Page 4

Fearless Fern

I tried to focus on the lubing task at hand, but my brain latched on to the vision of Fern’s mouth on mine and wasn’t letting go. Best friend’s sister. Best friend’s sister. “So what kind of nurse are you?”

“I’m a surgical nurse.”

I looked at her delicate hands with pale pink polish on her nails and imagined them saving lives. Kind of hot. “You like blood and guts, I take it.”

She let out a little hum that vibrated through my mid-section. “I do. It’s kind of my thing.”

“So, what’s the latest surgery nurse Novotny participated in?”

“That would be a heart valve replacement surgery last week before I flew home.”

“Impressive.”

Her hair fell over her shoulder as she looked up at my face, causing something to tighten that shouldn’t be at the sight of my friend Dave’s sis.

“Again, I’m really sorry about your eye. It looks sore.”

“It’s nothing. But it would be the first shiner I’ve been given by a lady.”

She winked, and I felt like a dopy pup. “I find that hard to believe.”

I looked over as her blue eyes twinkled at me. Ugh. You are the new and improved Gabe. Be a gentleman.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone a girl kicked your ass.” She lubed up another. “So, we know I’m here a few days early because I’m a horrible Maid of Honor. What about you? Did you want some quiet time before the party this weekend?”

“Something like that. It’s been a little crazy with the wedding happening during hockey season, but I get it. Ed’s grandfather isn’t doing well so they want to make sure he’s there, but it’s been a lot with games, practice, and wedding stuff.”

“I know, it’s tough, but Tawnee is so happy everybody’s on board. So I take it you just needed some chill time?” Fern asked.

“Yeah, I needed to escape my life for a bit.” I took a candlestick from the table. “I know you’re a busy nurse saving humanity, but I have to tell you, Dave is not happy that you’re off nursing around the world.”

“Yes, my mother has lost her marbles over this more than once. But I’m visiting all the places I’ve dreamed about. In the past four years, I’ve lived in Alaska, London, Hawaii, and more recently, England and Spain.”

I wanted to know if there was a Spaniard boyfriend I needed to find and destroy. “Have you always wanted to travel the world?”

“No. I went to nursing school at the University of Nebraska with plans of coming back to the cities to start a career. But then I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.”

I knew Novots in college, and I went away and played for the Dallas Stars hockey club for two years before coming back to Minnesota. It was during that time he called and lost it over the cancer his sister had. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“It was brutal, scary, and sucked. I was young and felt as if life had kicked my ass. So, after chemo, I decided I was no longer talking about someday . Someday is today. That’s when I joined a company that places traveling nurses.

We get to select positions anywhere from three weeks to ten months, and I get to see the world while helping people at the same time.

I know Dave and my parents want me closer, but I still see them every few months in person, and FaceTime my mother almost daily. ”

“I came to the Wild just after you left. I remember Dave talking about how strong you are. I’m glad you’re living your dream.”

“Me too. You grew up in Minnesota, right?”

I nodded. “Yes. I met Dave at state hockey in high school, and then we played together in college.”

“Oh, how I remember Dave at State. I remember hearing about you, too.” She leaned over and grabbed a candlestick. “Do you see your family often?”

“No, I don’t really have a family.” There was a yank in my gut.

“I was in the foster care system at age seven because my bio-mom couldn’t take care of me.

” I could feel her eyes. It was the opposite kind of childhood she and Dave had.

“I was in and out of foster homes and eventually landed with the most incredible single woman who adopted me and changed my life. She herself was an only child and had no kids of her own so it was just me and her. A one-of-a-kind woman. I was a little shit, but she got me under control and introduced me to hockey.”

My eyes were down and the room still when I felt her hand on my arm, and I met her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Fern said softly.

I shrugged. “We all have our stuff, huh?”

“Your adoptive mom sounds like an amazing woman. Very special.”

“Yeah, she was.” It still hurt. “She died of breast cancer four years ago.”

“Oh, Gabe.”

“It was a while ago. It’s fine.” A thick silence fell over the room for a long minute.

“I see we’re both part of the Fuck-ity, Fuck, Fuck Cancer Club.”

I looked up, and her grin was the sun. “I guess we are.”

“Yeah, I don’t have enough middle fingers for cancer.”

There was a pull to her that I needed to stay on top of.

Okay, edit that. Not stay on top of. I would not be on top of anyone in this cabin.

