Chapter Fifty-Nine
Brian
Chad Stravinski looked up from his monitor when I knocked on the doorframe.
“Well, if it isn’t our star shortstop,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “You here to tell me you’re switching teams?”
I grinned. “Can’t switch when I’m still on the injured list.”
He smirked. “Fair point. You planning to milk that limp for the rest of the season?”
“Maybe,” I said, stepping inside. “Figured I’ve earned it.”
“Heck of a way to take the season off.”
“Tell me about it.” I took the seat across from his desk, bracing my elbows on my knees. “Actually, I’m here about something else.”
Chad’s smile faded. “All right. Shoot.”
“It’s about Jade Beaumont.”
That got his attention. “Okay…”
“You probably saw the photos going around a couple weeks ago. The ones of Jade and me down in Cape Cod.”
Chad frowned. “Yeah, I heard about them. That must have been a nightmare.”
“Well, HR decided to call her in and ask if we were involved—like she’d done something wrong.”
His brows knitted like he was confused. “Why would HR care?”
“Good question. I guess someone thought they were getting ahead of bad press.”
Chad muttered something that sounded a lot like idiots and leaned back in his chair. “That’s ridiculous. I’ll make sure it’s handled.”
“Appreciate it,” I said. “I really effed this up.”
Chad nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “So, you’re finally here to fix it?”
“I want to…”
“Then let’s make sure you can.” He leaned forward, forearms on his desk. “What do you need from me?”
“I just want to be sure there’s nothing in the hospital’s policy that says she can’t see me. I don’t want her blindsided by some HR technicality.”
“There isn’t,” he said. “She’s not under your command, you don’t work for the hospital, and we don’t police who our staff date. You’re both adults.”
Relief eased the tightness in my shoulders. “That helps. I just needed to hear it.”
Chad’s grin returned. “Jade’s something special. About time you figured that out.”
“Yeah,” I said, standing and testing my leg. “Took me long enough.”
He nodded once. “Don’t screw it up.”
“I don’t plan to.”
Chad smirked. “Good. Because if you do, I’m taking her side.”
I huffed out a laugh. “Wouldn’t blame you.”
~~~~
My phone buzzed with a text alert as I stepped out of Chad’s office.
Lainey: Trying new recipes. Jade’s coming by to taste-test.
Figured you might want to know.
I stared at the screen, my pulse ticking faster with every second.
I’d spent the last week letting silence do the talking. It had already cost me her.
But maybe it didn’t have to end that way.
I slipped the phone into my pocket and headed for Beaumont Bakery.