Page 67 of A Surefire Love
“Yeah. She spent all day yesterday out, so she needs to buckle down and do her homework today. Historically, that meant I’d need to hover over her shoulder, but she’s been doing better the last couple of weeks.”
“So her medication is working.”
“It appears so.”
“And yours?”
She fiddled with her purse strap. “I didn’t have the heart to take it this morning. I’m sick of being so tired. The new doctor can scold me if he needs to. But the prescription didn’t resolve my original problem—distraction.” Shegave a sheepish smile. “Did you say anything in the meeting that I need to know? Other than that the sleeping bag owner hasn’t been found and I’m supposed to give my testimony?”
“I guess you’ll see on Wednesday.” Smirking, he waited for her to step into the hall, then locked the door.
There was no guarantee she’d focus any better on Wednesday than she had just now. Maybe after her appointment on Friday, though. If it went well.
“Can you write a note for me?” The question slipped out before she’d vetted it, but after yesterday, she didn’t feel nearly as self-conscious with Anson.
He rested a hand on the small of her back as they started down the hall. “A note?”
“For the doctor. It’s helpful if he can get a take on me from a couple of different perspectives, different spheres of life.” Her voice came out cheery because Anson kept his hand in place.
Given how reserved he’d always been with Sydney, she’d assumed any contact from him would only happen in private. Walking down the hall with his hand on her back felt almost scandalous. Granted, the last classes had ended half an hour ago. She checked over her shoulder. The hall was empty.
“The idea is to see how much of your life is affected?”
“Right. ADHD wouldn’t affect just one area. I have Marissa and Philip each writing a couple of lines describing me. If you don’t mind writing one, you can seal it in an envelope. That way, there’s a chance I’ll be able to resist reading it so you don’t have to worry about hurting my feelings by being honest.”
“And what sphere of life do you want me to speak to?”His warm hand made her very aware of the sphere of life she most wanted him in.
“We still haven’t gone very far into the personal sphere.”
He frowned. “I have some pretty vivid memories from yesterday that suggest we’re making progress.”
She coughed. She must not be the only one with a replay looping through her brain.
He chuckled as he withdrew his hand. “I guess I’ll keep it church related. When do you need it?”
“Any time before my appointment on Friday.”
He dipped his chin. “Consider it done. And speaking of Friday, can I take you to dinner? Either Friday or Saturday?”
Inwardly, she squealed, and her voice came out breathy. “That sounds nice. Just don’t say you want to go to The Depot.”
“For our first date?” He pressed a hand to his chest. “Never. How about The Red House Grill?”
Date. She liked hearing him say it. “I’ve heard of Red House, but I haven’t been there.”
“It’s an American grill with a few unique things on the menu. Casual, but the food’s always good, and since it’s out of town, we’re less likely to run into people we know.”
He had openly dated Sydney in Many Oaks. Now he wanted to hide his time with Blaze? She forced a teasing tone. “Are you embarrassed of me?”
“It’s not that.”
Her throat cinched.It’s not thatwas a long way fromno.
“People are going to have a lot of opinions about us. I’d like to keep this private for now, if we can.”
She felt like black tar was spilling over her head and dripping toward her toes. “Opinions like how you shouldn’t be with someone like me?”
He stopped walking in the middle of the hallway outside the offices and caught her hand. “Not long ago, someone told me to follow my heart, and do you know what happened?”
