20. Chapter Twenty
Pulling up to my house after work, I have to do a double take that I’m in the right place. I rub my eyes after putting the car in park, making sure I’m seeing clearly. Yep, my eyes still work.
Covering my entire front yard are dozens of flamingo lawn ornaments. I don’t even have to wonder how they got here. It brings me back to our text conversation when she mentioned the names of different groups of birds. There’s only one possible explanation for the flamboyance in my yard—Kelsey Anderson.
I hear giggles as I near the house and spot Kelsey and Evie staring out the front window at me. Before I can step inside, Evie runs onto the covered porch, pointing at me and laughing. “We got you.”
“You sure did.” My gaze moves to Kelsey. “I hope you didn’t spend too much on this prank.” With how much she works, it’s obvious she’s saving for something. A part of me hopes she’ll open up to me about it soon, and another part realizes how unlikely that is. Either way, I’d hate for her to have spent a small fortune on our prank war.
Kelsey crosses her arms, wearing a satisfied smile. “I got them from an estate sale for free. The family was more than happy to get them off their hands.”
“I can’t imagine why,” I deadpan.
“It’s one of life’s greatest mysteries.”
“They’re so cute.” Evie tugs on my arm. “Can I name them all?”
I press my lips together to hide my amusement. “Sure, Eves.”
When she’s outside, Kelsey turns to me with an incredulous expression. “Does literally nothing bother you?”
“What? That?” I gesture with my thumb toward the yard. “It’s hilarious. I only wish I’d thought of the idea first.”
She smirks. “My doom scrolling on social media finally came in handy.” Her smile softens as she looks at Evie running through the yard, tapping each flamingo and dubbing them with a name. “Did you have a good day at work?”
“Yeah, it wasn’t too bad. I’m just seeing a lot of flu patients. It’s really going around this year.”
Kelsey wrinkles her nose. “The flu is the worst. You must have an immune system of steel.”
“I got sick often during residency, but my body is much better at fighting everything off now. I honestly can’t remember the last time I was sick.”
“That’s not a bad thing.” She playfully nudges my arm, a soft smile on her lips.
Since the shift I felt between us when we almost kissed under the mistletoe pumpkin, every little touch with Kelsey drives me insane. Something as innocent as her elbow touching my arm has my eyes dragging down to her lips. I would pull her into my arms and kiss her right now, but I can’t kiss her the way I want to—the way she deserves—with Evie around. I don’t even know if Kelsey wants me to kiss her. So, instead, I shove down my attraction—pour water on the romantic tension sizzling between us, making it fizzle out.
I clear my throat, ready to ask about her day, but she steps toward her house. “I should get home. Also, Evie hasn’t started her homework yet.” She grimaces. “Sorry, I meant to have her do it, but I underestimated how long it would take us to set up all the flamingos.”
“Don’t worry about it. Have a good night, Kels.”
I like the sound of her nickname on my lips. I’m sure it would only be rivaled by the feel of her lips pressed against mine.
I’m guilty as charged for watching her walk a whopping ten feet to her front porch. She turns and shoots me a mischievous grin. That little minx knew I was watching. Maybe she even wanted me to watch.
She slips inside, leaving me wanting so much more.
The verdict is in. I need to ask Kelsey on a real date as soon as possible. This week , I internally declare. Once we have the opportunity to talk, I hope all of our feelings will be laid out in the open. And maybe then I can finally find out what her perfect lips taste like.
Now that it’s Friday, I’m filled with equal parts excitement and dread. I always look forward to the weekend, especially now when I get to spend more time with Evie. But I’m also dreading today because of the promise I made to myself to ask Kelsey on a real date by the end of the week. Since it’s the last day I’m guaranteed to see her after work, it looks like today is the chosen one.
“Are you finished with your breakfast?” I ask Evie, motioning to her plate of mostly eaten eggs and toast.
“Yeah.” She hands it to me. I rinse it in the sink and put it in the dishwasher when there’s a knock at the door. “Who’s that?”
I shrug. It’s seven in the morning, so Evie’s guess is as good as mine. I dry my hands on the kitchen towel and move to answer the door. I open it to find one of the last people I expect to be standing there: Kelsey’s roommate, Alyssa.
My heart rate immediately picks up speed. “Is everything okay?”
Her eyes fill with pity. “Kelsey wasn’t feeling the best last night and went to bed early. I woke up in the middle of the night hearing her vomiting. I’m going to take her to the doctor as soon as they open, but I’m pretty sure she has the flu or a stomach bug.”
I frown, hating the idea of her not feeling well. As a doctor, I know that the flu strain going around right now is awful. I told Kelsey that myself. “Is she feeling any better this morning?”
