CHAPTER 16 #2
“Organically, I guess. When it comes up in conversation.”
Beth laughed, not fully understanding what he meant.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation with someone where my marital status has just sprung up organically.”
“Maybe not, but surely, you’ve had a conversation where someone asked, ‘What’s new?’ That’s more along what I was thinking.”
“Okay. I can do that.” Popping a grape in her mouth, she nodded. “That seems easy enough. Low pressure. What about at work?”
“Got it covered.”
Beth raised an eyebrow.
“I’m going to come in at the start of your next shift,” Bryce said, voice dropping an octave as he leaned in slightly, “and during the change-of-shift report, I’m going to pin you against the wall behind the nurses’ station and kiss you breathless.
Right there, in the middle of the emergency room, so everyone on both shifts will know that you’re mine. ”
Beth’s entire body flushed. She opened her mouth—then snapped it shut, gaping at him. “You will not.”
“Oh, I will.” His smirk was nothing short of dangerous, his fingers trailing lightly down her arm before he leaned in just enough to invade her space.
A shiver ran through her, unbidden, unwelcome. She shoved his shoulder, but he didn’t budge.
“Bryce.”
“Lizzy,” he mimicked, voice full of amusement.
“No.”
“Yes.”
A handful of grapes pelted him in the face.
That finally did it. Bryce sat back, laughing as he picked a grape out of his lap and popped it into his mouth.
“Alright, fine,” he relented with a laugh. “I assume you have a better idea?”
“Yes! Instead of turning the hospital into a soap opera, we don’t make a big deal of it. If people start noticing us showing up at work together…”
“Sneaking kisses,” Bryce interjected.
“…and ask us about it, we’ll just tell them we eloped.” Beth finished, ignoring the interruption.
Bryce conceded with a smirk. “Okay, I can do that. But I like my idea better. You should reconsider.”
“No!”
Bryce grinned and took another bite of chicken. “Any chance you’d want to move in tonight?”
“What? Tonight? No!” Beth’s response came faster and sharper than she intended. Her surprise registered in her tone, and she saw the flicker of disappointment he tried to hide.
“Were you hoping to wait until after the wedding?” he asked, quieter now.
“That would be my first choice,” she admitted, letting out a slow breath as she set her chicken down.
“But... Kim and I were just talking last night. Our lease is up at the end of the month, and she’s already planning to move out in the next couple of weeks.
So, if I don’t move too, I’d have to sign another six-month lease. ”
Bryce raised his eyebrows. “So it’s just a matter of packing things up and moving them over?”
Beth shook her head, her voice tightening. “No. It’s more than that. I mean, Bryce… I’ve lived in that apartment for five years.”
He didn’t say anything—just waited.
She stared down at her plate. “I know it sounds silly. But that place... it’s been mine. My constant. My space. It’s where I felt settled when everything else was shifting. And now, even though I know this”—she gestured between them—”is the right next step... it’s like part of me can’t catch up.”
Still no pressure from him. Just patience. Which made it easier to keep talking.
“I’ve never been good with change. And this?” She gave a weak laugh. “This is the biggest change of my life.”
She’d lived in the same house her whole life until college—and even then, she’d been miserably homesick her first year in Durango. Belize had been different. She’d had Kim. Then she’d moved into her apartment with Kim.
She’d only ever shared her space with family or her best friend. Never with a guy. Never with a husband. While it was a normal transition for most couples, for her, it felt monumental.
“I can’t just pack up everything in an afternoon and move it over,” she said, trying to keep her voice level.
Bryce studied her for a long moment, then softened. “Then don’t. Bring what you need for the week, and we’ll take the rest one box at a time. No pressure. No rush. Unless there’s something else holding you back—something you want to talk through with me.”
“Please consider it,” Bryce added when she didn’t respond. “I hate you being all the way across town. Our schedules are crazy, and if we’re under the same roof, it’ll be easier to find time for each other. To actually get to know each other.”
Beth felt the tightness in her chest ease. He wasn’t pushing. He just wanted her—wanted time with her.
“How about I start with a night or two? I could come tomorrow after church?” she finally offered.
“I’ll take it.” Bryce grinned and leaned across the blanket to kiss her.
As they packed up the picnic, he sighed dramatically.
“You’re really not going to let me kiss you senseless at work?”
Beth rolled her eyes, smiling. “Not a chance.”
He slung an arm around her as they walked back toward the car.
“Fine. But I’m still sneaking kisses. Just so you know.”
Somehow, Beth didn’t think she minded that part one bit.
By the time Beth got home, she was too giddy to sleep. She called her mom first, relaying the story of Bryce’s proposal—most of it, anyway. She conveniently left out his teasing remark about kissing her breathless at work.
After hanging up, she grabbed her phone and sent two texts, her fingers flying as she attached a picture of the ring on her finger.
?Beth:
HE TOOK ME TO HELEN HUNT FALLS
AND HE PROPOSED!
I wish I had a recording of it. It was so sweet, and I cannot wait to tell you all about it! Remind me, why
do we work opposite shifts??????
?Kim:
#swoon. Oh my word, that is so sweet.
You deserve to be treated like this! I can’t
wait to hear all the juicy details!?
?Kim:
AND we work opposite shifts because
we are nice at different times of the day!?
?Beth:
[Image Attached]?
?Kim:
BETH! I just got the picture!?
?Beth:
It’s so sparkly!?
Switching to her sister’s text thread, Beth sent the same picture.
?Beth:
Bryce took me to the top of
Helen Hunt Falls and proposed!?
?Lynn:
did he get drunk again and this time
forget you’re already married??
?Beth:
*Sigh* He was being romantic.?
?Lynn:
double *sigh* i was being funny?
?Beth:
[Image Attached]?
?Lynn:
WOW! the shape of it looks like that turn-of-the-
century watch you always wear…you know…the not so smart watch?
?Beth:
I know!?
?Lynn:
does this mean i get to throw you a
bachelorette party? i promise i won’t
let you wake up married to another
random dude?
?Beth:
NO!?
?Beth:
But we are going to have a
small ceremony. I’m thinking
at Mom and Dad’s.?
?Lynn:
cool sounds like we’ll need to go
dress shopping i’m off monday?
?Beth:
Me too!?
?Lynn:
see ya then, ‘glenda.’ sounds
like you’re doing it?
?Beth:
Glenda? Doing what??
?Lynn:
‘Glenda the Good Witch’
and turning your mistake
into something wonderful?
?Beth:
I’m trying…?
She stared at the last message for a moment, chewing her lip. Trying was the key word.
Eventually, Beth set her phone on the nightstand after sending one last text for the night and crawled into bed. Sleep came swiftly and she never heard her phone buzz with Bryce’s message.
?Bryce Jensen:
I hope this doesn’t wake you,
but I got called in to cover for
Dr. Gibson again. I should still
be able to make it to church, but
I might be a little late. Love you?