“Needy much?” I ask sarcastically and laugh when he pins me with a glare.
“I am not needy.”
“Okay.” I sit back and grin at him.
“I’m not.”
“I just agreed with you.”
“Uh huh.” He takes another sip of coffee and takes my hand in his, running his thumb across my knuckles. “What do you have going on today?”
“I have to work the swing shift tonight,” I reply and check my watch. “You?”
“I have to go to the training center to watch some film this afternoon.”
“Did you train this morning?” I ask.
“Yeah, early this morning.”
“I slept through it.” I smile over at him and he shakes his head, his eyes happy.
“So lazy.”
“How do you get up so early?”
“I’m used to it. Been doing it for years.” He shrugs and examines my hands. “You have tiny hands.”
“I’m a girl. They’re supposed to be small.”
He kisses my knuckles softly and then pulls something out of his back pocket. “I need to talk to you about this.”
“What?”
“I’ve been invited to a charity ball thing. It’s formal, and I usually don’t go, but I thought that you might like to go to this one.” He shifts uncomfortably, and looks almost nervous, piquing my interest.
“What’s the charity?”
“Seattle Children’s,” he replies, his eyes on mine.
A slow smile spreads across my face. He wants to take me to a formal ball in honor of what I’m passionate about. Because he knows what it means to me.
Because he loves me.
“Will, this would be amazing.”
He smiles and looks down at the silver embossed invitation and then passes it over to me.
“It’s next weekend?” I ask in a panic. Shit! I don’t have anything to wear!
And no money to buy anything.
“Yeah, is that a problem?” He’s watching me closely, so I gather myself and smile reassuringly.
“No.”
“Bad liar. What is it?” He asks and takes my hand again.
“Nothing, really.”
“What are you worried about?”
Damn it, he knows me too well already.
“I’ll just have to figure out what to wear.” I shrug, like it’s no big deal. “It’ll be okay.”
Will narrows his eyes at me in thought but then just smiles at me. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah, I have to work in a little while.”
“Let’s get you home then.”
* * *
~Will~
I drop into the Shelby and pull my phone out of my pocket before even leaving Meg’s house. I just walked her to her door so she can get ready for work tonight. I hate that she works nights.
She works too fucking hard.
But then, I suppose most nurses do. It never occurred to me before I met her that patients need around the clock care. Of course, it makes sense, but not really something most people think about.
She works too fucking hard. And I hate that she drives home alone in the middle of the night in that piece of shit car of hers.
I told her to keep the Rover, but she refused.
Damn stubborn woman.
I dial Jules’ number and wait impatiently for her to answer.
“This is Jules.”
“Hey, it’s Will. Do you have time to meet up with me tonight?”
“Um…” I can hear her shuffling papers and typing on her keyboard. “Yeah. I should be done here around seven. Why?”
“I just want to take you and Natalie out to eat,” I answer innocently.
“Where’s Meg?” she asks.
“She works tonight.”
“Have you talked to Nat?”
“Not yet, I called you first.” I run my hand down my face and sigh. “I just need to talk to you guys and I haven’t seen much of you over the past few months.”
“Hey, I’m not complaining. Sure, I’ll pick Nat up and meet you. Where are we going?”
“Just come to my place, I’ll order in.”
* * *
“So,” Natalie begins, taking a bite of an eggroll. She’s adorable, and looks happy, which is all any of us have ever wanted for her. She’s as much my sister as Jules is. “what’s up with you and Meg?”
They’re both fucking nosy as hell. But this is why they’re here.
“I’m completely in love with her,” I reply calmly and load my plate full of lo mein and chicken and egg rolls and dig in. I pause and look up at the girls. They’re frozen. Jules’ chopsticks are paused half-way to her gaping mouth and both sets of eyes are wide.
“What?” I ask.
“Did you just say you’re in love with her?” Jules asks and sets her chopsticks down.
“Yes.”
“Okay.” They look at each other and then back at me. “Have you told her that?” Natalie asks.
“Yep.”
“What did she say?” Jules asks.
I squirm. I really don’t want to admit to these two that Meg hasn’t said it back. They’ll never let me live it down.
“Has she said it back?” Natalie asks softly, her eyes full of sympathy and all I can do is shake my head.
“No.”
“Fuck,” Jules whispers. “Will, Meg has trust issues…”