Page 13

Wren

“ W hy don’t you shit in one hand and hope in the other. See which one happens first.”

I bite back a grin at the old man in front of me. Donnie’s in quite a mood today. He usually gets this way whenever his wife isn’t doing well.

“Alright. I’ll come back in a few.” I grab the container of medications from the tray and leave his room.

“Givin’ you trouble?” Jenny asks, approaching the desk while I fill out paperwork. She started working here shortly after I left.

“Not really. He’s just havin’ a rough day. He’ll be fine in a few,” I say, knowing how this man functions. In all the years I worked here before, I was the only one who could eventually get Donnie to take his meds peacefully. When his wife, Geri, isn’t well, he seems to want to give up.

“Well, you’re a saint. I don’t know a lot of people with the patience for that guy,” Jenny states, pulling a chart from the filing cabinet.

Ignoring the comment, I glance up at the clock. It’s well past my lunch break, but we’re so short-staffed that I know I won’t be leaving today.

“I’m gonna order some lunch. Want me to add anything for you?” I ask, but when I turn around, Jenny’s already long gone. “Or not...”

Reaching into my purse, I retrieve my cellphone to order from my favorite deli.

Their bread is always fresh, and the secret sauce they put on the turkey sub sandwich causes a small mouthgasm every time it touches my tongue.

I’ve tried to replicate it at home, but it’s never as good.

I even asked if I could buy a bottle once. They laughed in my face.

Carson

Usual?

My brows pull together in confusion.

What is he ? —

“ Shoot! ” I whisper-yell, quickly putting the phone to my ear.

“Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” Carson greets.

I laugh at the reverse of our roles. “Thought I’d try it out. See what it’s like to call someone when they text me.”

“Satisfying, right?”

“Very,” I sigh.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, probably hearing the defeat in my voice.

“I’m so sorry. I completely forgot about lunch today, and I’m stuck here. We had three girls call off, and we’re already short-staffed as it is,” I ramble.

“Slow down, Wren. It’s fine. I’ll bring you food.”

“You don’t need to do that. I’m about to order something. You can?—”

“I’m already at the deli. I can grab it and swing it by. If you can eat for a few minutes, I’ll sit with you. If not, I’ll drop it and run. No big deal.”

I briefly mull over the offer. The thought of him watching my food being prepared and ensuring there is no cross-contamination is enough to make me pause.

“You really don’t mind?”

“Nope.”

“You’re literally the best, Carse.”

“I know.”

“Don’t be so modest.” I chuckle.

“Just the usual?” he asks again.

“Yes, please.”

Twenty minutes pass before Carson arrives like a knight in shining sub-sandwich armor—drink carrier in one hand, a white deli bag in the other.

“Mmm,” I moan. “I can smell that deliciousness all the way over here.”

“Food smells pretty good, too,” he smirks, setting the bag in front of me. “Here, take a whiff.”

“Ha. Ha.” I deadpan. But he’s not wrong.

I can smell his signature musk, bergamot, and spice mix even more now that he’s standing right next to me.

It takes some serious acting on my part to avoid showing how much I love the cologne he wears.

After all these years, I’m sure he has some clue as to how much I drool over it.

“Who’s this?” Jenny asks, reappearing at the desk, a stupid smile on her face as her eyes scan Carson in his perfectly fitting jeans and navy short-sleeved tee like he’s a steak dinner.

“This is my friend Carson. Carse, this is Jenny.”

“Hey.” She nods once. “Friend, huh?” she questions, shooting me a smirk.

I’ve seen that look before. Yet another woman who will be attempting to get closer to Carson Matthews. Little does she know that it’s a pointless endeavor. Still, I can’t help but feel jealous that another woman can look at him like that and have more of a shot than I do.

“That’s right,” Carson says, throwing his tattoo-covered arm over my shoulder, clearly annoyed by her presence. “Let’s go eat.”

Jenny’s face falls at the dismissal. I’ve known Carson a long time, and I know he can be a real jerk to, well, most people, but I still feel bad for her.

But just slightly.

Shocked that he’s willingly touching me, I don’t question anything as I quickly grab the bag and slide it over my hand. Following Carson’s lead, we head to the picnic table in the back where workers take their breaks.

When we arrive, I’m surprised to see Donnie leaning against a wall, watching the people walking down the sidewalk across the street.

