiful.

Ryder: Tell me you didn’t laugh.

Me: I mean … I wasn’t laughing with you.

I was laughing at you.

Ryder: Whatever.

Me: I have to get back to work.

Good luck in your game.

I’ll be checking the score.

Ryder: Jeez … no pressure or anything.

Me: Don’t screw it up.

That one game you played like dog poop almost ruined it for me.

Ryder: Yeah, well, that was your fault.

I send him a kissy-face emoji before tucking my phone back into my pocket.

We haven’t seen each other in three weeks, but in those three weeks, we’ve had more phone sex than I can even count.

I have a secret though, one I haven’t told him.

Last week, I was talking to an old coworker in Portland, and she voiced how much she envied me being in Charleston and to put in a good word for her.

After a whole lot of thought, I decided to ask my boss if the hospital would allow me to leave before my six months were up if I found my own replacement.

They thought about it and said as long as the replacement was a good fit, they’d allow it.

Long story short, in one week, I’ll be heading back to Maine, and I haven’t told Ryder yet because the hopeless romantic inside of me wants to show up there to surprise him.

I found a tiny apartment right next to the hospital because there’s no way I’m ready to live with Ryder yet.

It’s just too soon.

Well, I’m ready, but I know that it’d be crazy to move in with him.

So, I’m going to have my apartment and stay at his place probably a stupid amount of times.

I’m still afraid of having the rug pulled out from under me, but I’m choosing to just throw caution to the wind and trust Ryder and his intentions.

Mostly because … no one has ever made me feel so good about myself.

Or made me smile so damn hard.

I shake my head to try to wipe the smile off my face before heading into my patient’s room.

I’m going to miss this place, but I’m ready to go home.

Mostly, I’m ready to see my boyfriend.

Sweet Jesus, that has a nice ring to it.