Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
“You probably wouldn’t make it far in nursing if it did.”
“I’ve seen people pass out in clinicals. Some of them overcome it and some don’t.”
She’s very pretty. Her soft-looking skin and curvy body remind me how long it’s been since I was with a woman. I can pick up on the slightest hint of her floral perfume—just enough to make me want to lean in closer.
“Teach me something about nursing,” I say.
She quirks a brow, amused. “Anything?”
“Anything.”
I take a drink of my beer, watching her as she calculates.
“Okay, here’s something important. If someone recently had surgery, and they cough or sneeze and their organs come out through the incision, you should not shove them back in.”
“What?” Lucien cries from the other side of the table.
“Not our conversation,” Talia snaps. She gives me and Magnus a quick smile and says, “Ignore him.”
Blair’s cheeks flush. I wonder if she knows this is a setup. I wasn’t sure at first, but now that I’ve picked up on everyone at our table listening to our conversation while pretending not to, I know.
I can’t get entangled with my coach’s fiancée’s sister. That wouldn’t be much better than Kelsey. But Blair intrigues me. I want to know her better, even if we’re only ever friends.
“That actually happens?” I ask. “People’s organs can come out?”
“Yeah. We’re supposed to have patients cough or sneeze as gently as they can while holding a pillow.”
I rub a hand over his jawline, imagining it. “I can’t even imagine sneezing and having organs pop out. I’d need some serious sedation.”
“You’d get it. That’s a trip into emergency surgery.”
She’s sipping her Sprite as our predinner salads are delivered, and I sneak a glance at her. Blair is the complete opposite of Kelsey. There’s nothing fake or pretentious about her.
“Those are some ripe tomatoes,” Blair says to Jules.
Jules laughs so hard a little snort comes out. “Oh my god. The farmers market creep.”
I thought Blair was talking about the tiny tomatoes on our salads, but it was an inside joke. She looks at me as she explains.
“We were at a farmers market a couple summers ago and this vendor ...” She cringes and smiles at the same time. “Jules had nothing in her hands. She was just existing and we were looking at the produce on a table, and this guy—he picked up a huge cucumber and held it out to her, and he was staring at her chest while he said, ‘Those are some ripe tomatoes. How do you like the size of this?’”
“No.” Mara groans from the other side of the table. “Tell me you flipped the table.”
“Jesus,” Carter says. “He’s why women expect men to be creeps.”
“The entitlement some men have,” Coach Turner says, shaking his head with disgust. “I want to drop by that guy’s produce table sometime and shove that cucumber up his ass.”
“Babe, it was forever ago,” Jules says. “And if you fought every guy who made a comment about my jugs, you’d be really busy.”
Coach smiles wryly at her. She arches her brows, reading his thoughts.
“Yes, I do have to call them jugs. We’re all friends. I also reserve the right to call them fun bags.”
“Or tatas,” Suki says.
“The twins,” Talia adds. “Melons. Titties. Hooters. Snack holders.”
Mara takes over. “The senoritas. Knockers. Christmas hams.” She turns to Leo. “What are some other ones?”
He shakes his head, his eyes darting to Coach Turner. “I don’t use slang words to describe women’s bodies.”
Mara laughs heartily. “Okay, good to know.”
“This is a social thing,” Coach says. “You boys can relax.”
“Thanks, Coach Turner,” Carter says.
They’re all smart, and so am I. I’d stab myself in the nuts before I used words like “titties” or “jugs” at a table where he, his daughter, and his fiancée are sitting.
Dinner is served, and it’s beef Wellington with steamed vegetables. Blair and I keep talking, and I find myself more and more drawn to her laugh. Her smile. Her neck, with a little curl of hair at the nape.
Since I got to Cleveland, I’ve admired Carter’s relationship with his wife. All the couples at this table have the kind of relationship I hope to have one day. They and their partners genuinely enjoy each other’s company. They have intimacy, but also respect.
My father was devoted to my mother until his sudden death from a stroke ten years ago. We all felt his loss deeply, and less than two years later, Elin’s injury knocked us flat again.
Dessert is a fancy chocolate cherry thing that looks like a work of art on each plate.
“I kind of hate to mess it up by eating it,” Blair murmurs.
Mara’s frowning at her plate. “There are two people in this chair, but only one dessert.”
Leo passes her his with a wink.
“Are you sure?” she asks.
He shrugs. “You’re growing our kid. You deserve it.”