“Donnie, you know you ain’t supposed to be out here.” I set the bag down and step closer to him. “Let’s go back inside.”

I always feel bad when I have to make him leave wherever I find him. He usually isn’t harming anyone, but rules are rules, and I don’t want either of us to get into trouble.

“Just needed a little fresh air,” he says calmly. “Needed a place that wasn’t crawlin’ with wheelchairs and walkers for five minutes.”

Letting out a sigh, I peek over my shoulder at the door.

Knowing that we are short-staffed and that no one should notice his absence, I return my attention to him.

“Well, I have a turkey sub I’m willing to split if you promise to keep it between us and then immediately go back inside…

. And stay inside.” I lift a knowing brow at him.

I was fortunate to get him to take his meds earlier, but he still hasn’t eaten anything all day. My job is to care for my patients, and that’s precisely what I’m doing. If he wants to sit outside to eat, that’s fine by me. Who doesn’t enjoy getting out in nature once in a while?

He eyes me with a slight scowl. “From Crazy Barb’s?”

“Would I go anywhere else?” I cock my brow.

He considers my offer for a few seconds before nodding. “Alright, kid,” he relents. “You win.”

Carson, Donnie, and I sit on the wooden bench in the sticky summer heat. The large metal fans blowing the stagnant air around do nothing to alleviate this hot summer day. All they really do is create an insane amount of noise and make my hair fly everywhere I don’t want it to go.

“You really shouldn’t call people crazy,” I correct, placing half the sandwich on a napkin in front of Donnie.

“That woman is a dingbat if I ever saw one,” he says, cramming half the sandwich into his mouth in one bite and then using the back of his wrinkled hand to wipe his mouth.

I gently set a napkin in front of him and gesture at it silently. Donnie huffs, then shrugs and does what I asked him to do.

Carson snickers beside me, and I nudge his arm.

“What?” he questions innocently. “We all know that woman has at least one screw loose. She was wearin’ two completely different shoes today, Wren. If that’s not a sign she’s a macadamia, then how about the fact that she walks around town with her pet snail… in a stroller .”

Donnie smiles for the first time all day. “I like him,” he admits, keeping an eye on Carson as he chews.

“Of course you do,” I mutter before taking a bite of my lunch. “Two grumpy peas in a pod.”

Carson and Donnie chat for a few minutes while I finally take my turn to inhale my lunch before it’s time to go back inside.

“So how are the renovations comin’ along?” I turn my attention to Carson.

He pulls the straw from his mouth, and I fight the urge to let my eyes linger on the spot a little longer.

He’s always had the best mouth. I bet it’s even better ? —

“Surprisingly fast. I’m plannin’ to open next week,” Carson announces, pulling me from my depraved thoughts.

I nearly choke. “Next week?! You just told me about the place last week!”

“Yeah, but I’ve had things in motion for close to a month already.”

“What’s this about? You buildin’ somethin’?” Donnie asks from across the table.

“Opening a diner in Twin Pines. Mel’s Place. Well, that’s what it was called before.”

Donnie thinks for a second with pinched brows. “Ahh yeah, I remember that place. Took my Geri there a time or two. She always loved the cinnamon apples. Said Mel made the best ones she’d ever had.”

A warm smile crosses his face at the mention of his wife. The way that man loves his wife is something every woman should dream of having one day. It’s a love so deep that everyone around them can feel it.

We continue our conversation a little longer—Carson and Donnie agreeing on more things than I think I’ve ever seen either of them agree on with another person before.

Donnie wads his napkin into his palm and stands from the table. “That was delicious, kid. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” I smile up at him. “Does this mean you’ll stop being a menace today?”

“Eh,” he shrugs, glancing back at the sidewalk again. “We’ll see what I can do,” he finishes with a quick wink.

“Alright.” I smile. “Go back inside before you get both of us in trouble,” I say in the sternest voice I can manage.

Once Carson and I finish our food, we head back inside to the slightly cooler building. I tell Jenny I’ll be right back and follow Carson out the front door.

“I still can’t believe you’re already opening for business. I swear it was just last week that we were both livin’ up in the city, hatin’ our jobs.”

“Time flies, Tink.”

Don’t I know it.

“Still—workin’ on the house and the diner? That’s a lot. I can’t believe you’re already done with one.”

