Chapter 32 - Andie
Chapter Thirty-Two - Andie
My friend Elle is standing there looking concerned as I come barreling into the locker room like I’m being chased by a psych patient. Which I would love to say hasn’t ever happened before, but then I would be lying.
“Andie, slow down. Are you okay?” she asks, trying to prevent me from tripping over my feet, steadying me.
With her chestnut brown hair pulled back in a practical ponytail and those expressive green eyes that miss nothing, she somehow manages to look both professional and approachable in standard-issue scrubs.
“Sorry, I woke up late. I had to rush to get here on time.”
“Well girl, you’re fine. You’re on time, so slow down.” She gives me that warm, maternal smile that comes so naturally to her. “Take a breath. The patients aren’t going anywhere, and you don’t need the extra workout.”
Elle has become my work wife at this new job.
We clicked instantly when she oriented me on my first day.
She’s the most caring person I’ve ever met, with a heart bigger than Texas and a no-nonsense attitude that makes patients and doctors respect her immediately.
She works hard, balancing twelve-hour shifts with being supermom to her little girl Jillian.
Motherhood after her and her ex split has not been easy for her.
Yet she still manages to be the one giving everyone else advice and support when they need it the most.
We get our patient load for the day, and mine is looking pretty good.
A couple of chest pain patients, a little old lady with dementia, grumpy old man with pneumonia, and a fall.
All standard and nothing too exciting, at least today I don’t have to have the detox patient who’s screaming in his room trying to lasso nurses with the call light from his hallucinations.
I’m happy to have a breather from the chaos that sometimes waits for me here.
Since today is a slow day, Elle and I decide to take our break after morning med pass. She insists I need to eat something. “You can’t pour from an empty cup, Andie.” It’s one of her many mom-isms that somehow never sound preachy coming from her.
We start walking toward the break room when she stops dead in her tracks, placing a protective hand on my arm like she’s preventing me from walking into traffic.
“Hoooo-ly crap, look at that. Don’t look too fast. You don’t want to scare it away.”
I know exactly what she’s referring to when I turn my head to find Spencer walking down the hallway, heading directly toward us.
Shit, now? Not now. I don’t need any more distractions. And he is a major one.
“Look at him. That body is ridiculous.” Her eyes widen, pure appreciation in her voice for the sight that beholds us. “God it’s been so long, what I wouldn’t give to climb him like a tree for one night.”
Back off, sister. That’s my tree to climb.
Elle lets out a soft laugh when she catches my expression.
“Damn girl, don’t worry, I’m not in the market.
Between Jillian and work, I barely have time to shower, let alone date.
” She nudges me playfully. “Besides, I’m waiting for someone who can handle both me and my mini-me.
Not every man is cut out for a ready-made family. ”
My brain is running a mile a minute. Part of me wants to talk to him, and part of me wants to run and hide in fear of having to explain our relationship. The only person I’ve talked to about Spencer is Maddie, and now he’s here at my work.
I don’t even realize his name has slipped out of my mouth as I continue to stare.
“Wait, you know him?”
I don’t take the time to explain before I walk right up to him, my feet on autopilot. Apparently, my brain decided running wasn’t an option.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him quietly. There it is again, that smoldering hot smile that makes my insides turn to jelly.
Jeez, Andie, get a grip. You’re a professional woman, not a teenager meeting her favorite boy band.
“I brought you breakfast.”
I tilt my head, raising an eyebrow. “Okay, and?”
“You left in such a hurry, I didn’t think you would get anything to eat.”
God, this guy is perfect. I leave him half-naked in my bed, stranded after sex, and he comes to bring me breakfast. I’m trying not to spill the smoothie he brought me when Elle comes up behind, bumping me not-so-subtly.
“Hi! I’m Elle. Andie’s friend.” She sticks out her hand for him to shake. As he takes her hand, he introduces himself because my dumbass has apparently taken up being mute.
“Spencer. Nice to meet you.”
“So, Spencer, how do you know my Andie here?”
“That’s a good question. Andie?”
Oh no. Oh damn it. He’s looking at me like he’s waiting for me to explain or to give our relationship a label. Do I go straight for boyfriend? Is that too much? Friend with benefits? No, he’s more than that. Well, I will take I’m at a loss for five hundred Alex.
“Andie and I . . .” he starts.
“We’ve gone out a few times,” I tell Elle, cutting him off.
“Oh, soooo are you two dating then?”
