1. Blue Eyes #2
“I can’t believe you did this. I’ve been so excited to read this. You just don’t even know. Thank you so much.”
He shrugged, stepping to the side and intending to place a hand upon the display shelf to steady himself as he opened his mouth.
But the hand only met air, and his body had too much momentum to stop.
He fell sideways, his feet scrambling to find purchase until one shoe found traction, and he overcorrected, lunging forward to collide facefirst with the closest shelf before slinking to the floor in a puddle of shame.
“Oh, shit,” she whispered as her knees hit the carpet in front of him. “Are you okay?”
“M’fine.” He coughed, his nose throbbing beneath his hands.
“I’m a nurse,” she answered, pulling gently at his wrists. “Or…I will be. Let me see. Please.”
The sound of her gentle plea was something Fisher couldn’t ignore, and he stopped resisting, allowing her to pull his hands away.
His eyes were watery, but he could still see the subtle widening of her eyes as she took in the sight of him.
She reached up, yanking the scarf off her neck and shoving it beneath his nose.
“You need an X-ray. You’re already swelling.”
He shut his eyes, drowning in the misery of his mortification.
“C’mon, I can walk you. The clinic is just one block over. I volunteer there.”
“Oh, yeah?” he asked, his words wet and muffled beneath the scarf as he allowed her to lead him out of the building.
“Yeah.” She pushed through the doors, taking the keys from his pocket and turning to lock the library door behind them.
She carefully guided him down the steps and kept him distracted by talking about all the drama she witnessed between the other nurses.
Until she guided him inside, and the receptionist didn’t even bother with paperwork, opting instead to flag down an older guy in blue scrubs who immediately stepped through the hall door, waving Fisher back.
“Want me to come along? Or wait? I don’t mind,” she offered, her tone sure and kind.
The idea was tempting, but he shook his head in response. He had no idea how difficult the exam was about to be. What if they had to set his nose and he cried? What if they wrapped his head up like a mummy? He’d already made enough of a fool of himself in her presence.
“M’good.” He grimaced at how slurred his words sounded. “T’ank you.”
She held his gaze for a beat, concern clearly reflecting in her icy blues. They were so transparent that he could almost see her debating with herself on whether to push the matter or allow him his pride.
To his relief and chagrin, she nodded and backed up a step, flashing him a quick, supportive smile. “Good luck, Fisher.”
He stared after her, the ache of his face forgotten at the sound of his name on her lips, and the thought of how resoundingly unjust it was that she didn’t offer him hers in return. Until the nurse called once more, his tone growing impatient, and he was forced to turn away.
It wasn’t until he was leaving the clinic two hours later, paperwork in hand, that he realized Blue Eyes hadn’t left him entirely after all.
She must’ve stopped by the window after he’d gone back and had them take down her information, for there, listed as his first emergency contact, was the name D.Raven and her number.
In the month that followed that third encounter, she kept a respectful distance as he’d hidden away in the back rows of the library while his face healed beneath all the gauze, tape, and splints.
And for every minute of that month, he agonized over that slip of paper.
Should he call her? Maybe just send a thank you text?
What if she only left it out of guilt? But what if she’d done it as an invitation?
And above all else, what the hell did the D stand for?
Until that moment in the park, when she was right there. Waiting. And he couldn’t shake the notion that she was waiting for him.
He straightened, steeling his spine, and marched forward until she caught sight of him in her peripherals and twisted her swing to the side, a wide smile stretching her lips.
“Hey. I’m sorry. I promise I’m not a stalker.
I live in an apartment building just over that way.
” Fisher turned to point, but then frowned when he realized he was pointing at an oak tree.
“Well, not the tree. The building behind it. I just saw you sitting here, and I thought I’d say hi.
And thanks again for helping me when—well, you know when.
I’m sorry.” He sighed. “I’m so awkward with you. ”
“I like it,” she answered easily, her eyes twinkling with humor. “I’ve always liked you. And my apartment is that way.” She smirked as she pointed directly at a pine, then nodded toward the swing at her side. “It’s a little chilly, but would you want to sit with me for a bit?”
His jaw dropped at her direct, fearless honesty.
She’d always liked him? Always? Realization dawned that she was waiting for an answer, and he hurried forward, settling into the seat at her side, his hands moving to grip the broken plastic covering the chains.
He turned, the most pressing question he’d ever needed answered, right on the tip of his tongue—
“What’s your name?”
“Drie,” Blue Eyes answered, twisting to mirror his position as she offered him a hand to shake. “Drie Raven. It’s nice to finally meet you, Fisher.”