Alyssa shakes her head. “She’s back and forth between the bathroom and sleeping. I just wanted to let you know that she obviously won’t be able to pick up Evie from school today. Mallory already said she could hang out in her classroom, though.”
I nod. “Thanks for taking care of Evie.”
“It was Kelsey’s idea.” Alyssa smiles softly. “She needed to make sure Evie had someone to watch her.”
Kelsey shouldn’t have to worry about Evie when she’s this sick, but it means the world to me that she did. “That’s very kind of her. Is someone able to check on Kelsey today? Does she need anything?”
“I wish we could, but Mallory will be at school, and Shayna is working a full shift at Shirley’s Florist. My first appointment for the day canceled, so I’m able to take her to the doctor, but then I have a full day at the salon.”
“She doesn’t have any family nearby?” For all the time I’ve spent with Kelsey, I know next to nothing about her family.
Alyssa grimaces. “It’s not my story to tell, but let’s just say we’re pretty much all Kels has.”
My heart breaks for her. I don’t know what I’d do without Tess, Evie, and Aunt D. Even though my parents are off living their dream right now, I’ve never questioned if they love me. I wish Kelsey had a family that made her feel the same way.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I shift uncomfortably. “I feel bad that she’ll be home alone all day.”
Alyssa pats my arm. “Me too, but she’s been taking care of herself for a long time.”
But she shouldn’t have to , I respond internally. “Let me know if you think of anything I can do,” I say instead.
“I will.” Alyssa indicates her house. “I should make sure she’s getting around okay so I can get her to the doctor. I’ll see ya around.”
I’m still thinking about Kelsey as I drop Evie off at school…and when I meet with my patients for the day…and as I take my lunch break. Especially since Alyssa texted me this morning letting me know the doctor confirmed that she had the nasty stomach bug going around.
I pop the last bite of my chicken salad sandwich into my mouth when there’s a knock on my office door. “Come on in,” I say around my mouthful.
Nadine steps into my office and shuts the door. “What in tarnation is wrong with you today?”
I take a sip of water. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
She places her arms on her lips. “Don’t make me out to be stupid, boy.” The look she gives me hits me like Category 5 hurricane winds.
There aren’t many people I’d let call me boy , but I know better than to talk back to a strong Southern woman like Nadine or Aunt D.
“Okay, maybe I’ve been a little distracted .”
“Distracted?” She scoffs. “I heard you tried to look inside a patient’s ear with the little flashlight thing rather than an otoscope.”
Rats. The nurses sold me out.
“Fine.” I huff. “I found out that Kelsey is sick this morning.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“She caught a stomach bug.”
“Oh, that poor dear.” Nadine tuts. “She’s being taken care of, right?”
I shake my head. “She doesn’t have family nearby, and her friends had to work today.”
“You mean to tell me that sweet-as-pie girl is alone? She could be lying on the cold, hard ground as we speak, and we’d be none the wiser.” Nadine leaves my office with a dramatic flourish.
I hurry after her, finding her at the reception desk, typing on her computer. “What are you doing?” I ask incredulously, surprised at how spry she still is for her age.
“All but one of your appointments this afternoon canceled. Apparently, the kids are feeling better as the week’s gone on. The only patient coming in needs a strep test. Marcie can handle them and write a prescription, if need be.”
I don’t like to make a habit of giving my physician’s assistant my patients when she already has appointments of her own, but maybe I could make an exception today…
Nadine throws a pen at my head.
“Ow.” I rub my temple. “What was that for?”
“You looked like you needed some sense knocked into ya.” She throws a pad of Post-it notes at me, and I dodge them. A paper cut to the face doesn’t sound like fun.
She grabs a stapler and holds it back like she’s about to throw it too. “You better get over there before I hit ya where the good Lord split ya.”
I hold my hands up like I’m trying to talk down someone about to murder me rather than my overzealous receptionist. “Nadine, put down the stapler. I’ll go, all right?”
“Well, it took you long enough.” She puts the stapler back where it belongs and reaches a hand out. “Be a dear and pick up my favorite pen and paper.”
“You mean the ones you threw at my head?”
Nadine at least has the decency to blush. “You know what, on second thought, I’ll grab them myself.” She looks down bashfully. “Doc.”
I keep my laughter at bay until I’m back in my office. This is what happens when you have a bunch of headstrong women in your life…but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Once I pack up my lunchbox, I grab my jacket and head back to the lobby.
“You go take care of our girl,” Nadine calls after me.
I’m not sure when Kelsey became our girl. All I know is that she’s started to wiggle her way into my heart, and I have this innate need to take care of her because of my growing affection.
If I can’t ask her on a date today, I can at least show up for her when it matters most.