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Lucy reached over the counter and handed me a menu. “Yeah. Also, I didn’t know folks in Cali said y’all.”
“I was born and raised here. Some things never change.” I caught Jaz looking from the corner of my eye. Her mouth twitched a bit and she seemed nervous. She was probably just tired. “Yep, I’ll take a cheeseburger and fries with water.” There was a table free, so I tugged at Jaz’s hand, and we went that way as Lucy went to the kitchen.
I pulled the chair she sat in up next to mine and held her hand. “So, how’s it feel being served instead of being behind the bar?”
She threaded her fingers into mine and sighed. “It’s strange. I kinda miss it. But I’m getting used to the hospital. How are you settling in?”
‘Yeah, how are you both settling in over there?” Lucy asked as she bounced over and pulled up a chair. “Matt’s bringing drinks shortly and the food will be out in a few. So, we miss ya around here, Jaz. How’s the new fancy job?”
Jaz answered. “It’s not bad. It’s a lot of new stuff. You think you learn a lot in class but being in the throes is a whole different ball game. But I’m already learning a lot. The schedule is different, too.
Lucy looked at me. “And you? How are you doing since getting back to Georgia?”
I grinned over at Jaz. “It was a strange start, but it’s much better now.”
Lucy sipped at her beer. “So, did I miss something? I just saw you guys a couple nights ago, and you weren’t hugged up.”
Jaz’s cheeks pinked. “It’s new, you didn’t miss anything.”
“Well, repurposed.” I winked at Jaz.
Lucy looked between us, and I noticed Jaz’s shoulders tense. “Well, you both look…cheerful. So, whatever happened, I say yes.”
Jason walked behind Lucy and kissed the top of her head. “Mmm, say it again.”
Lucy chuckled but obliged. “I say yes. Yes, yes, yes.”
Jason pulled a chair close to Lucy and sat. “Hey man. I would say long time no see, but I just saw ya a couple nights ago.” His eyes darted between us both. “Jaz, we miss ya around here. How’s the new job?”
She squeezed my hand and the tension seemed to leave her shoulders. “I miss this place and your grumpy butt.” Everyone, even Jason, laughed. “But it’s been good. Different. But good.”
Jason looked at our connected hands and raised his brows. I shrugged and smiled, so he smiled back.
Lucy broke in. “Well, Matt and Shannon are getting a good rhythm down and Shannon can handle a shift on the slow nights. It’ll never be the same, though.” She stopped for a minute as another man brought us food and put it on the table. “So, maybe we can all go grab dinner sometime?” she asked, motioning to us with a French fry.
Jaz grinned over at me then looked back to Lucy. “Let’s plan it.”
Hearing her ready to make plans that involved me warmed my chest. But the small hints of tension I kept picking up on were still nagging at me. Maybe it was nothing.
It had to be nothing.
Chapter 15
Jaz
Ever since the night in the rain when Mike chased me from the club, we had been practically inseparable. Two weeks had flown by, but it was a blur. Since he was shadowing still, our shifts had been the same. He finally was about to see patients on his own, so they were putting him on a new schedule.
“We still have a few together I guess,” I pouted.
He pushed his hand under my hair behind my neck and rubbed. “Don’t worry, we’ll still have plenty of time together. You’re tense.” He rubbed down the muscles from my neck to my shoulders.
I wiggled away. I didn’t want him to realize just how tense I was. Although, the massage felt great. “Just stressed. So much to learn. I worry I’ve been too distracted lately.” I jabbed his ribs with my fingers.
“You’re doing great. You worry too much.”
“Easy for you to say. You know what you’re doing.”
He pulled me in and kissed my forehead. “That may be true, but in a couple years you’ll be my sugar momma.”
