Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
T he vibration of his phone had Evan parking the skid steer and pulling the phone from his pocket.
Glancing at the screen, he saw it was Mercedes saying she was by the supervisor’s trailer waiting for him.
It was time to get the stitches out of his arm, thankfully.
The stupid things itched like crazy. Because the wound was healing, he’d been told by a dozen people every time he complained.
Even though he could absolutely get to the doctor’s himself, he’d promised her she could come with him. Of course, he’d said that when he’d been hit on the head with a drainpipe. Hopefully, he’d be able to do this on his lunch break and be back before it ended. He hated taking time from work.
A dozen guys milled around the trailer when he got there, and he searched for a reason why.
Typically, they’d spread out or head to their cars to eat if the weather wasn’t pleasant.
Right now, they all congregated near the door.
As he got closer, he could see why. Mercedes stood outside like a queen holding court.
Her lovely smile and colorful dress had attracted every able-bodied man from the dig.
“There he is,” she signed, where she hadn’t been signing a minute ago. “Thanks for all your help. Have a great lunch.”
Your fan club, he signed, not voicing it. The guys didn’t need to hear their chatter.
Maybe, she signed back. Do I need one?
I’m your biggest fan, he teased. You don’t need anyone else. I need to let my boss know I’m leaving. Be right back.
She smiled and nodded, so he headed into the trailer. Vince looked up from his desk.
“Hey, boss, my ride is here. Getting my stitches removed. Am I okay to punch out?”
Vince pulled out his phone and spoke into it. Evan’s phone vibrated.
—You’ll get paid for this time during your appointment since the injury happened during work hours.—
“Thanks. I’ll be back right after.”
—Take your time. Make sure to get a lunch. We don’t need you lightheaded from hunger because you didn’t eat. Understand?—
Evan gave him a thumbs up and exited the building.
Several of the guys wiggled their eyebrows at him and made kissy faces.
A few shook out their hands to indicate she was hot.
He couldn’t disagree, but he didn’t like them ogling his girlfriend.
The fact he could call Mercedes his girlfriend excited him.
“Find your own woman,” he growled. Some slapped him on the back. Even Tyler got in on it, his eyes wide in his young face. He’d probably never seen someone as beautiful as Mercedes.
“You are lucky,” he mouthed clearly so Evan understood. “She’s gorgeous. I’m impressed.”
Evan laughed and waved the kid off. Having a beautiful girlfriend didn’t make him a better person or worth more. It made him fortunate, though, mostly because she was so much more than her looks.
Mercedes stood by her car, arms crossed, a smug grin on her face. “Are you finally ready?”
They got in the car and he said, “They were all congratulating me on my lovely girlfriend. Told me I’m a lucky guy.”
Her eyes crinkled in laughter. “And you told them you are, correct?”
“Of course I did. The luckiest.”
She put the car in drive and maneuvered through the streets to the medical center. Parking was tight, but she managed to find a spot in the back row. By the time they got inside, it was just about time for his appointment.
At the window, he said, “Evan Jameson.” The woman squinted at his words, so Mercedes repeated his name while also using ASL.
“Evan Jameson. He’s here to get stitches out.”
“Thank you. Have a seat, please.”
Evan hated being dependent on someone else to speak for him.
However, as he was reminded often, it was his right to have an interpreter.
His parents used interpreters all the time when they had medical or professional appointments.
It didn’t make them any less in his eyes.
It wouldn’t be any different from having Mercedes here with him now, except when she was with him, the doctor didn’t have to pay for an interpreter, and she was someone he trusted.
He trusted her far more than any interpreter, though he’d known many wonderful ones through the years.
Doubtful she’d be needed much, as he was only having his stitches removed.
Still, she was doing him a favor, and he should pay her back.
Not that she’d accept any money, but he could take her out to dinner or do something else fun.
He’d have to think about it. He had to stop being a hard head about some things.
He wasn’t as diligent about watching the door, and Mercedes had to poke him when the nurse called his name. They were shown to a room, and Mercedes signed, “Evan is Deaf. I’ll be interpreting for him today.”
“Wonderful,” she said. Mercedes signed her response. “The doctor will be in shortly. He’ll remove the stitches and check that the wound has healed properly. Have a seat on the table.”
The wait wasn’t long before his regular doctor, Dr. Stuart, walked in, a nurse behind him with a tray of supplies.
“How are you today, Evan?” the doctor asked and Mercedes signed.
“Ready to get these out. They itch a lot, and it’s driving me crazy.”
Dr. Stuart’s eyebrows moved near each other as he picked up Evan’s arm and checked the stitches. “That’s because the wound is healing. Does it hurt when I touch it like this?”
Evan shook his head. “Not much.” He couldn’t lie and say it was completely fine. The injury had been deep and had bruised the area.
The doctor probed around the wound, then swabbed it with an alcohol wipe. “Any discharge from the wound in the last few days or so?”
Evan shook his head.
“Okay, let’s get these out.”
The procedure only took a few minutes, then the doctor swabbed the area again. He said a few things to the nurse with him, who typed something into the laptop near her.