I stare at him, unsure if he wants to be labeled my boyfriend yet or not. “We haven’t really—"
“Yes,” he cuts me off.
Relief mixing with a hint of worry hits me as he steps closer. Now we have a label, I can no longer hide behind let’s see how this goes. I’m equal parts elated and terrified. Elle continues to look at Spencer, then back to me, bewilderment laces her features.
“He’s . . . my . . . boyfriend?”
Our eyes never break contact, like we’re trying to read each other’s minds in the world’s weirdest staring contest. I can sense Elle’s gaze bouncing between us from my peripheral vision, but I can’t look away from Spencer.
I figure if we’re labeled as dating, we might as well go all the way with it.
My brain is having a full-blown panic attack while my mouth takes the wheel.
Boyfriend? Boyfriend? When did that happen?
Apparently, two minutes ago. My only concern is that I may have just scared him off completely.
But to my surprise, when I search his face for any sign of panic or regret, I only see joy in his eyes, a sparkle and a smile that I wasn’t expecting.
Did he want this? I know he said he wanted to give this a try.
“Elle, can Spencer and I have just a moment?”
“Sure, take all the time you need. I’ll cover your patients. Nice meeting you, Spencer.”
Taking his hand, I pull him a few steps over. “I really should get back, but this is sweet of you. Thank you.”
“Boyfriend? So, I’m your boyfriend?”
Ugh, I knew it was too much. Is it too late to go back in the conversation so I don’t drive him away?
“Well, you don’t have to be. It’s too much, isn’t it? Too fast? I thought since you said we were dating, that would be logical, but I don’t want you to feel like you have to be with me—”
I’m stopped as his finger presses against my lips, silencing my rambling as he lets out a chuckle. “What? What’s so funny?” I mumble around his finger in confusion.
“You . . . you’re adorable when you get nervous and ramble. I would love to be your man, Andie.” He seals his excitement with a kiss to my forehead. “I just needed you to be the one to decide you’re ready for that step.”
I can’t remember the last time I felt like this, giddy with excitement over a new relationship.
What I have with Spencer is completely different from what I had with Cody—not better or worse—just different.
Cody and I had a deep, comfortable love, built on friendship and shared dreams. With Spencer, there’s an electric intensity I’ve never experienced before.
While I’ve been having epiphanies and staring at my new boyfriend, he’s been waiting for my full attention.
“Just so you know, I don’t have to be with you. I want to be with you.”
Oh good line, damn he knows how to win my heart.
He leans in again, giving me a soft kiss goodbye. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He releases me from his hold and begins to walk away as my brain catches up to the conversation. “Wait, see you? I told you I would call.”
With only a turn of his head he continues to assert his authority. “And I told you. I will see you. So . . . I’ll see you tonight, Andie.”
Welp I’m officially fucked. I’m starting to fall hard for him, and I don’t think I can stop it.
“Goodbye, Elle. It was a pleasure meeting you.” With a quick goodbye to the girl who’s spying on us from around the corner he makes his way down the hallway.
Popping her head out with a genuine smile, she replies. “You too, Spencer.” She steps forward looking a little guilty for spying before she adds. “Anyone who makes my friend this happy is welcome anytime.” There’s something about the way she says it, like she’s giving approval.
She turns to me the second he’s out of earshot, but instead of the teasing I expect, her eyes turn serious. Searching my face with that intuitive look that makes me wonder if she has some kind of emotional X-ray vision.
“Ok super sleuth, why were you hiding watching us?”
“No, honey, I was making sure you were okay. That little hesitation dance you two did—I recognize it. I saw the fear scribbled across your face after you called him your boyfriend, like you surprised yourself.” She smiles softly.
“And I know how hard it must be to open your heart again after Cody. But you deserve happiness, Andie. We all do, and I can see you trying to chase that dream,” she continues, squeezing my arm.
“You two have something special. Like a real connection. I see the way he was looking at you. Almost like he’s been waiting for you his whole life. ”
She allows herself a small, wistful smile. “And he brought you breakfast. Trust me, in the world of working single mothers, that’s a keeper. He’s also deadly handsome, I wouldn’t mind walking through life with a guy like that on my arm, so if you don’t want him, send him my way please.”
I spend the rest of my morning reflecting on how seeing Spencer was by far the best part of my day.
After lunch my slow day turned into pure chaos, with constant call lights, demanding patients, and an overload of crazy on the floor.
By the end of the day, all I wanted was a hot shower and to relax, but something about Spencer’s comment tells me my day is far from over.