Chapter 6 #2
I gnaw at my lip and type out a quick response. A few messages later, we’ve decided to meet for drinks as soon as he’s finished with his client dinner. I glance at my watch. That gives me roughly eight hours to figure out my feelings.
Ha. Totally fine! No problem at all!
“Can I see your scar?” Garrison asks, reclaiming my attention. I drop my phone into my pocket and look at Theo, gauging his reaction.
He hesitates, but only for a moment before pushing up his sleeve and opening his hand to reveal the scar across his palm. He talks about his injury, about that night, then reminds Garrison to never, ever play without wearing all his protective gear.
Finally, Theo pulls out all the swag he brought, including a jersey signed by all the Jaguars defensemen.
“I had Holly sign it too,” Theo says, pointing to a signature near the top. “He was there when I asked the rest of the guys, so I didn’t want him to feel bad.”
Garrison’s dad lets out a good-natured chuckle. “Your mom’s favorite player.”
“You stop that,” his mom says, swatting at her husband as a blush climbs up her cheeks. “I never said he was my favorite.”
“It’s all right,” Theo teases. “I get it. Most of us have crushes on him too.”
They all laugh, and I can’t help but smile. There’s the Theo I knew in high school. Teasing, charmingly cocky, but also self-deprecating. Putting everyone at ease in just the right way.
Garrison clutches the jersey to his chest. “Thanks, Theo. This is awesome.”
“No problem.” He pulls a card out of his wallet and hands it to Garrison’s dad. “When he’s home and feeling better, text this number and mention me. They’ll get you tickets to a game with VIP passes to tour the locker room.”
Garrison sits up a little taller. “For real?” He looks over at his parents. “Can we?”
“It may be a few months before you can handle the crowds,” his mom says. “But as soon as you’re healthy, we absolutely can.”
Garrison nods. “Maybe that’ll give my hair time to grow back in.” He reaches his hands up and rubs them across his bald head. He really is a cute kid.
Theo’s expression softens, then he reaches forward and rubs Garrison’s head in the same way. “It looks good on you, man.”
I lift a hand to my chest, pressing it against my heart.
I could almost cry for how happy this is making Garrison, but there’s something else happening too.
Maybe it’s muscle memory, my body responding because it already knows how.
Back then, watching Theo do something like this would have made my ovaries melt in some sort of nuclear event.
I would have been a puddle at his feet, lovesick and starry-eyed.
I’m not quite so desperate now, but I’m definitely feeling something. At a minimum, Theo is making a solid case for why it was so easy to love him.
They all chat for a few more minutes, then take some photos together before saying their goodbyes. As soon as we step into the hallway, Lexie thanks Theo again, holding onto his hand a little longer than I think necessary, then she leaves us to head back to the nurses’ station.
Theo lets out a deep breath and leans against the wall.
“You did great,” I say, thinking of his earlier uncertainty. “That clearly meant a lot to him.”
He nods, but he doesn’t say anything, his expression shifting into something I recognize. The awareness that life is fleeting. That it’s often unfair. That kids like Garrison shouldn’t ever have to deal with something like cancer.
He flexes his left hand once, twice, then lifts his right to rub at the pad of his thumb directly under his scar.
Then he huffs out a laugh. “It’s funny. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself this week.
Rehab is slow. Nerve pain is … persistent.
” He tilts his head back toward Garrison’s room.
“Kind of knocks everything into perspective, you know?”
I bite my lip. “Yeah, I get it.”
He blows out a breath. “I don’t know how you do this every day.”
We turn and slowly make our way toward the bank of elevators. “You get used to it. Though it might be slightly easier for me in the OR. Patients are only awake for a moment or two while they’re with me. So I don’t usually know a lot about them personally.”
He shoots me a knowing look. “Until your ex shows up on the operating table.”
“Ha. Yeah. That definitely threw me for a loop.” We stop at the bank of elevators, and Theo pushes his hands into his pockets. “You probably have to get back to work, but if you have time, I’d love to buy you some coffee.”
I bite my lip. Coffee, not dinner.
Somehow that doesn’t feel as scary. Or maybe I’m just more willing after spending an hour watching him dote on a sick kid. “I’m not on shift,” I say. “I was here for a surgery this morning, but right now I’m just on call.”
“Great,” he says. “So … coffee? How’s the shop in the lobby? Any good?”
“Surprisingly good.” I reach forward and press the down button for the elevator. “And they have cozy seating. You almost forget you’re inside a hospital.”
“Sounds perfect,” Theo says. We climb onto the elevator, and he presses the button for the first floor. “I’m glad you decided to text me.”
There’s an unspoken question hanging in the air between us, and it grows louder and louder the longer we don’t talk.
“I’m sorry,” I finally blurt. “I know it probably seems like I only texted because of Garrison.”
Theo lifts his shoulders. “I mean, he was a good reason.”
I nod. “Yeah, I guess he was,” I say, but I don’t say anything else.
I could tell him I was going to text him anyway.
That I got held up, distracted, busy with other things, but it would only be to protect his feelings, and I don’t want to lie to him.
“I was just scared, Theo,” I say instead.
“I didn’t want to text you because I don’t know how to feel about seeing you again.
This is all just … really weird for me.”
He runs a hand across his face. “I get it.”
“I’m glad I did text,” I add. “It was good to see you talking to Garrison.”
Theo’s quiet as we exit the elevator, and I wonder if I said too much. Maybe I was too honest? We pause outside the wide entrance to the coffee shop.
“We don’t have to do this if you’re uncomfortable, Bec,” Theo says, his tone gentle.
The way he calls me Bec pricks at my heart, spreading warmth out to my fingertips. He’s the only person who’s ever called me that. I didn’t realize I’ve missed it, but hearing it again triggers an ache of longing right behind my ribs that surprises me.
“No, I want to,” I say. “I wasn’t sure I did before, but…” I swallow against the sudden knot in my throat. “I am now.”
“Okay,” Theo says. “Then I guess I owe one to Garrison. But only if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure,” I say. “And desperately in need of some caffeine, so…” I tilt my head toward the coffee shop.
Theo chuckles. “Far be it from me to keep a woman from her caffeine.”
We move inside and step into line, and Theo looks up to study the menu. I already know exactly what I’m ordering, so I let my gaze linger for a few extra moments on him.
The shock of seeing him has worn off enough that I’m starting to notice all the things I used to love about his face. The perfect bow of his upper lip and the dimple in his chin. The freckle on his right cheekbone and the scar above his eyebrow from a hockey injury our junior year.