“You also had a concussion. Any blurred vision or feeling dizzy lately?”
“No. The headaches have stopped, too.”
The doctor smiled his way. “Good. Make sure to call back if you see any fluid near the wound or if it seems to have opened up again.”
“Will do,” he said and stood from the table. They shook hands, and the doctor and nurse left.
“Do you want me to drop you back at work, or are you taking the rest of the day off?” Mercedes asked as they walked back to the car.
“Do you need to get back to work?”
Her smile beamed his way, making him lighter inside. “I took a half day off.”
He returned her smile with one of his own. “Can I buy you lunch, then? My boss said to make sure I eat something before I came back. It’s only twelve-fifteen. If we go somewhere casual, I could be back by one or so.”
“Lunch would be good, but you don’t have to pay. I have money.”
They got in the car, and after she started it up, he took her hand and squeezed. “I appreciate you coming with me today and taking care of me when the accident happened. It’s my treat, especially as you took time off work both days on my account.”
“How about that diner over on Main Street? They’ve got good food and fast service.”
He gave a thumbs up, and Mercedes put the car in drive. The place was busy at this time of day, but they managed to get a booth in the back when a group of businessmen got up to leave.
“I’ve only been here once before. Years ago,” Evan said, “and I think I only got a burger. Anything good or anything to avoid?”
Mercedes checked the menu. “Their meatloaf has lots of veggies, like onions, peppers, and celery in it. I know you prefer yours plainer.”
“Good to know. I wouldn’t have been happy getting meatloaf and finding a bunch of gross stuff in it.”
Mercedes head fell back as she laughed. “Many people don’t think of onions, peppers, and celery as gross stuff.”
Evan made a face. “To each his own.”
The waitress came over, and Mercedes ordered an iced tea and a chicken Caesar salad while Evan got a Mountain Dew and bacon cheeseburger.
Once the server had brought their drinks, Evan decided to broach the topic he’d been thinking about for a while.
“Carli and Blake’s wedding is the weekend after next.”
Mercedes shoulders rose and fell. “Yes, and her bridal shower is this coming weekend. There’s so much to do before then, especially since I’m in the wedding.”
“Yeah, Deanna’s been complaining, too. She’s just happy it wasn’t later because then she’d be dealing with report cards at the same time.”
Mercedes tapped his hand. “Don’t get me wrong; I’m thrilled for Carli and Blake and honored to be asked to be in the wedding, but I wish we could have had the bridal shower a bit earlier and not the weekend before the wedding.”
He hadn’t even thought about that. “Is a bridal shower usually earlier than the week before?”
“Yes, unlike the bachelor party where some ridiculous men think it’s a good idea to get the groom drunk and incapacitated the night before, the bridal party usually likes to have the shower at least a few weeks to a month or more before, so there’s time to organize and put everything away in the new house. ”
“Blake already has a house with stuff.”
“He does, so Carli put lots of household decorations and more feminine stuff that Blake doesn’t own on her registry. Are you guys having a bachelor party for Blake? Carli hasn’t said anything about it.”
“Yes, but it’s only a few friends, Blake’s brother, Harrison, plus Brian and me. We’re just going to a bar and grill for some drinks. Blake absolutely forbids any of the typical bachelor party shenanigans.”
Mercedes raised one eyebrow. “Like strippers and such.”
“Yeah, he’s a spoilsport,” he teased.
A frown appeared on her face. “Do you like going to things like that?”
He had, once upon a time, but it didn’t hold any interest for him at the moment. Because he’d been living with Mercedes, the most beautiful woman he’d ever known?
“Not really. It was fun and exciting the first time or two, but you have to grow up at some point.”
Now a true smile blossomed on her face. He’d said the right thing.
The server showed up with their food, and they started to eat. Once he’d had a few big bites of his burger and nibbled on a couple fries, he wiped his hands and said, “I was wondering if you could help me with something.”
“More than the Level Two book?”
Was this too many favors from her? “If it’s too much, tell me.”
“What is it? I’m happy to help you in any way I can.”
He took a deep breath. “I want to give a short speech at Carli and Blake’s rehearsal dinner. I won’t do the wedding because that’s for the Maid of Honor and Best Man. But she’s my sister and the one I’m closest to because of our ages.”
Mercedes’ expression was one of grace. “I’d be happy to help you. Do you plan on speaking it or signing it?”
Staring at his plate, he shook his head. “My speech isn’t great, so probably sign. Although they aren’t having an interpreter for the rehearsal, so I guess I might have to voice it. It’s only Blake’s parents who won’t understand.”
She reached over and touched his hand. “Would you like me to voice it for you?”
Relief washed over him. “Would you? That would make it far more meaningful, right? Her brother and best friend.”
“I’d be happy to. Have you thought of what you want to say?”
He retrieved his phone from his pocket and scrolled to his notes app. —Carli was my first friend …—
Biting her lip, tears sprang to her eyes. What was she crying about? Was it that bad?
“This is a beautiful way to start. We’ll absolutely make it great.”
At her answer, his shoulders settled. If he ever needed more evidence that she was the perfect woman, she kept providing it.