Page 20 of Stone
“Great!” he says, “My Uncle Stone just called and promised to buy the biggest monster truck for when I get out.”
I laugh as his dad shakes his head and looks at me with a smile and kind blue eyes that are much like his son's. Though he has black hair, which he wears in a man bun, while his son has dark red hair, darker than mine.
“I hear through the grapevine that you’re in love,” Dirty says, and I groan as Caleb giggles.
“Let me guess, Dr. Conners?” I ask, and he nods and waves his phone at me and admits, “In a group chat, he put in capitals that you’re in love with our friend.”
Damn man.
I pause. Wait did he just say group…
I wince and ask, “And uh, is uh….”
My words trail off at the big ass grin on his face, and I groan again, suddenly not so itchy to get in my boyfriend's embrace.
That is not how I thought my boyfriend was going to find out how I felt about him.
I sigh, “Alright, let’s check your vitals, buddy,” and Caleb grins wide before he begins to tell me all about his uncle Stone and his mischievous ways over the years, and who is now his favorite, which makes his dad laugh. Not as hard as when he told the story of how Uncle Stone accidentally set the stove on fire, leaving a dish towel on the hob.
I just finished doing his vitals when he says, “You know, it’s a shame he’s married to a very mean woman because I think he would like you.”
I see his dad tense in my side eye, confusing me, but I ignore it and his reaction and look at Caleb and say, “Well, that is sweet, but I do have a boyfriend I love very much, and your uncle Stone most likely loves his wife. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have married her.”
Caleb instantly shakes his head and denies, “Nope, he doesn’t love her. She wants a cushy life.”
Cushy – A six-year-old did not just say cushy life.
“She’s what Daddy calls a patch chaser. Uncle Stone doesn’t love her, and she loves to kiss the prospects,” he admits, and even Dirty chokes in shock while I just blink. Caleb continues, “I think he could love you, I think you should dump your boyfriend and date Uncle Stone.”
I blink again and look at a shocked-looking Dirty, whose mouth opens and closes a few times, not knowing what to say, but to be fair, I have no idea what to say.
“Can I go home yet?” Caleb asks like he didn’t just out his uncle’s bad marriage, and I clear my throat and stutter, “Yes, I mean uh, no, I mean,” I blink and look at Dirty again, who has come outta his shock quicker than me and looks ready to laugh.
I shake my head, my own laughter wanting to escape, and I have to take a deep breaths to compose myself before I say softly, “You should be discharged this evening, and if there are any problems, Dr. Conners is only a knock away.”
Caleb nods with a grin while Dirty and I lock eyes, his with a twinkle in them, most likely from his son's antics, and I say, “Ring the bell if you need anything. Dr. Mathews will discharge him around five.”
“No problem, thank you, Rose,” he says, and I give him a smile before leaving the room with Caleb's file as I sign off on his vitals.
Who knew six-year-olds paid so much attention….
I place the file on the nurse's desk as my phone vibrates and I check it quickly, but frown seeing it’s my sister.
I thought she had plans tonight?
Kimmy:
Dave cheated on me with the head cheerleader…
Several crying emojis follow her message, and I wince, quickly typing back.
Me:
I’m finishing in ten, let yourself in
I press send and quickly type one out to Cage.
Me:
