Page 90 of Mistletoe Misses
He eyes my coffee. “That smells amazing.”
“I would have brought you one, but I didn’t know if you were allowed to indulge yet, and I didn’t want to end up beside you. Your doc is scarier than Captain.”
“She’s great, right?” His brow pops up twice before a grin emerges.
“I take it your flirting talent wasn’t injured in the shooting.”
“Nope. Just my ego. Damn drug dealers should never win.”
“Agreed, but they haven’t. You know who they are, and they haven’t killed you yet.”
A nurse stops in to bring breakfast—I’m glad there are no razor blades on the plate—and check his vitals. The task could have taken less than five minutes if they’d stop flirting. Even in his condition, he can’t help himself. He reminds me of Jamie but on a humbler scale.
“So,” he begins when the nurse reluctantly pulls herself away. “Is my condition really this dire or is there another reason you stopped by today?”
“I thought you were going to die last night, so forgive me for making sure you’re alive this morning.”
“Thanks, man. I feel the love.”
My eyes circle to the ceiling and back before confessing, “And I needed to talk to you.”
“I knew it.”
Taking a deep breath, I set the coffee cup aside and lean forward with my elbows on my thighs, my legs bouncing with pent-up energy. There’s no reason for these nerves. I know he’ll offer his support. “I’m resigning today.”
“About time.”
The response I expected still makes me chuckle. “Was I really that bad?”
“Yes, and then some.” A touch of annoyance flows among the sarcasm, and given the way I took off, I deserve it. “I’ve never seen you like this before.”
I smile at that. “Like what?”
“Happy.”
Ouch. “That’s because I haven’t been for a very long time. I thought I was okay with that. Turns out, I didn’t realize what I was missing.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
He takes a bite of egg, grimaces, then pushes the tray away and refocuses on me. “There must have been some dramatic things happening over there to cause so much change in such a short time.”
“Buddy, you have no idea.”
“I’d like to. Tell me about it.”
Until it’s time for my meeting with Captain Emory, I fill him in on the magic of Ember Falls and my plans for when I return.
“You’re one lucky son-of-a-biscuit.”
“I guess I am. Who knew?”
“Not you. That’s for damn sure, or you would have done this shit years ago.”
It’s one of my biggest regrets. Right after letting my broken heart fester and stop me from going after Carmen soon after she left. I ran instead of fighting, and I’ll never forgive myself for it.
“Maybe I’ll be lucky like you and find the woman of my dreams on my trip,” Adrian says, grinning.
