Page 33 of Dr. Stone

“Trust me, nothing can destroy my sexy visuals of you,” I said. “Listen, I don’t want to interfere with anything. I can call back tomorrow?”

“Nah, you’re good,” she said. “I’m getting him out of the tub now, giving him some meds for his fever, and putting him to bed.”

“A fever? What’s he sick with, the flu?”

“I think it’s his ears,” she said. “He’s been teething and might have an ear infection.”

“If you want, I can head to your place and take you both to see Dr. Brandt. He’s a top pediatrician at Saint John’s, and he is my buddy. I’m sure he owes me for something anyway.”

“While that sounds enticing, I wouldn’t want to?—”

I smiled. This was my in, unfolding so perfectly it felt like the angels had orchestrated it. I had the chance to prove I was great with kids—with her kid. Brandt would definitely give me some points for stepping in while he was on call tonight. But the real win, and the reason I knew God was throwing me a bone in this dogfight, was that her son had unknowingly canceled Hawk’sopera night in San Francisco. Divine intervention had never looked so fucking good.

“It’s already done,” I said. “Give me your address, and I’ll take you to see Cam. He’s working on-call in pediatrics. I saw him before I got off work tonight.”

“I hate doing shit like this, though, getting favors from people,” she said. “And for God’s sake, I hardly know you…”

“Well, at the rate you and Titus are moving, you’ll never get to know me. I can’t believe that bastard already secured another date with you.”

“That bastard,” she mocked me, “was going to have me meet him at his place where his private chopper would whisk us away.”

I rolled my eyes, “All fine and good, gorgeous, but money can’t get you in to see the best pediatrician in the state when your son needs antibiotics.”

“Awe, you’re definitely playing the Prince Charming role, aren’t you?” she teased. “All right, I’ll text you my address and accept your generous offer. You’re saving me from calling in sick on Ash tomorrow.”

“See? Another reason Titus can’t compete. How’d the guy respond when you told him you had to cancel for your sick son?”

“He was completely understanding,” she said.

“It figures,” I teased as I heard her son start to whine.

“Okay, I think I need to get a move on. You don’t need to drive all the way here to get us, you know?”

“I know I don’t need to. I want to. Text me the address, and I’ll head there as soon as I lock it into my GPS.”

We hung up, she texted her address, and my dumbass walked into my garage and stared at all mytwo-seatersports cars. Like a moron, I’d fucking insisted on picking up Andie and her son, but I didn’t have one goddamn vehicle with more than two seats.

Think, Jace…

“Hey Siri, call Jake,” I said.

“What’s up, dude?” he answered the call.

“Hey, can I borrow Ash’s Range Rover? I’ll meet you at your house, and you can take my car.”

“Only if you’re bringing the McLaren.”

“Really? The one car you know I won’t let anyone drive or even touch?”

“That’s the one,” he said. “You know that’s the only reason I’d choose it. What do you need Ash’s car for anyway?”

“I’m taking Andie and her son to see Brandt in the ER.”

“Is everything okay?”

“It’s probably just an ear infection or something.”

“Ha, nice savior move, man,” I heard him say with a laugh. “Okay, let me make sure it’s cleared out, and I’ll wait for you to get here.”