Page 70 of Bite Your Tongue

“I think the kids call them puck bunnies,” my dad says proudly. “And they seem to love Ry.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. I swear, the older my parents get, the more batshit crazy they become. I can’t be too hard on them though; one day, that’ll be me. Using speakerphone twenty-four/seven. Yep, someday, I’ll be right there.

I pull into the arena parking lot just in time to avoid any more questions from my mother. “All right, I have to go into the arena now. Big game tonight,” I tell them.

“Let us know when we can fly out to spend time with you and Saylor!” my mom sneaks in before I have a chance to end the call. “We can be on a flight tomorrow, if you want!”

“Mom, she doesn’t even live in Maine,” I say, shaking my head. “So, pump the brakes, okay? No need to show up here with your weird crocheted baby outfits or anything. And please, for the love of God, don’t talk about baby names. We’ve been together for, like … three weeks.”

“Three weeks?” she blurts out. “And I’m just finding out now?”

“All right, I gotta go. Love you both, even if you’re crazier than hell,” I say, quickly ending the call, knowing my dad will understand.

He knows my mom is nutty, but she’s like a harmless, funny nutty. Not the bad kind.

I just hope Saylor is ready for my mom because she’s been waiting years for me to settle down. Nothing is going to stop her from coming to Maine and being an overbearing mother, possibly scaring Saylor away.

I sip my water, grinning down at my phone like a fool.

Ryder: Hey, what did my dick say to my balls?

Me: I wish I knew the answer, but somehow … I’m not sure if there is one.

Ryder: Yeah, you’re right. The answer is: I’m horny. I miss our hot girlfriend.

Me: That is pitiful.

Ryder: Tell me you didn’t laugh.

Me: I mean … I wasn’t laughing with you. I was laughing at you.

Ryder: Whatever.

Me: I have to get back to work. Good luck in your game. I’ll be checking the score.

Ryder: Jeez … no pressure or anything.

Me: Don’t screw it up. That one game you played like dog poop almost ruined it for me.

Ryder: Yeah, well, that was your fault.

I send him a kissy-face emoji before tucking my phone back into my pocket.

We haven’t seen each other in three weeks, but in those three weeks, we’ve had more phone sex than I can even count. I have a secret though, one I haven’t told him. Last week, I was talking to an old coworker in Portland, and she voiced how much she envied me being in Charleston and to put in a good word for her. After a whole lot of thought, I decided to ask my boss if the hospital would allow me to leave before my six months were up if I found my own replacement. They thought about it and said as long as the replacement was a good fit, they’d allow it.

Long story short, in one week, I’ll be heading back to Maine, and I haven’t told Ryder yet because the hopeless romantic inside of me wants to show up there to surprise him. I found a tiny apartment right next to the hospital because there’s no way I’m ready to live with Ryder yet. It’s just too soon.

Well, I’m ready, but I know that it’d be crazy to move in with him. So, I’m going to have my apartment and stay at his place probably a stupid amount of times.

I’m still afraid of having the rug pulled out from under me, but I’m choosing to just throw caution to the wind and trust Ryder and his intentions. Mostly because … no one has ever made me feel so good about myself. Or made me smile so damn hard.

I shake my head to try to wipe the smile off my face before heading into my patient’s room. I’m going to miss this place, but I’m ready to go home.

Mostly, I’m ready to see my boyfriend.

Sweet Jesus, that has a nice ring to it.

“How did you get away with him not knowing you were coming here?” Poppy says, eating her nacho and cheese with absolutely zero shame. Then again, if and when I ever get pregnant, I’d be the same way.

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