He shrugs. “Not really. I haven’t done much to the house yet. Still need to get outside and do some yard work before it gets too hot out. And like I said, the diner really didn’t need much done.”

It’s late May, and it’s shaping up to be a very dry summer. It’s already been unusually hot for this time of year. Selfishly, I hope he doesn’t need any help with the landscaping.

“Well, I’m proud of you, Carse.” I reach out to hug him, and he stiffens. Even after all these years, he still gets uncomfortable when I touch him.

I stop short of a hug and awkwardly pat his arms, a red glow burning my cheeks from the embarrassment of the exchange.

“I’ll see ya later, Tink.” He hops in his truck, and I wave over my shoulder as I head back toward the front door. Behind me, I hear the crunch of rocks under his tires against the asphalt.

When I enter the door code and step back inside the building, I’m met by Jenny. She’s standing by the large floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the parking lot where we were just moments ago.

“He single?” she asks, never looking over at me, her eyes glued to Carson’s bumper.

“Uhh…” I hesitate—not sure what the answer is. Relationships are a topic we rarely discuss. Carson has a reputation for never having anything serious. The most I’ve heard he does with a woman is one night. But that’s only what I’ve heard; I’ve never actually seen him with anyone.

Jenny turns to face me now, her eyebrows raising as she waits for an answer.

“I really don’t know,” I finally answer.

“Hmm…” Her eyes dance to the side with a smirk. “I can work with that.” She grins and saunters off to the large desk we all share.

I remain in place, gazing out the large window, the corner of my lip caught between my teeth as it always is when I’m overthinking something.

I know that Carson has no interest in me, but it might kill me if he hooks up with someone I work with—like, literally gut me.

“Whatcha lookin’ at?” Donnie says from beside me. I glance over and give him a forced smile.

“Oh, nothin’ special,” I respond.

“Damn right you’re not. The only thing worth starin’ at is right over here,” he teases.

Letting out a sigh, I turn to face him fully. “I would 1000% be bored out of my mind without you here, you know that?”

“Honey, everyone would be.”

Outside, a breeze kicks up, rustling the flowers in the garden beds lining the walkway. I stare out at them, momentarily caught in the motion. The sad smile on my lips fades away as I watch the pink and white flowers dance in the sunshine.

“Don’t worry about her.”

“What? Who?” I look back at Donnie, still beside me, but now he is also watching the flowers.

“That other nurse. I saw her watchin’ you and your friend out the window.” His eyes find mine again, and he smiles. “She ain’t got a shot in hell.”

“You’re sweet.” I pat his shoulder. “But Carson and I are just friends.”

He shakes his head. “Oh, to be young and dumb again,” he sighs and then chuckles. “If that man only wants to be your friend, then I think it’s high time you adjust these meds, kid, because I’m seein’ shit.”

Before I can say anything else, he makes his way back to his room, head still shaking in amusement.

I wish I had seen whatever it was that Donnie thinks he saw today.

Or maybe I don’t.

I’d likely make a fool of myself again if I were to let that crazy thought grow. Believing Carson could ever want me might be worse than knowing he never will.

A few hours later, when I turn down Meadow Street, I’m left partially stunned at the man outside working in Carson’s front yard.

My foot slowly eases off the accelerator as I pass by and take in the view. Toned muscles, tanned skin, and tattoos completely covering both of his arms. Sweat glistens on his shirtless skin, and I bite my lip to keep my thoughts from becoming vocal as I watch him dig.

I’ve apparently stopped moving altogether because Carson turns around with a look of confusion on his face.

Like a deer caught in headlights, I sit motionless while he stares at me.

With one hand propped on the end of the shovel handle, he slowly lifts his other hand in a lazy wave.

That’s when I finally realize what I’m doing.

Good Lord, girl. Get it together!

I offer a nervous wave in return and creep down the road to the house I’m renting. It’s not nearly as nice as Carson’s place, but it gets the job done. It’s just me, after all; it’s not like I need some giant house.

One day, I hope to have a home as beautiful as his—plenty of land and a stunning view. It would be the perfect family home. I can only imagine how nice it’s going to be once he’s completely finished with his renovations.

When I park the car, my phone vibrates in the cup holder.

Carson

You might wanna keep your eyes on the road, Tink. There’s a ditch on both sides, in case you weren’t aware.

Groaning, I bury my face in my palms, wishing the world would split open and swallow me whole.