Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Eloise
I pick up the condom package from the floor of my bedroom. I didn’t notice it when I was heading out to school this morning. I also didn’t make my bed.
The sheets are still a tangled mess.
They’re a reminder of what happened between Gaines and me before we parted to face our day apart.
My phone chimes, so I take off out of the room in search of it.
I find it resting on the couch next to my tote. I dropped it all there, along with the cardigan I was wearing when I got home from my ice cream date with Pen.
Even though I’m hoping it’s Gaines, I feel no disappointment when I see who sent me a text message.
Stevie: Guess what? Guess what?
I type out and send the obvious response.
Eloise: What?
I watch the three dots bounce on the screen as she types a reply.
Stevie: I got an A+ on my report about Gaines. Mom says I can pick a treat, so do you want to go for ice cream?
The last thing I need is more ice cream, but I can’t turn the little sweetheart down, so I don’t.
Eloise: I’d love to. Name the place and time.
While I wait for her response, I tug my knitting project out of my tote. It’s a school assignment, so I’ll set it aside to focus on Pen’s dress tonight. That is if I don’t fall into bed early with a stomachache from eating too much ice cream.
I look at my phone as soon as it signals an incoming message.
Stevie: Gaines wants ice cream too, so meet us at his hospital in 30 minutes, K?
A slow smile creeps over my lips as I type out my reply and send it.
Eloise: K.
It’s not exactly a date, but I get to see him again, so I toss my phone back on the couch to head to my bedroom to change my T-shirt for my favorite black and white polka dot blouse.
“You’re Eloise, right?”
I stop mid-step to greet the man approaching me. “That’s right. You’re Dr. Sexton?”
“Correct.” He looks me over, taking in my blouse, jeans, and the three inch black boots I tugged on for this meetup at the hospital.
I glance at his outfit but it’s typical doctor’s attire. His blue scrubs are covered with a white coat. His name and position as a trauma surgeon are stamped across his left chest.
He’s an incredibly good-looking man, but I don’t feel anything spark inside of me the way I do when I get a look at Gaines.
“I take it you’re here to see Dr. Morgan?”
For a second, I wonder if Gaines confided in him about me. Are they friends? Did Gaines tell this man that he’s seeing someone? That the someone is me?
Before I can answer, he explains the question, “I noticed you speaking with him at the coffee shop the day we met.”
“Right.” I nod.
“So you are here to see him?”
“Eloise!” Stevie’s voice turns me around.
I catch her and Astrid entering the hospital. Stevie lets out a giggle when she realizes that the high ponytail on her head matches the one on mine.
“I should go,” I say to Dr. Sexton.
“It was nice to see you again, Eloise.” He glances over my shoulder. “Say hi to Gaines for me when you see him.”
“I will,” I say as he starts to walk away.
“Who was that?” Stevie asks as soon as she’s close enough to whisper the question. “He looked like one of those doctors from the shows my mom watches at night.”
Astrid and I laugh in unison before she responds. “Daddy watches those shows, too. We like learning about medicine.”
“Uh-huh.” Stevie crosses her arms. “I think he wants to be Eloise’s new boyfriend.”
“Who wants to be Eloise’s new boyfriend?”
That voice spins me around and sends Stevie running past me to greet Gaines.
When she jumps at him, he scoops her up with ease. A hug follows, and then she whispers something in his ear that ends with a heated gaze in my direction.
“I told Gaines that Dr. Sexton likes you,” Stevie announces.
Astrid scoots around me to approach Gaines, too. She gives him a hug that traps Stevie between them. “He does seem like Eloise’s type.”
Since Gaines stays close-lipped, I break the tension and mention the reason for our impromptu gathering. “Should we go grab some ice cream now?”
“We should.” Stevie shimmies to the floor, adjusting the skirt of her dress as she does. “I’m thinking a scoop of chocolate and one of vanilla. What about you, Gaines?”
He takes her by the hand to lead the way. “Whatever your heart desires.”
I wish he were saying that to me because my heart desires a moment alone with him so I can show him that he’s the only doctor I want.