Instead, be aware that she was off limits.

“So the wedding party weekend brought you back? Or maybe a guy?” WTF are you doing?

I was having trouble focusing as she pushed her long hair over her shoulder.

Visions at warp speed of that hair in my face while tasting her lips was almost too much.

“Yes, the wedding weekend. I come home every summer for a week, and they come visit me as well, but I decided to take six weeks off to be here for this weekend and then stay through the wedding. I just want to hang with my family and friends.” Her eyes stayed down.

“As far as men, my guydar is all jacked up.” She caught my confused expression.

“Guydar?” I had to ask.

“Yeah, you know, guy radar.”

“What?” I stepped closer to put my candlestick in her lube. Yes, I am the definition of what gives men a bad name.

“I think most women have a guydar that leads them to the right kind of guy and away from the wrong kind. I think mine needs to be recalled.” She shook her head as the softest giggle escaped.

“Intriguing. An example?”

“Let’s see. The last guy I dated broke into my apartment and stole all my clothes. Then he lit my shoes on fire in the parking lot.”

I couldn’t control my chuckle. “Oooh, a bonfire?”

“You got it.”

“Well, in that case, my chick-o-meter is busted too.”

“I can’t wait to hear an example.”

I scratched my head. “So many. Let’s see. Last year I took a gal out a few times, and I told her from the beginning that I wasn’t looking for a long-term thing.”

“And she didn’t like that? Shocking.”

“After hourly texts and pictures, I suggested she might be perfect for someone who was looking for a true relationship. That rattled her cage, and she got into my place, stole all my car keys, and then sent me a ransom note.”

“Dare I ask?”

“She’d only give me the keys back if I did a Zoom with her and her parents, pretending to be in love with her, and give her one thousand dollars.”

“Hmmm. I’m suddenly wondering what you do do to make girls crazy.”

“It wasn’t me.”

“Says every convicted criminal.”

“Hey—”

“Whatever.” She waved her lube tube in the air. “Look at this, the last candle. We’re about done.” She let out a long sigh. “I can’t thank you enough for helping me with this.”

“Anytime.” She looked up, and I realized how perfectly her black lashes framed her ocean eyes. “I got you.”

“Thanks.”

“Of course.” I chuckled and nodded. “Like I said earlier, I’m having groceries delivered from the little store in town later so unless we’d like to dine on air, maybe we should head into town and grab dinner.”

She grimaced at her black pants covered in dried glue. “Sure. I just need to hop in the shower.”

I nodded and shot a whisper in her direction. “I didn’t want to say anything.”

Her fist punched my arm, which made me start jumping around like a boxer.

“Buddy, I already kicked your can once,” she reminded me.

My jumping screeched to a halt. “You have hurt me today, Fern Ethel,” I said solemnly with a hand over my heart.

She stuck out her lower lip, oh the visions. “Poor baby.”

“Okay, dinner in town. There are some healthy options if that’s what blows your dress up.”

More laughter bounced around the room. “Oh, I’m easy. I have the palate of a thirteen-year-old boy. Anything, including gas station pizza, is good with me.”

I leaned against the counter. “So I’m hearing you’re cheap and easy?”

She walked out of the room. “If I don’t leave now, I will beat your butt for the second time.”

I heard what sounded like a giggle coming out of my mouth. WTF? Then I stretched my neck to watch her fine backside scurry up the stairs.

Once she was out of sight, I headed to my bedroom. I walked past the hall bathroom and could hear the shower running, which sent my mind lapping around what she’d look like slippery and wet under steaming water in my shower. MY shower.

She wasn’t just a woman who I couldn’t stop imagining in a slinky nurse’s outfit, the kind with the garter belts, performing all sorts of life-affirming tasks.

Nope, she was the sister of my hulky, over-protective friend and teammate.

I’d been up close and personal in numerous situations when he threw fists on and off the ice with more than one fella and was the last man standing.

Novots would walk to the ends of the earth for his friends, but he’d tear anyone who touched his sister limb from limb. Not a place I wanted to be. He has referred to her as an angel, for shit’s sake.

I was less afraid of Dave than I was of myself when it came to women.

I’ve found being a professional athlete opens lots of doors and legs.

After Amy’s death, I chose liquor and ladies as my therapy in moving on.

Way too much of both. But I was on a new path and needed to focus on myself and friends. Only friends.