Page 9 of My Starry Valentine

“Oh my goodness!” she squeals into the phone far more enthusiastically than she should.

“What kinds of meds do they have you on, Nana?” Nana is one of many nicknames I have for my bestie.

“The good stuff. But enough about me. I want to hear more about this cowboy-mountain-man of yours.”

“Not mine, and it’s complicated. But no worries. I’ll fill you in on the details later.” I repeat the question she previously ignored. “What are they saying about your ankle?”

She sighs long and hard. “I need surgery. That’s all I know for sure. Oh, and I’m in room two seventy-six.”

“Surgery? Oh my gosh, Naomi, have you called your parents to let them know yet?”

“Yep, and they’re freaking out. Trying to find the fastest tickets out of Oklahoma City to Colorado. They finally get to have their Rocky Mountain adventure…only not under the best circumstances.”

“I’m glad they’re on their way, and I’ll be there as soon as I can. But this weather needs to let up, and I need to figure out what’s going on with my car and get our stuff out of the hotel room.”

“Yep…”

A tinge of selfishness pricks me. Why am I telling her this on the eve of surgery? She has vastly more important things to focus on. “But don’t you worry about any of that. Just focus on getting better. Promise?”

“Pinkie promise… This goes without saying, I hope. But focus on your cowboy-mountain-man.”

I blush. “It’s not what you think. I’ll explain later.”

“Can I call you back at this number?” she asks.

I look at Ledger, catching him staring at me. “Can Naomi call me back on this line if need be?”

“Yes, although we’ll likely only see the call after the fact. She can text the number, too.”

“Oh, he has a sexy voice,” she croons.

I frown. “Maybe your doctor needs to tone down your meds.”

“It’s Valentine’s Day, babe. At least one of us should enjoy a little romance…” Her voice cracks. Oh no. This is far worse than her teasing me about Ledger. The floodgates open, and I try to comfort her, shushing and whispering reassuring words. “A broken ankle on Valentine’s Day? What’s the universe trying to tell me?”

“Maybe to marry an orthopedic surgeon? Or a mountain rescue guy?”

She chuckles, and I sigh, relieved.

“You know, my surgeon is pretty cute, babe…”

“Talk about a dramatic way to meet someone…” The Marine shoots me a dark glance, and I wonder what he’s thinking based on the one-sided conversation.

“But enough silliness. Yes, you can call this number, but bear in mind a few things…” I quickly relay the information from Ledger to my bestie about the satellite phone, my teeth chattering as he patiently waits. I finish with a quick prayer at Naomi’s request and end the call.

I hand the phone to Ledger, and he takes my arm, leading me towards his porch again. “A cowboy-mountain-man?” he grumbles with a frown. “Is that a good thing?”

I smile up at him, calling over the storm, “Between the boots, the hats, the cabin, and the elevation, it’s accurate. But I apologize for making assumptions. What would you call yourself?”

He shrugs, looking the most relaxed I’ve seen since our meeting, despite the chilly breezes hammering us and intermittently uncovering the part of his face he works so hard to hide. “A hick astronomer.”

“An astronomer?” I ask, my eyes rounding.

A surprisingly gorgeous laugh escapes his lips. “Why does that surprise you?”

“I’ve never met an astronomer before,” I confess as he opens the front door for me.

“It’s a geeky profession,” he declares gruffly.

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